Tuesday, February 18’s devotional. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4, CSB)
At salvation, something radical happened—you died. Your old self, enslaved to sin, was buried with Christ. Paul uses the image of baptism to illustrate this truth. Paul wants you to see that when you were immersed into Christ’s death, you were completely identified with Him. His death became your death. His resurrection became your resurrection. Sin no longer owns you.
This is not just theological theory—it is a present reality. “If you are in Christ, sin is not your master anymore,” Mark emphasized. That means the patterns of sin that once ruled you have no legitimate claim over your life. You have been set free. But the question remains: are you living in that freedom?
Paul continues, “Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4, CSB). Baptism is not just a ritual; it is a declaration that your old self is dead. You are not who you used to be. If you belong to Christ, you have been raised to a new life—one that reflects His righteousness.
But many believers struggle to walk in this reality. Sin’s voice still whispers. Temptation still pulls. Mark reminded us, “Your old self will try to convince you that nothing has changed, that you’re still under sin’s control. But Paul says otherwise: ‘We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless’ (Romans 6:6, CSB).” Sin has lost its power over you. The only way it gains control is if you surrender ground to it.
So what does it mean to be “dead to sin”? Mark explained, “It means you don’t have to obey sin’s commands anymore. Before Christ, sin was your master. Now, Christ is your King. The question is, who are you listening to?” Living in newness of life requires rejecting the lies of your old self and standing firm in the truth that you are free.
Application:
Take time today to reflect: Are there habits, thoughts, or attitudes that still reflect your old life? What areas of your life need to align with the truth that you are dead to sin?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You that in Christ, I have died to sin and been raised to new life. Help me to walk in that reality, rejecting sin’s power and living in the freedom You have given me. Amen.
This devotional content is not penned by the preacher. It is derived from the sermon notes. We aim to provide bite-sized reflections throughout the week for devotion and reflection.