Rev.
Paul J Cain
Romans 6: (1-2) 3-11
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
Wednesday
of Trinity 6, 30 July 2014
Immanuel
Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
For
an Elder to Read
In
the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Are we to continue in sin? No. We have been
baptized. We have been raised to new life.
6 What
shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can
we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do
you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death? 4 We
were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as
Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk
in newness of life.
Are we to continue in sin? No. We have been
baptized. We have been raised to new life. Baptism buries us with Christ in His
death. Baptism resurrects us with Christ’s resurrection that we too may walk in
newness of life. That means the old ways, the old habits, the old sins are to
be drowned until dead.
Will we return to them? Yes. Sometimes out of
weakness we will sin. The Christian dare never plan to do so. Those sins are
like premeditated murder. Christ has reconciled you to God. He has set you free
from slavery to sin, death, and the devil.
5 For
if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be
united with him in a resurrection like his. 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. 7 For
one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that
we will also live with him. 9 We
know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no
longer has dominion over him. 10 For
the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives
to God. 11 So you
also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
We have been united with Christ. In Holy
Communion, we take Christ into us. In Holy Baptism, He takes us into Himself.
We have had one resurrection in Baptism. It prepares us for the Resurrection of
all flesh on the last day. St. Paul reminds us that we are set free, are no
longer in bondage to sin, and that Jesus’ gifts to us crucifies the old self,
the sinful human nature, and brings the body of sin to nothing.
Death has no more dominion over Christ. Death for
us is the gateway to life eternal in Him, yet in His timing.
Are we to continue in sin? No. We have been raised
to new life. Consider yourselves, the baptized, dead to sin and alive to God in
Christ Jesus. Amen.
In
the Name of Jesus. Amen.
