Morning Meditation on Romans 6:6

We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6:6)

“Be killing sin, or it will be killing you.” Those are the words of a wise English Puritan, John Owen. Owen wrote often on killing sin, and he meant just that…kill it! Jesus himself in Matthew 5 spoke of killing sin. He said, “If your right eye causes you to sin tear it out and throw it from you.” And also, “And if your right hand causes you to sin cut it off and throw it from you.” The response to sin is a violent one, and so it should be, for it takes a seriousness and a vehemence to end sinful habits!

There is much that could be said here but for the apostle Paul it is enough at this time to say that the Christian’s “old self was crucified with Him…” The old self, that is the old nature, the unregenerate person that we were before Christ saved us, that self is crucified. It is dead! That’s why Paul has already written, “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” It’s a question of continuous un-repentant sin that Paul has in mind here. He is concerned that some will say, “Well since Jesus died for the punishment of my sins then I can continue in my sin and fear no repercussions.” For Paul such a view proves that one is indeed not a Christian at all, merely a formal religious person. Genuine faith in Christ produces continuous striving for holiness.

Sin is always at our heels, however. As long as we are living on this earth in these corruptible bodies, we will be prone to sin and prone to wander. But there are steps to take in killing our sin!

First and foremost let us be reminded (as Paul is doing here) that our Old self was crucified with Christ. Remember that as a Christian, born again believer in Jesus Christ, you are no longer held captive to sin. You are free! In Christ there is a freedom to obey Him, love Him, serve Him, glorify Him, that as a non-Christian you do not have. Remember Christ crucified and remember your old self with Him. Thanks be to God, our Father, whom through Jesus Christ, reconciled us to Himself, pardoning our sins and crediting to us the righteousness of Christ. Our old self is dead and our new self has the righteousness of Christ that we may indeed stand before the Holy Judge and not be destroyed.

When we battle, when we struggle, when we fight and face the terrible temptation to sin, let us remember that there is one who has freed us from its bonds, and has given us the grace and strength to resist sin and live for the glory of God!