Romans 6:6 – Brought to Nothing

Sin wants to be our master, ruling and dominating us (Genesis 4:7).

Left to ourselves, we inevitably become its slaves.

Every person to walk the earth, except Jesus, is currently a slave or has been a slave to sin. This works itself out in every evil that we see one person commit against another, or even against themselves (1 Corinthians 6:18).

But God, in compassion, became a man and lived a perfect life, fulfilling Old Testament law and prophecy (Matthew 5:17) to redeem us from that slavery.

We then come to the historical event Paul wrote of in today’s passage:

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Romans 6:6 ESV

Jesus, a real man, was crucified on a real cross, in a real place, and saved us from the real consequences of enslavement to sin.

Our “old self” has been crucified with Christ and “brought to nothing,” and though it still battles with us, it is a futile fight.

For our victory and freedom has already been won through Jesus.

We have been “predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29), and in our walk with God, we will be made increasingly more like Jesus, the perfect Son.

Live in light of the truth that Jesus has won for us both our freedom from slavery and the great honor of being made more like him.