Romans 6:5: For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.
In other words, if we are united by being grafted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also united by growth—grafted, vitally connected—in the likeness of His resurrection. We actually share the life of Christ somewhat as a limb grafted into a tree shares the life of the tree. The life of Christ is our life now. 1
Our spiritual history began at the cross. We were there in the sense that in God’s sight we were joined to Him who actually suffered on it. The time element should not disturb us, because if we sinned in Adam, it is equally possible to have died to sin with Christ. 2
Application
- To be united with Christ is to know He is in charge of everything in my life.
- Since Christ rose from the dead, and if I am united with Christ, how should that change my thinking when I am pressed down by the heartache of life?
Prayer
Lord, may the power that rose Christ from the dead empower me today for Your good purposes.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Romans 1-8) (electronic ed., Vol. 42). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
2. Hughes, R. K. (1991). Romans: righteousness from heaven. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
