“What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may abound? Of course not! How can we who died to sin yet live in it? Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him (Rom. 6:1-8).”
It is incorrect to think that if justification comes through God’s grace, then it does not matter if we sin because we are justified. Christians have been given a new life through the resurrection of Christ who has conquered sin and death; “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20).” Therefore, we should not fall back into sin as if we did not know Christ. Through Baptism, we participate in the act of Christ’s death and resurrection and now we live in union with the risen Christ. In this union we have the power/strength over sin and death so we should choose to live a life without sin. The new life of the Baptized Christian cannot be perceived with the senses, nor is the Christian immediately conscious of this new life. It can only be perceived through the eyes of faith.
Almighty God, because of your great gift of faith we know that Christ rose from the dead and has given us new life. In your mercy continue to shower us with grace so that we can avoid spiritual harm and be brought more closely into union with your Son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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