A Broke Evangelist

November 11, 2024

Romans 6:5-10

The Meaning of Death and Resurrection with Jesus

5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6For 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— 7because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.”

I can’t help but marvel at the Olympic-level mental gymnastics some folks are performing after last week’s election. You’d think the results came with a bonus reality show: “America’s Got Derangement,” where everyone is trying to outdo each other for the most over-the-top response.

Personally, I’m good with who we got. I mean, I would have survived if the other candidate had won, but let’s be honest: watching their campaign was like attending a concert where the singer only knows one song—and it wasn’t a good one. They’d show up, press conference or rally, and we’d get the same bland playlist on repeat. And then I found out they’d spent a billion dollars for this dud! A halfway competent promoter could throw a killer world tour for that price, but these guys managed to put their losing campaign into a $20 million hole. How do you even manage that? It was like giving a brain-dead teenager a credit card!

Their campaign strategy was like a college kid’s last-minute attempt to write a term paper they barely researched, cranking out one repetitive paragraph after another and hoping the professor doesn’t notice. But what was amazing was that they had over a year to convince people who were already voting for their person. It was like they were trying to sell umbrellas in a drought. Most voters had already made up their minds, but I think they changed their minds after hearing the same uninformative talking points.

It’s a matter of basic sales fundamentals: Quit talking unless you have something else worthwhile to say that will enhance your message.

So here we are, and the dust has settled — but wow, what a ride…now, lets focus on Romans 6:5-10…

Romans 6:5 - For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 

This phrase speaks of a profound connection, much like the way a graft joins with a tree, becoming inseparably part of its life. This deep union includes both His death and resurrection. God invites us to share in both experiences. Paul echoes this in Philippians 3:10-11: “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

Think of it like plugging in to a charging station that not only powers your phone but also syncs your whole digital life — messages, photos, apps, all your personal data. The connection is so deep that everything essential flows into your device, keeping it not just powered but integrated into the network. Now imagine, with faith, our lives plug into Christ in a similar way. But this “syncing” goes beyond just boosting us when we’re low. It’s a bond that brings both life and transformation — Christ’s life flowing into ours like that phone, but on a whole new level. This connection doesn’t just refresh us; it brings us through a journey of transformation that has both highs and lows.

In our faith journey, we often want the power, the “fully charged” feeling that comes with hope and renewal, much like a fully charged battery. But God’s plan also invites us into a deeper sharing — not just the power of resurrection but also the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings. Imagine if, at the charging station, we could choose just the “full charge” button, skipping the updates that improve and challenge us, deleting things we don’t want to face. But that would keep us from true growth and real transformation. As Paul described in Philippians, where he longed for not only the power of Christ’s resurrection but also “the fellowship of His sufferings.” Some of us long for resurrection power, to be “charged up,” but aren’t ready for the refining, the deep sharing that comes through life’s challenges. God invites us to trust that both parts — the triumphs and the struggles — bring us closer to His heart, syncing our lives fully with His.

Sharing in Jesus’ death guarantees we’ll also share in His resurrection. But some Christians get so focused on living a “crucified life” that they miss the bigger picture: it’s all leading to a life of resurrection! The crucified life is essential, yes, but it’s just the prep stage similar to the intense training before a big race. It’s challenging, but it’s meant to lead us to something amazing. Resurrection life is the finish line, the end goal that brings it all together.

Romans 6:6 - 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.

The death of our old self is a done deal—it happened spiritually the moment we were united with Jesus’ death at our salvation. The “old man” refers to the self, shaped by Adam, the part of us wired for rebellion against God. The law can’t do much with this old self; it simply reveals what God’s standards are. The law tries to get the old self to “turn over a new leaf,” but grace knows better: the old self can’t be reformed; it has to be put to death. And, on the cross, that’s exactly what happened—the old self died with Jesus. This crucifixion of the old self is entirely God’s work, not ours. None of us could crucify our old self; Jesus did that for us. Our role is simply to accept it as fact. In place of the old self, God gives believers a new man—a self that is naturally inclined to obey and please God. This new self was raised with Christ in His resurrection.

Imagine you have an old smartphone that drives you crazy. It’s constantly freezing, lagging, and doing the exact opposite of what you want. You try everything: updates, resets, even deleting half your apps, but it’s still wired to fail. All those “fixes” might help for a moment, but the underlying issues are too deep. Now, let’s say a tech expert steps in and says, “This phone can’t be fixed. The wiring is all wrong, and it’ll never function the way it’s supposed to.” Instead of offering repairs, they hand you a brand-new phone, a phone that works perfectly and was designed just for you. You can’t make the old phone behave, but you don’t need to because now you have something entirely new. The only requirement is that you would have to set aside that old, broken phone for good and fully embrace this new one.

