Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Romans 6 and Psalm 102

In Romans 6 Paul addresses questions that might be raised about the place of sin in a believer’s life. Using two main images, Paul makes his point: Sin should never be willingly entertained or warmly welcomed in the life of a believer; it should be strongly rejected and resisted.

First (v.2-10) using the powerful symbolism of baptism by immersion, Paul reminds us that we received salvation in the first place by dying to our old way of life and rising to new life in Christ. Being submerged under the water reminds us of this “dying” and that our old self was crucified with Jesus. Similarly, rising again out of the waters of baptism is a powerful symbol of the way we have been raised to a new spiritual life with Christ. Because we have died to our old life of sin, we are to consider ourselves “dead to sin” and not willingly allow it to reign in our lives.

Secondly (v.15-23) he uses the image of slavery to remind us that we used to be willing slaves of sin and temptation, merrily obeying their every wish; but now we have made the free choice to be joyfully willing slaves to the pursuit of lives pleasing to the Lord. To encourage us to even greater commitment to this new way of life he reminds us in closing that the “wages” sin offers are death (the spiritual death of separation from God) but the “free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v.23).

Why would we ever choose to live the old life that leads only to darkness and death when we can live the new life of joyful, loving, obedient intimacy with God that leads to eternally abundant life?

Life application: Consider whether you are giving a warm welcome to any attitudes, thought patterns or behaviours that are sinful and displeasing to the Lord. Ask the LORD for the supernatural power of Jesus’ resurrection to enable you to make the moment-by-moment choices to refuse to obey these temptations, to put them to death at every opportunity, and to choose a life that is pleasing to HIM.