UNION WITH CHRIST

Passage: Romans 6:1-10

Key verse: 5

NIV

Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

6 What shall we say, then?(A) Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?(B) 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin;(C) how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized(D) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death(E) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead(F) through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.(G)

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.(H) 6 For we know that our old self(I) was crucified with him(J) so that the body ruled by sin(K) might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin(L)— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.(M)

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.(N) 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,(O) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.(P) 10 The death he died, he died to sin(Q) once for all;(R) but the life he lives, he lives to God.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? (A)Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can (B)we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us (C)who have been baptized (D)into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were (E)buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as (F)Christ was raised from the dead by (G)the glory of the Father, we too might walk in (H)newness of life.

5 For (I)if we have been united with him in (J)a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that (K)our old self[a] (L)was crucified with him in order that (M)the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For (N)one who has died (O)has been set free[b] from sin. 8 Now (P)if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that (Q)Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; (R)death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, (S)once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

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Footnotes
  1. Romans 6:6 Greek man
  2. Romans 6:7 Greek has been justified
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. United with him in his death (1-4)

A Christian is one who is united with Christ. John baptized with water for repentance, but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. We are brought into mystical union with Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit. When I repent and accept Christ's atoning death for my sins, I die with Jesus. His blood covers all my sins. I am no longer a slave to sin because Jesus purchased my freedom by his blood. Now I belong to Jesus. This is a promise to be believed--not something that depends on my undependable feelings.

2. United with him in his life (5-10)

If we died with Christ, we shall also live with him. God raised Christ from the dead by his almighty power. Baptism into the body of Christ is a symbol of this. The risen Jesus has conquered sin and death, and he wants to live with me and work in and through me by his resurrection power.

Prayer: Lord, I do not understand the mystical union between Christ and myself, but I know that your eternal love, poured into my heart by the Holy Spirit, is the cord that binds me to you.

One Word: Union with Christ by the Spirit