In a similar way, our old self — the “old man” shaped by Adam — was broken from the start, resistant to God, and incapable of following His ways on its own. The law can point out where we’re falling short, much like a diagnostic tool showing us every glitch, but it can’t fix us. So, rather than trying to reform that old self, God put it to death with Jesus on the cross and gave us a brand-new self. This new self, like that new phone, is wired to function as it was designed: naturally inclined toward God’s ways. This transformation is entirely God’s work. Jesus did what we couldn’t—crucifying the old self on the cross so that it’s no longer our responsibility to fix it. Our part is simply to accept this new life, learning to walk in it, fully embracing the grace and freedom that come with it.

Romans 6:7 – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Our slavery to sin can only be broken by death. In the 1960 movie “Spartacus”, Kirk Douglas plays the legendary escaped slave who leads a bold rebellion in ancient Rome. At one powerful moment, Spartacus declares, “Death is the only freedom a slave knows. That’s why he is not afraid of it.” In other words, the only way out of slavery is for that old life to end. In a similar way, we’re freed from sin because our “old self” died with Jesus on the cross. With that death, we’re no longer bound by sin's grip. Now, we’re not slaves anymore — a new, free person lives in us, no longer tied down but alive to God’s purpose. While that may sound like an extreme way to go out (I prefer a less painful way), it’s no wonder why people with no hope choose to end their suffering.

Romans 6:8 - Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 

This verse reminds us that we died with Christ once and for all, a defining moment in the past that positioned us in Him and empowers us to daily say “no” to the old self’s desires. Now, with our new nature, we have the power to choose Christ’s resurrection life each day! By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live fully with Him here and now, experiencing the same resurrecting power that raised Jesus.

It’s like a gym membership with a lifetime, all-access pass that someone gifted to you. Before, you were stuck in unhealthy habits and maybe even struggling without the tools to change. But now, with this membership, you have access to everything you need — the machines, trainers, classes, even the energy drinks—all covered! The moment you received that pass, everything changed: you now have the power to live in a completely different way. That first step into the gym was a game-changer, much like how dying with Christ was a defining moment that set us on a new path (for me that first day was just all about dying on the floor!). But, to make the most of this membership, you still have to show up daily, choosing to leave the old habits behind and embrace this new lifestyle. With the Holy Spirit’s power, it’s as if you have a personal trainer constantly cheering you on and providing the strength and motivation to make those healthy choices each day. You’re empowered to live a transformed life, equipped to walk away from what held you back and lean into a whole new way of being—living in Christ’s resurrection power.

I’ll have to remember that when I’m procrastinating about exercising…

Romans 6:9 - For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

We know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He can’t die again—death no longer has any power over Him. It’s like the ultimate mic drop. Death tried its best, but Jesus walked right out of it, leaving it powerless for good!

This might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s like watching a superhero show where the hero is trapped in what seems like an unescapable situation, heading straight for doom! You’re on the edge of your seat, wondering how they’ll get out of it. But here’s the thing we all know—the superhero can’t die. Why? Because if they didn’t survive, there wouldn’t be a “Next week—on Fatman” preview to keep us hooked! The hero always escapes, beats the bad guy, and defeats death once again.

But unlike those shows, which have endless seasons, Jesus only needed one episode. Death tried to claim victory, but when Jesus rose from the dead, death had no more power. He delivered the ultimate blow, and now death is done for good. No cliffhangers. Episode over—and Jesus wins, permanently!

Romans 6:10 - The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

The death He died, He died to sin once and for all—no need for any reruns or encore performances. It was a one-time, final show where sin was defeated, and Jesus took the stage to close the curtain on death’s grip forever. But here’s the best part: the life He now lives, He lives for God, every moment of every day. It’s like He switched channels from a life of death to a life fully dedicated to His Father’s will, with no commercials or distractions. He’s not just living, He’s living for God—all in, all the time, making every moment count. And because He did it once and for all, we get to share in that victory and walk in the new life He secured for us!

The new life we’ve been given isn’t just a free pass to live however we want. With this new life, Jesus lives “to” God, and so should we. We’re not set free from sin and given eternal life so we can just do whatever feels good. No, the whole point is to live in a way that pleases God. It’s like getting a new job and being handed the keys to a brand-new company car—you don’t just drive it anywhere you want necessarily; you take it where it was meant to go, with purpose and direction, not for weekend cruising and street shows. We’ve been given this new life to steer in God’s direction, not our own!

More to come…

A Broke Evangelist – November 11, 2024

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