September 9, 2026
CONTINUING TO LIVE IN SIN?
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and 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? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 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.”
Romans 6:1–6 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Having established that God's grace abounds even more where sin increases (Romans 5:20), Paul anticipates a dangerous misconception: "If grace covers sin, shouldn't we keep sinning so God gets more glory for forgiving us?"
Paul answers with an emphatic "Of course not!" To explain why, he walks us through three vital milestones in our spiritual journey: Baptism, Resurrection, and Freedom.
1. Baptism: Burying the Old Taskmaster
Paul points to water baptism as a profound turning point in the believer's life, carrying both a physical and a spiritual dimension:
The Physical Realm: Baptism is a bold, public declaration to your family, friends, and community that you have surrendered your life to the Lordship of Jesus. You are letting the world know you belong to Him.
The Spiritual Realm: Going under the water represents burying the "old man"—the fallen nature that was once bound to a taskmaster intent on stealing, killing, and destroying your life.
Think back to the book of Exodus. When the children of Israel fled Egyptian bondage, God parted the Red Sea. As Israel crossed safely, God brought the waters crashing down, drowning Pharaoh and his army (Exodus 14). Pharaoh was their old taskmaster who had held them in brutal slavery.
In the exact same way, water baptism signifies that your old taskmaster—sin's ultimate claim on your identity—has been buried once and for all in the waters.
2. Resurrection: Raised to Walk in New Life
When you come up out of the waters of baptism, you are physically depicting a spiritual reality: you are resurrected to walk in a brand-new life!
Before Christ, we sinned because it was our nature to sin. But when we receive God’s grace, we are born again with a new heart and a new nature. The old self was crucified with Christ, and the Holy Spirit now indwells us, producing new desires that long for the things of God.
You are not merely a reformed version of your past self; you are a resurrected, new creation in Christ Jesus!
3. Freedom: Breaking the Chains of Sin
Because our old self was crucified with Christ, sin has lost its legal authority over us. Paul declares a liberating truth: "We are no longer slaves to sin."
Sin always promises freedom, but it only delivers bondage.
The True Cost of Sin:
"Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."
Sin is never satisfied with a subtle compromise; its ultimate goal is total addiction, brokenness, and destruction. But Jesus died and rose again to break those chains so you can live in genuine, lasting freedom.
In God's eyes, you are a brand-new person, fully equipped by the Holy Spirit to say "no" to the old taskmaster and "yes" to divine life.
Reflection & Application
Have you declared your faith through water baptism? If you have accepted Jesus as Lord, have you taken that vital step of public obedience to bury the old life and celebrate the new?
Are you walking in your resurrection identity? Do you view yourself as a helpless victim of your past, or do you recognize that the Holy Spirit has given you a brand-new heart and new desires?
Are there old habits you need to leave in the grave? Are there areas where you are still acting like a slave to sin, forgetting that Christ has already broken those chains?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, thank You for the incredible freedom that was purchased for me on the cross. Thank You that my old sinful self was buried with Christ, and that I have been raised to walk in brand-new life.
Expose any area where I am still listening to the lies of my old taskmaster. Break the pull of subtle compromises, bad habits, or old addictions, and remind me that sin no longer holds power over my life.
Empower me to live boldly as a new creation, walking in Your resurrection power, honoring You with my choices, and reflecting Your freedom to the world around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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