What is the ‘old self’ doing with our new identity in Christ?
6For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. 10The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, he lives to God. 11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Romans 6:6-12 (NIV)
In Romans 6:6, Paul introduces another essential truth about our identity in Christ: our “old self” has been crucified with Christ so that “the body ruled by sin might be done away with” (italicized mine). This concept can be challenging to understand, and even the best Bible scholars have differing interpretations.
Some teach that the “old self” and “the body ruled by sin” are the same, suggesting that the “old self” is slowly dying. However, in Paul’s Letter to the Romans, “crucified” consistently means “killed.” Paul is likely saying that the “old self” was killed to eliminate “the body ruled by sin,” indicating that these are two distinct entities.
The “body ruled by sin” refers to the physical body controlled by sin. Neither the body itself nor its desires are inherently sinful. Sin expresses itself through our bodies, reigning over us by compelling us to obey its demands. As Paul later states, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires” (Rom. 6:12).
In contrast, the “old self” is the former unregenerate person, who we used to be before we knew Christ – our former way of thinking, our old ego, and our past priorities. For Christians, this “old self” is dead and gone, replaced by a new identity in Christ. Because my “old self” has died, I am “who has died has been set free from sin” (Rom.6:7). As a Christian, “I,” my truest self, really seek God and love his law and holiness. While sin remains in me with a lot of strength, it no longer controls my personality and life. It is still able to lead me to disobey God, but now, sinful behavior goes against my deepest nature, my new identity.
When non-Christians sin, they are acting according to their natural inclinations. Why wouldn’t they sin? But when someone is united to Christ, everything changes, because who they are changes. There is a new “me.” When a Christian sins, they are acting against their identity. Why would they sin? Therefore, if I sin, it is because I do not realize who I am; I have forgotten what has been done for me in Christ.
Someone said, “Genuine Christians can temporarily sin, but they cannot enjoy sin in the long run!” Reflect upon your old experience and see how is it true for you.
[The ideas for this week’s materials on Romans 6:1-14 were drawn from Tim Keller’s book “Romans 1-7 for You“]
I have been writing one day ahead of the questions for this entire week :-). This is something I thought about and discussed earlier this week. I feel that I am more and more aware of sins now and because sins no longer rule over me as absolutely as it had before – mostly because knowing that the forces that tempt me is an external force trying to control me just as there is the Spirit which is God presence in me helping to shield me – I know now that I do have a choice. When temptation is there, God is also there to steer me away from it. But unfortunately the body is weak and temptation pull is still so strong and insidious that I keep getting distracted by its pull. In this case, I have a choice and I know it and when I chose sins I know I’m disobeying the God that I love and fear! I recognize my willful and evil intent! These choices hurt more and more each time and as my relationship for the Father deepen, I believe that one day, the pain of those choices will be greater than whatever short term pleasure I may get from the sinful desires and then I will of my own free will choose rightfully, each time to look toward the Father. Then maybe one day the voices of sins will be noise I no longer hear at all! I pray to God that He help me make this true!