Romans 6:9

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Monday, 20 May 2013

…knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. Romans 6:9

“Knowing that” is used here as an indication of absolute surety based on the words of 6:8 –

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him…”

Christ, in fact, did die in His human body. Our faith in this causes us to die with Him to sin. When we die in this way, the power of sin dies with us. But the event doesn’t stop there. “Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.” Yes, He died, but He died for sins not in sin. Because He was sinless, death could not hold Him. In fact, Peter explained to the people of Israel that it was impossible for the grave to hold Him –

“…whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.” Acts 2:24

Our faith in His work causes us to die with Him. Because He is sinless, He resurrected. Because we died to sin with Him, we have become sinless in Him. In other words, sin no longer has power over us because the power of sin has been nullified. Christ dies no more and “death no longer has dominion over Him.” Because we are “in Christ” this is our state as well. Death no longer has dominion over us. When Christ returns we shall be resurrected. This is as sure as the resurrection of Christ Himself. It is a 100% guarantee and it is the hope of all the faithful.

Life application: Because we have died to sin in Christ, let us endeavor to live apart from sin in Christ.

Lord God, to know You and to think on Your majesty is my highest joy. Your hands which set the galaxies in place also fashioned man. Your power which ignites the stars with heat also breathed the spark of life into us. And your wisdom which brings about the seasons of life also endowed us with the ability to contemplate You. Help me to use this life of mine for Your glory. Amen.

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