Romans 6:5-11

Romans 6:5-11
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Union with Christ is an amazing thing.  He has paid the price for our sins, and for that we receive the benefits.  In Christ's death to sin, we, too, have died to sin.  That old self is dead, and we are joined with Christ in his resurrection.  We are raised to new life, a new life that is no longer captive to sin.  We believe that our future is the same as Christ's -- we shall pass through death into life.
  In the meantime, although our future is secure, we are still caught up in a world filled with sin and suffering.  Sin is a real force in our lives, and it continues to damage us and our relationships.  We hope for a renewed future, but in the present we must cope with sin's reality.
  In the darkness, light continues to shine.  We continue to have hope, and we focus our vision on Christ, and on Christ alone.  We have died to sin, and we are joined in Christ's resurrection.  Death and sin no longer have the power to condemn us.  So may we fix our eyes on the hope we have in Christ, allowing despair to fall away.  We won't be free of sin until we pass through death, but in the meantime we can remember that true power is in Christ, and in him we have been claimed forever.