“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.“
Romans 6:6-8
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As part of my leadership on the Puente team, I have the privilege of working with external partners who join together for the common good of our community. Most of our partners are nonprofit organizations and businesses who have an interest in continuing to make West Chicago a prosperous city. During the almost 10 years I have been working with these community partners, I have never once heard them mention sin as an enemy to be defeated. All of these organizations focus on the pursuit of individual and community freedom and health, but they usually provide physical and emotional support. Our local churches step in to provide what only God can give: freedom from sin.
In these few verses, Paul tells the Christians in Rome that the power of sin that used to control them is gone because of what Jesus did on the cross.
The reason our old self is put on the cross is important: sin doesn’t have power over us anymore. The wrong we used to do no longer controls us. We are free to live how God wants us to live, doing what is right and good.
This freedom from sin is a big part of being a Christian. Paul says that “anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” When someone physically dies, they are done with the pain of this life; likewise, when we die to sin, we are done with sin’s control over us. We don’t have to do what sin wants anymore and instead we can obey God and live rightly.
Paul says that if we die with Christ, we will also live with Him. This means that when we believe in Jesus, it’s not the end. It’s a new beginning. We get to live a new life connected closely to Him. His resurrection gives us hope for eternal life, and we can live each day knowing that sin and death don’t have power over us anymore.
At Puente, many of our youth program coordinators and teachers work directly with vulnerable students, alongside case managers, to bring some of this freedom to our public schools, community centers, and family homes. Many of our clients outside the church are still struggling to survive the deep bondage of sin without the power of God in their lives. They come to us with emotional trauma and a sense of defeat.
Helping our neighbors understand that when we are crucified with Christ, we leave our old sinful ways behind is the key to experiencing true freedom and a full life with Him. We must remember and share who we are in Christ; people redeemed and changed by His love.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- How does the concept of being crucified with Christ and set free from sin impact your daily choices and actions?
- Reflect on a specific area of your life where you are experiencing victory over sin through your union with Christ. How can you continue to grow in this area and walk in greater freedom?
Church Bible Reading: Proverbs 7; Galatians 6