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. For one who has died has been set free from sin. (Romans 6.6-7)
We struggle. Even as youth leaders, we struggle. We do battle with sin. Life would be so much better (on so many levels) if we were finished with our battle with sin. It would be so much nicer to walk into the youth room and have a clean track record with sin for the week. It would be nice to have sin beaten completely, have everything figured out, to talk to the students from a place of accomplishment (instead of still on the battlefield with them).
But, that’s not the way it works. God has called us to run our race, to fight against sin, and, as we are, to help others in their battles with sin. I love you all so much because you understand that the Christian life is more than just simply your own battle with sin (or even your own family’s battle with sin). God has called you into a spiritual family–we are to help our brothers and sisters with sin.
In these two verses, Paul gives us two encouragements as we fight and battle indwelling sin. The first encouragement is that we have died to sin. Since we are now untied with Christ, in relationship with Jesus, in union with Him, when He died on the cross (taking our hell for us), we died too. Sin lost its punch in our life. We are no longer slaves to it. We are free from it! We have died and are free from sin! The first encouragement Paul lays out is that Christ has done the impossible: released us from spiritual captivity! Fight in the strength that you are free in Christ.
The second encouragement is that the truth that the battle rages on. Your old self was crucified, not bombed. Yes, the enemy has been defeated, but we are called to continue to fight against its resistance in our life. Your old self is crucified. The old desires, the old habits, the old way of living–now on the cross, dying and without hope. It would be nice if there were no old self, no old desires or habits that we can struggle with. It would be great if the our enemy, the flesh, was destroyed completely and not still calling out to us. The struggle is to be expected, but keep fighting. The enemy has been beaten and one day you will live without its presence anymore. Praise God!