Day 15 – Throw that Carcass Back in the Grave – Julie Earl
Romans 6:1-14
Have you ever seen a grave robber walking around carrying the carcass of a dead person, trying to get that carcass (or cadaver) to function? To eat with him at a restaurant? to shop at the mall? or play a round of golf?
This picture is ludicrous and disgusting. No one would drag death around and expect to live a happy, fulfilled life, yet this is exactly what we do when we dig up our old sin nature and try to find happiness by dragging it around with us wherever we go. Paul said in Romans 6:2-3, “We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”
When a person believes in Jesus and receives His forgiveness, that person’s sins are completely forgiven and they are buried with Christ. Why are they buried with Christ? “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life….For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:4,6-7).
We are buried with Jesus so that our body of sin might be done away with, and that we should no longer be slaves to sin. That’s awesome news! That dead body gets to stay in the grave and we get to live with Christ as a new creation. “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we also will live with him….The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God” (Romans 6:8,10).
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Romans 6:11-12). In other words, you have been freed from that carcass of death and sin, so don’t let it boss you around. You are no longer a slave to it, so throw that carcass back in the grave and walk in the grace, love, holiness and freedom that Jesus’ provided for you. “For sin shall not be your master….” (Romans 6:14).
Julie’s note: I burst out laughing when the Holy Spirit gave me this picture, but it’s one that I’m sure will stick with me for many years – and I hope it sticks with you as well. We are truly free from that body of death and sin!
Many blessings and much love,
Julie Earl with Crazy About You Ministries (CAYM)