I believe with all my heart that today God means to set you free from the sin that’s been racking your life, because what Jesus did for you was, and is, for real. Dead to the old self, alive to the new.

Okay, so although people these days are often offended by the very notion of sin – how can you possibly believe that rubbish, right? – God takes it so seriously that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to suffer and die so that anyone who would believe in Him and repent of their sin could be set free.

Yesterday we saw that the one who believes in Jesus dies to the old sinful self so that they can walk in newness of life! Hallelujah!

But is it real? I mean, so many of God’s people are still plagued by the terrible consequences of sin. Can we really be set free from its power?

When the Holy Spirit really wants to drive a point home, He’ll present His case by arguing from good to better, from better to best. And so it is with today’s Bible verse:

Romans 6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (ESV)

As though it weren’t enough that we be united with Jesus in His death – in other words, that our old sinful self is dead – we’re also united with Him in a resurrection like His!

That picture of the risen Christ walking out of the tomb … man, that’s the picture of your life. This is real. In Christ you have a new life, filled with the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.