Romans 6.  Should Christians continue to live the sinful lives they were living before their conversion?  Absolutely not. Paul moves from the theme of justification by faith in chapter 5 to sanctification in chapter 6. He explains something he said in 5:9-10: “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”  The Christian’s life begins with a resurrection, symbolized by baptism. It is lived free of the dominion of sin and death.  The Christian has been redeemed from the slave-block so is no longer destined to bondage, but is free to present his members to God as instruments of righteousness. He is being saved from sinfulness by Christ’s new life within.

LORD, help us to live the new life you have given us — a life that is resurrected and free from sin’s bondage.