The Effects of our Union with Christ

Introduction

I could have included vs 6-10 together with the last message since they describe for us the results of our union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection; but vs 6 needed more explanation than it would have gotten in that message. The average Christian does not spend a lot of time studying or thinking about doctrine. That is often relegated to men like me, pastors and teachers. So when we see a verse or hear a sermon about Union with Christ we tend to just pass it off as meaningless babel. Paul’s goal and my goal in this chapter is to show you that union with Christ is not some meaningless theological topic.

Before we unpack he text, let’s consider how our union with Christ affects our lives.

Our justification is accomplished by our union with Christ. The only way we could be declared righteous before God is if Christ’s righteousness were put on our account. Imputation of righteousness happens because we are connected to Christ.

Our access to God is by our union with Christ. Sinful man never could have entered into God’s presence and lived, but because we are connected to Christ and his righteousness, we have unrestricted access to God.

Strength and comfort come because of our union with Christ. How is it that a christian can find the strength and comfort to go through trials when they feel weak? That connection to Jesus by His spirit provides that for us.

How is it that a Christian can preach a message or witness to someone who is dead in their sins, and see God save that person? It isn’t in our eloquence or power. Only God can do that.

How is it that when I sin I don’t lose my salvation? It is because of God’s power granting me eternal security. Because I am in Christ.

How is it that I can overcome sin has been our main topic this chapter? It is only because I am vitally connected to Christ.

Literally every area of our Christian life is impacted by this doctrine in such a way that it is not meaningless chatter. It is not just words on a page, but it is a spiritual reality that changes our lives. This morning we are going to look further at the effects of our union with Christ. What happened when we became united to Christ?

The Old Man died

Romans 6:6 “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.”

As I mentioned, vs 6 needs to be studied carefully. There are some key terms we need to identify in this verse: our old man, the body of sin, destroyed. In this first point, we will focus on the meaning of the old man. A distinction must be made between the old man and the body of sin. They are two separate things. Paul is not restating the same truth in two different ways. We know this because the old man being crucified is the reason the body of sin is destroyed.

Take for instance this illustration. We will stick with the imagery Paul uses in this chapter. Imagine I have a grain of corn and I want to grow corn. The first thing I have to do is plant the corn. I prepare the soil, dig a little hole in the ground, place the seed in the hole and then cover it up again. In order for the seed to grow, I first must plant the seed. The two steps are not the same thing, but one is necessary for the other one to take place.

Colossians 3:9 “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Paul states this as a matter of fact. You have put off. That old man is gone.

So what is this old man? The old man is basically who you used to be before Christ. It is the sum total of who you were. Now that includes a lot of things. The bible teaches that in Christ, we died to who we were and have become a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” So when Jesus died what part of us died with Him? It was who we used to be.

Here’s another illustration that may help you understand what this means. Imagine a guy has been struggling with drugs for years. His addiction has caused him to be untrustworthy, a liar, maybe even a theif. He exercises no impulse control. On top of that he feels powerless, chained to his addiction. But somewhere along the way he gets help, counseling for his addiction. He gets victory and he has been sober for six years. Looking back, he is different from who he was. He has a stable job. His relationships are growing and he is becoming a trustworthy guy. Someone might come up to him and start accusing him of being that old drug addict but he could legitimately say, “I am not that person anymore.”

When you got saved, you became a new person. You literally died to that old person because of your union with Christ. This is why it is impossible for a Christian to be completely unchanged after their salvation. This is a work that God does. A change has occurred whether you see it yet or not because you are a new man.

The Flesh was rendered Powerless

Now we all know that just because someone is a Christian doesn’t mean they stop been tempted to sin, or even giving in to sin. Why is that the case? If the old man is dead, why do I still struggle? It is because the body of sin remains. Elsewhere Paul uses another word to describe the body of sin: the flesh.

Romans 7:25 “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

The old man is dead, but the flesh must be put to death on a daily basis. We are told to mortify the deeds of the flesh in Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” This is consistent with our experience. Our struggle against sin is a constant struggle that involves our sinful desires.

