Your Life Begins and Ends with Christ
Thinking about Romans 6:8-9.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. (Romans 6:8-9)
It’s been a bit since our last Romans article, so if you want to refresh your memory with where we were last, I’ve linked our last article below.
Paul is in the middle of making his point that the gospel of Christ does not encourage Christians to continue in sin so that God’s grace may abound (Romans 6:1-2).
The gospel teaches Christians that they have died to sin, and now they live with Christ.
We died to sin, and were raised to a new life. This new life we live with Christ. We must live with him as our guide, as our Teacher, as our High Priest, and as our King. We cannot, therefore, continue in sin. - Whiteside, Commentary on Romans, 134
The Christian’s Life Begins and Ends with Christ.
The Pauline formula “with Christ” connects Christians closely to the events of the cross. In essence, the Christian’s life begins and ends with Christ. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 210
Being immersed into Christ follows the example of His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). It is through Jesus Christ that we are set free from the taskmaster of sin (Romans 6:7).
Through Christ’s death and resurrection, He defeated the twin towers of sin and death, making it possible for Christians to escape their dominion. Sin and death are cruel taskmasters, and the only way to escape their grip is through Jesus Christ. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 211
Christians live “with Christ” now and look forward to eternally living with our Savior.
Our dying and rising with Christ makes possible our living with Christ in the present time, as well as eternally. - Pollard, Truth for Today Commentary, 210
The Defeat of Death.
[Jesus] was put to death at one point, but as Peter plainly stated, - It wasn’t possible that he should be held by death. Death had its chance and lost. It had its grip and lost. Never again! - McGuiggan, Romans, 193
Paul made this point to the Christians in Corinth. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead demonstrated the defeat of death.
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:20-26)
Since we now live with Christ and have died to sin - why would a Christian go back to living for sin when we have died to it?
Living life that way doesn’t make sense anymore.
The gospel of Christ doesn’t encourage us to sin more and take advantage of God’s grace. It teaches us to live a life for God - a life that leaves sin behind.