Daily Selah is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. -Romans 6:1-4
What shall we say then?
If you have read the chapters leading up to these verses, you will have some knowledge of God's grace and mercy. I pray that grace and mercy have also become a reality in your life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the Lord Jesus who made this possible. His sacrifice not only paid the price for our redemption, but put us in right standing with God.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. -Romans 5:1-2
Paul reminds the believers in Rome that our justification is by faith in Christ and grace is also through Him alone. Having experienced the grace of God, some of them seemed to think that they were free to do whatever they wanted.
Paul was never known for pulling punches. He spoke truth without wavering. Let's look at our key text again.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. -Romans 6:1-4
Paul says, "God forbid" that we should live in sin so there's more grace. (Skewed logic from the Roman Christians here, don't you think?) He reminds them, and us, that we are dead to sin. How do the dead respond? Simple answer: they don't.
We shouldn't be living in sin either. We're dead to it. Water baptism symbolizes this truth. The immersion identifies us with Christ in His death and burial; coming back up out of the water identifies us with His resurrection.
Because of His grace we are not just set free from sin - we have been given a whole new life!
Now, its up to us to "walk in newness of life." In other places in His Word, God says He makes new things and is making all things new. He has made you new in Christ. If you have stumbled, confess it and move on to new things; walk in newness of life!
What shall we say then?
Father, thank You for Your grace and mercy so freely given in Christ. Thank You for making all things new in my life. Give me the strength to walk every moment of every day in newness of life, for Your glory. In Jesus' wonderful Name, Amen.
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