Wednesday, June 7 – Romans 6

In our reading yesterday, we were met with the unending grace of God delivered to us through Christ. There is nothing any of us can do to earn the favor of God; we have been flooded with the mercy of God through Christ. This love cannot be bought, earned, or withheld from anyone. Paul reminds the original reader, as well as us today, that we must love and accept others the way God does. If we withhold grace from others, we are not acting in the ways of Jesus.

Paul elaborates on his message in Romans 6. In our reading for today, Paul is reiterating that not only does this grace bring abounding forgiveness for our sins, but further, it completely transforms us into new creatures. As a new creation, we can’t continue to live in sin because we are dead to that way of life. Yes, we are forgiven, but not only that, we are made new. This change in our makeup means we are no longer held by the grip of sin.

This transformation, described as being baptized in Christ, is littered throughout the writings of Paul. The apostle is walking with us, paving the way for us to walk as followers of Christ and as members of a greater body.

One commentary by L. Ann Jervis puts it this way, “Standing in grace is standing in an entirely new place, a place apart from sin. Standing in grace means that we have died to sin.” Although sin is still a part of this world, and admittedly still a part of our lives, our new placement provides a new identity that is not defined by sin.

A butterfly no longer takes on the characteristics of a caterpillar after its transformation. In no way is the butterfly missing out due to its new makeup. In the same way, we undergo a process that makes us into something new and beautiful.

My challenge to you is to find this beauty in yourself. See the grace of God as a new identity that is given to you as a gift. May you never try to earn favor with the Creator that intentionally made you who you are. May you please look for the beauty in someone else. Everyone. Assume they have the beauty of Christ. Consider the longing God has for their heart. God wants every part of them. May we treat them as so.

Questions for reflection:

  1. When would you consider the moment you were aware of your new identity?
  2. What changes has the gift of grace made in your life?
  3. How has grace transformed the way you interact with others?