So many times in the New Testament our relationship with sin is compared to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible seems to suggest the Cross and Resurrection are the paradigms of our life as Christians. As Christ's disciples, we are marked and molded into a shape that tells His story. In this case, we are now dead to sin and alive to righteousness.
We were buried therefore with [Christ Jesus] 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…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 not longer be enslaved to sin…Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him…So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness. - Romans 6
Because of the work of Jesus, the chaffing chains of sin no longer enslave me. Sin is no longer my master. I am free...to obey. I am free to walk in the life of righteousness. I now have, through His divine power, everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The power of the Holy Spirit is reshaping my heart and desires to walk in God’s ways. All of this - the fullness of life and freedom - are mine.
Alas, I continue to struggle with sin, listening to the seductive voices of selfishness and pride, mis-ordering my loves, giving homage to the idols I have set up in my heart. I might be free, but I still turn back to the slavery of sin. I am still a work in progress. But in the face of this, the resurrection tells me, “It does not have to be this way. The strength and power of the Risen Christ are yours to choose godliness.” The tricky part is living into—and continually embracing—that which is already mine.
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O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to death on the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection has delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant that we who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit. Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, empowered and transformed by your grace in and among us.
-From The Book of Common Prayer