“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom.6;6
This text begins by saying, “Knowing this”. Which obviously refers to that which has just been laid down by the apostle immediately before it. Ch. 6 begins with two questions: “What shall we say then? “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” To which is immediately replied, “God forbid!” The reason given is because we who have been immersed in Christ — have also died with Him when He died paying the penalty for our sins — and since we died with Him who died for our sins, then how is it that we should live any longer in this world enslaved to them? This leads right up to the wonderful message of Ro.6:4 which concludes by saying: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism unto 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.”
What a wonderful Savior the eternal Son of God incarnated into being the Lord Jesus Christ truly is! He is, indeed, our propitiation — the one who has satisfied all the holy requirements in obtaining eternal remission and redemption from all of our sins. Praise the Savior! He is our sovereign Savior/substitute — our eternal Surety! Where sin’s losing its reign over us is concerned, Ro.6:6 comes directly into play when it declares: “Knowing this”. When by grace the Holy Spirit reveals this truth regarding the eternal person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it having been eternally accomplished for each of us personally, intimately and completely — then we understand what it means that we are eternally secure in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
All the remaining aspects about us still being sinners in this sinful world suddenly take a back seat to the glorious fact that although sin still remains as an immediate and dreadful part of our animated being — it does not reign over us as it once did before we came to the wonderful gospel truth concerning the eternal Savior Son of God (who is, indeed, our own personal Savior). The text says: “…our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed [or, lit., rendered inoperable] that (we who have been immersed in Christ; in His death for us; in His being buried for us; and in His being raised from the dead on our behalf) henceforth we should not serve sin.”
How totally marvelous that no longer will we religiously serve as a bond-slave our sins! No, rather, we become bond-slaves of Him who has bought and paid for us with His own holy body and blood. He is our strength; our peace with God; our hope for eternal life. He is our all and all; we follow Him; we totally trust in Him. To grow in this grace is to grow in the ever increasing knowledge of this truth.
For Christ’s Glory Only!
-John Carpenter