To Live a New Life By Ed McDowell

Life and Living Abundantly

“Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.”

Romans 6:5 NLT

The writer of Romans uses chapter 6 to describe what Christ did for us and invites us to step away from the old life of sin and destruction into a new life filled with goodness, love, and righteousness.

Reflection

To understand Romans 6:5, we need to look at the death of Christ: 

“When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.”

Romans 6:10, NLT

Christ’s death was a “one and done” to deal with the power of sin once and for all.

His death did not end in death: 

“And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” Romans 6:4 NLT part B. Christ is alive. He lives, restoring everyone to life with God who believes in and follows him. “We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.”

Romans 6:9, NLT

We have an opportunity in Christ to live a new life:

 By contrast, we no longer have to live pursuing sin. 

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ, we were set free from the power of sin.”

Romans 6:6-7, NLT

Let’s set aside our pursuit and rationale to keep sinning: 

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death?”

Romans 6:1-3, NLT

As we follow Christ, something profound changes in our perspective: 

“So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”

 Romans 6:11, NLT

Encouragement

Be intentional with this new life:

 “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

 Romans 6:12-14, NLT

“But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.”

Romans 6:22 NLT

The contrast of our new life in Christ and our old life in sin could not be clearer: 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23, NLT

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for this new life we have in you. Sinning is so burdensome. Thank you for dealing with the power of it, breaking its ultimate barrier – death. You united us with you in your death. A death that breaks through into a new life.

Help us live as people free from the power of sin. Show us how to live lives of goodness, kindness, compassion, truth, and generosity.

Let us forgive quickly, just as you have forgiven us. Guide us to be intentional in bringing glory and honor to God in every aspect of our lives.

Thank you.

In your name, Jesus, we pray,

Amen

Ed McDowell is the CEO of Warm Beach Camp Ministries. He also coaches and consults on board leadership and development, bringing fresh perspectives to perplexing situations. Ed authorizes a devotional series titled A Well-Planted Faith in an Uprooted Culture. His writing and speaking aim to challenge people to have God’s Word inform how they live. Ed and his wife, Bev, live on Camano Island, Washington, where they live out their mission statement: “To give our lives away for the cause of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible.”

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