Who You Are

“Well then,” a person might reason, “I might just as well go on sinning since God will forgive me.” I suspect that when we read these words we think what a perverse way of reasoning that is! Yes, but don’t we all do it, consciously or unconsciously? Be honest. Think of the last time you struggled with a besetting sin.

Every time we do this we deny who we are. Perhaps we have never understood what happened before God. When we first put our faith in Jesus we began a new life with him. We enacted this truth when we made it public and were baptized. We were “buried” with Christ in the water, and we came up out of the water a new person.

This is the life in which sin no longer holds power over us. It tries to, and we often forget who we are and fall back into the old life. The temptations are still there. But once we have put our faith in Jesus and been forgiven, he gives us a new status. We cannot go back to the old status.

This is radical stuff. The way most people think is that we live our lives and then die, and then . . . whatever. What Paul is saying here is that we live our “old” life, without Christ, then, when we turn to him and believe, our “old self” dies and a “new self” is born. This new life is totally different. Physical death doesn’t end it. It is forever. The great turning point is not when we die physically. It’s when we believe in Jesus Christ.

Live who you are! Sin no longer has any power over you.

Perhaps you have never thought of your baptism like this. Maybe you have never been baptized. This is so important that I urge you to find another Christian who can help you come to grips with what Paul is saying.

Respond in Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me think this through. Help me, too, as I put it into practice and count myself (v 11) dead to sin. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit and the new life you have given me, over which sin has no power. Amen.

Wayne Baxter