Living for Christ is not something we can do on our own. We need His Spirit in us every step of the way.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Romans 6 is a chapter that deals with our daily lives. Paul is talking to believers who have made the commitment to follow Christ. This commitment is different than the one that many people have prayed that says, “Forgive me of my sins and come into my heart so that I can go to heaven.” Can a person be saved saying a prayer like this? Absolutely–as long as lordship is the motive of the prayer. But, the motive seems to be more about missing hell and gaining heaven than about a personal, one-on-one relationship with Jesus. How can we have His Spirit in us and live our lives as if He isn’t?

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³ Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:1-4

This baptism is something that the Spirit does to/for us. As we are raised from the dead spiritually, the Spirit of Christ makes us new in Him. We sense His presence; we feel the tension when we are at odds with Him, and we know His pleasure when we are in step with Him. This new life we are living can be and should be completely different from the one we were living, if anything, in the way we love others by considering them first in all things. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we let them have their way; their way may not be good for them–or us. It means that we consider their needs before our own preferences.

As we continue to look at this chapter, we will discover that beyond our baptism, dying to ourselves daily is necessary.

Abba, may we take seriously our “baptism” into You. Being buried with Christ and then raised with Christ marks a new life for us. But, we cannot do it alone. We need You to lead us. The Spirit of Christ in us is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Take us higher up and further in, Lord. Amen.