Definition: The flesh refers to the fallen, sinful nature of humanity, which includes corrupted desires, affections, and patterns of thinking that are at odds with God's will.

James 1:14–15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

John Knox the great Scottish Presebyterian reformer once commented:

I know how hard the battle is between the flesh and the spirit under the heavy cross of affliction, when no worldly defense but present death doth appear. I know the grudging and murmuring complaints of the flesh

Knox’s word’s echo Paul’s in Romans 7. but here Paul says that the Old man was put to death that the body of sin might be destroyed. Being crucified with Christ, renders the old man dead and that has some influence on the flesh.

The verse says it is destroyed, doesn’t that mean the flesh was eliminated as well? The word destroyed literally means nullified, defeated or deprived of power. While the flesh still exists in the Christian, its power over us is broken. We can choose to do what is right because we died to the old man and because we have Christ living in us to enable us to do the right thing. Dependence on the Spirit is the underlying truth behind our victory because it is our union with Christ that causes us to overcome.

We see that this is what Paul means by destroyed when he says at the end of the verse the result is we should not serve sin. We are not its servants anymore which leads us to the next result of our union with Christ.

We were set free from sins power

Romans 6:7 “For he that is dead is freed from sin.”

Quote from Fredrick Douglass once wrote an article encouraging African American’s to fight for their own freedom in the civil war and in it he latched onto a truth that Paul is developing here.

“Now or never.” Liberty won by white men would lose half its luster. “Who would be free themselves must strike the blow.” “Better even die free, than to live slaves.” This is the sentiment of every brave colored man amongst us.

The truth that Douglass and Paul both bring out is that there is freedom in death. Our death to the old man brought freedom. No longer are we slaves to sin. A Christian does not have to be bound in the bondage of addiction and sin in his life. Now we sometimes choose to put ourselves back into bondage. 2 Corinthians 10:4 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)” speaks of strongholds we allow in our lives, but it also tells us that our weapons are mighty to pull down those strong holds.

Jim Berg classically used the illustration to help us understand this picture.

Let’s say you have been renting a home from a man named Mr. Brown. On the first of every month he comes to your door to collect your rent. This month Mr. Brown sold the home to Mr. Smith. to your surprise, when the rent is due next month, Mr. Brown shows up at your door again to collect rent. In months past you were required to pay Mr. Brown. You were under his power. When he sold the house, however, his power to collect the rent was broken. You can pay him if you want but you don’t have to. You are now required to pay the new Landlord, Mr. Smith.

As a believer, you have a new landlord: Jesus Christ or as the text will talk about righteousness. You no longer owe that old landlord anything, you are free from his power. Brother, you don’t have to sin. You are free from its power. Verse 6 began with two key words that we will unpack more next week: knowing this. Brother, you need to know this truth. You need to believe this truth.

We Experience Life in Jesus

Romans 6:8 “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

This verse shows that we are united in Christ not just part of the way, but we have the whole thing. It isn’t like we just died to sin, but we also are raised to new life. We experience new life in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said in

John 10:28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

The moment we got saved we received eternal life. but notice in 1 John 5:11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” where this life comes from. It is in his son: in Christ.

In Christ, you have everything you need to live this life. Christ lives in you and is your life. Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” There is no reason for you to be defeated, there is no reason for you to go looking somewhere else for answers because everything you need for living life and living it godly are found in Jesus Christ.

Death Has no Hold on Us

Romans 6:9–10 “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”

The final benefit of our union with Christ is that death has no hold on us. While we will all mostly die someday. Death does not have to frighten the believer because we know that on the other side is eternity with Jesus in heaven and all of it splendor.

Conclusion

Brother, I want to remind you this morning that you do not have to live a defeated life. While the battle between flesh and spirit remains, we can be victorious because of our union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. The first step to victory is knowing, believing and trusting in that truth. Next week, we will look at how we put into place or activate the victory that we already have, but I challenge you this morning, if you have felt defeated to come and just spend some time choosing to trust God that he can give you the victory. And if you need help, part of the process may involve brothers and sisters coming along to strengthen you. Be willing to ask for help.