Happily Ever After - Crucified

This past Sunday, Andrew discussed crucifixion and how our old man was crucified. He asked us to spend some time in Romans 6 this week. Our 318 group had a great discussion over Romans 6 this past Thursday. That chapter has so much meat to chew on.

"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 6:3-4

Throughout the Bible, baptism is used as a means of identifying someone with something. 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 describes how Israel was "baptized unto Moses." Matthew 3:11 describes John the Baptist baptizing with water for repentance, but Jesus will come to baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. The Holy Ghost identifies them as Christ's and the fire, as the next verse states, judgment. These are just to name a few.

Romans 6:3-4 simply points out that we are identified with Christ's death and resurrection in that our old man has been crucified (Romans 6:6), and we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The pointing out is simple, but the implications are huge!

Similarly, now that I am married, I identify as being married, and I do not act as a single man does. In the same way, you shouldn't try and drag the old man around, as Andrew mentioned.

Let me take a moment to add here about being single. The ways of a single man are not necessarily the same as that of the old man that has been crucified. In fact, the apostle Paul says that it's easier to focus on the things of the Lord when you are single (1 Corinthians 7). I don't want the single folks feeling like they have to get married.

Every time I hear a reference to dragging the old man around, I can't help but think about the 80s movie Weekend at Bernie's. The two main characters are invited to a weekend beach house by their boss for a party. When they arrive, they find their boss is dead and spend the rest of the movie trying to convince all the partygoers that nothing is wrong. Just like in the movie, when you drag your old man around pretending it is alive, it's exhausting!

Not only is dragging the old man around exhausting, it can be destructive. This is why it is imperative that you understand who the old man is (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), reckon the old man dead (Romans 6:11), and understand what the new creation is (Ephesians 4:24).

This understanding leads to the walking in the newness of life verse 4 talks about, so go walk in that newness of life!