Romans 7:1-13 – Paul warns
Christians not to back into our former way of living. As far as Christians are
concerned, a life “controlled by the
sinful nature” belongs to our past. The law not only reveals sin, it also
stimulates it. The natural tendency in man is to desire the forbidden thing –
death. Physical death and beyond that, eternal death - final separation from
God – are the fruit of our “union”
with the law.
Paul tells us what exactly
happened to us. "Therefore, my
brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that
you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we
might bear fruit for God" (Romans 7:4). Remember, "we have become united with Him in the
likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His
resurrection, knowing that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body
of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for
he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe
that we shall also live with Him." (6:5–8)
This truth is so crucial to the
believer's daily walk with Christ that Paul reminds us to "consider (reckon, count upon the fact) yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to
God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). God's solution to our sin problem
was to crucify us with Christ. As far as the Father is concerned we were there
in the grave with Christ and we rose into newness of life with Him. This
happened in Baptism. Now we are joined in an intimate union with our Lord and
Savior.
Remember, in Baptism you died to
sin. Christ bore the penalty of the law on our behalf, and rose from the dead.
The moment you were born again in Baptism you were identified with Christ's death
and resurrection. You are no longer under the law, but under grace.
Luther observed, "It is
impossible for a man to be a Christian without having Christ; and if he has
Christ, he has at the same time all that is in Christ. What gives peace to the
conscience is, that by faith our sins are no more ours, but Christ's, upon whom
God has laid them all; and that, on the other hand, all Christ's righteousness
is ours, to whom God has given it. Christ lays His hand upon us, and we are
healed. He lays His mantle upon us, and we are clothed; for He is the glorious
Savior, blessed forever."
Merciful Father, through Holy Baptism You called us to be Your own
possession. Grant that our lives may evidence the working of Your Holy Spirit
in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control, according to the image of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, our Savior.
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
History of the Great Reformation of the Sixteenth Century in Germany by Jean Henri Merle d'Aubigné
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