Romans 6.6-8
6 We know that our old self was crucified
with him in order that the body
of sin might be brought to nothing,
so that we would no longer be
enslaved to sin.
7 For one who has died
has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ,
we believe that we will also live with him.
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Yesterday, we pictured being given a white shirt, and that every time we sin, we make a mark with a black sharpie on it. That shirt would be completely black in no time! But in mercy, He does not count my sins against me (Psalm 32.1), yet the black marks on my shirt also can’t just simply disappear. My sin must be dealt with properly, once and for all. Otherwise, I could never be eternally free from sin. I need not just forgiveness, but actual cleansing. I need to become brand new on the inside so that I can be free from sin, not just forgiven of it.
So God does the improbable; He Himself comes to the earth, puts on flesh and blood, and goes through this life with all of its pains and temptations, but finishes His life with a perfectly white shirt; not one single black mark. God becomes a Man, the Person of Jesus Christ, and He then puts upon Himself my blackened shirt; He is placed upon a cross with that shirt, and is punished with all of God’s justice and wrath for all of my black marks.
As I look to that cross, I know that I should have been on that cross, but instead He offers me a Great Exchange. As He wears my black shirt, He then dons upon me His perfectly white shirt so that I could stand clean and pure before Him. I am allowed to take credit for all of His good deeds, and I become His righteousness, while He becomes my sin (2 Corinthians 5.21).
It is a scandal (Matthew 27.16-23)! He gets punished, and I get off free! I don’t deserve what I’ve been given, and He surely does not deserve what He has been given!
He died the death
that we deserved,
so that we could live the life
that He deserved.
He received the punishment
that we deserved,
so that we could receive the reward
that He deserved.
As I go through my day, do I feel as though I stand dressed in white before God? Or do I feel as though I am still wearing my old shirt, adding black marks each day? What causes me to not stand in faith before God, believing in the goodness of the Gospel?
The Gospel reminds me that since I have died with Christ, I am now set free from sin, and even the stain of sin. Because of that, I will be raised with Christ and live with Him for all eternity (Colossians 3.1-4).
Read Again and Turn it into a Prayer:
Romans 6.6-8
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Empty Me Out
Liz Vice
Personalize and Read or Pray Aloud:
Empty me out, fill me with You
Lord there is nothing I can give to You
I lay down my life, here at Your feet
You give me life so completely
I died with You, was buried with You,
the moment I believed
I rose with You, ascended with You,
into the Heavenlies
Lord, it’s not me, it’s You inside of me
Jesus, You’re all these eyes can see
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Pray Aloud:
With my daily bread inside of me,
help me enter into my day;
To have Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done,
in my work as in my play.
As I look to this day and plan my way,
Lord, You direct my steps.
I entrust my life and every moment to You,
as I enter into Your rest.
Father, help __________ to
glorify You in every way.
Reveal Your beauty in _________
as it is in Heaven.
Give _________ Daily Bread,
and thank You
for Your undeserved mercy.
Help us to forgive others.
Keep __________heart soft for You,
for Your Word, prayer
and those that You put in their life,
that they may keep their heart
from evil and sin.
Thank You for Your grace and mercy.
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