Already There In Christ

 

 

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
—Romans 6:4, ESV


Jesus’ burial in the tomb wasn’t the end of His life. His burial was the burial of sin itself. 

1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (ESV). 

Jesus bore our sins in His own body so we might die to sin and live the righteousness He has given us. When His body was placed in the tomb, everything that separated us from God was gone. Sin wasn’t being controlled or momentarily removed. The death Jesus died for our sin was once for all (Romans 6:10). When Jesus died, sin was destroyed once and forever.

My friend in Christ, you don’t have to try to bury your past. You don’t need to clean yourself up enough so that God will accept you. You have received what He has finished. Your old identity has already been placed in the tomb with Him. It’s dead and buried. This is the reason Romans 6:4 says we were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as He was raised, we too might walk in newness of life.

We have died to sin so that we can live to righteousness! This is the new person you are in Christ. This changes how you handle guilt, shame, and past failures. When those thoughts of condemnation come, you don’t have to struggle trying to fix yourself. You tell yourself that what you are being accused of has already been buried. That body of sin has already been placed in the tomb with Jesus. You’re no longer that person.

You don’t have to strive to become new. You are living from what has already been finished. Just like Jesus’ body was completely placed in that tomb, your sins—your old life has been completely dealt with. There is nothing left undone. You can rest in the finished work of Jesus, knowing that when that stone was rolled in front of that tomb, it was sealing your old life away for once and for all. Just as Jesus was raised from death by the glory of the Father, you are also raised to walk in your new life.

Jesus didn’t die to help you become righteous. He died to make you righteous. He didn’t die to somewhat deal with sin and let you handle the rest. He took it away completely. He didn’t die to help you get to God. He brought you into perfect unity with His Father through His finished work.

Your life is no longer about trying to get there. You are already there in Him. It’s no longer about trying to be whole. It’s no longer about proving who you are in Christ. When you seek Him with all your heart, you will know you have found Him. Your burial clothing will remain in the tomb. You will walk out, living the new life He has given you.