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The first part of our Lord's work for us is known as Substitution (Romans 3:21 - 5:21).
Here we see that Christ died for us, that we are now justified before
God because He died in our place for our sins. Our sins, the guilt,
penalty and offense to God were dealt with at the cross, on behalf of
every believer .
The second part of Christ's work for us is our identification with His death.
Here He has put our old self where He put our sins, on the cross with Christ.
"Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin
might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (Romans
6:6); "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God"
(Colossians 3:3). We see that not only did Christ die for us - substitution -
but that we as believers died with Christ - Identification. Knowing that
Christ died for sins as our atonement is essential for understanding our justification,
likewise the knowledge that we died with Christ is indispensable for understanding our
sanctification. If the difference between "Christ dying for us," and "our
dying with him," is not recognized and applied to our lives, it is safe to say
that our old self is still the dominating force in our lives. "For he
who has died is free from sin" (Romans 6:7). Because of this truth Paul can
say to the Colossians, "therefore consider the members of your earthly body as
dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts
to idolatry" (Colossians 3:5). Because of our identification with Christ in
His death we see the only possibility for the believer to live a truly holy
life. "For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we
shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:5).
The sixth chapter of Romans is the foundational truth that every believer must
understand if he is to have victory over sin. God consigns the old fallen
Adam-life to the cross and has nothing to say to it. The old self in Adam is
fallen and beyond repair. He deals with the believer on the ground that "In
Christ you died." Because of our union with Christ sin does not have to have
dominion over our lives, even though it is present in us. "Even so consider
(reckon) yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its
lusts" (Romans 6:11 -12). Our reckoning this to be true only makes us begin to
realize the fact in experience - it is already a fact through our union with
Him. Sin need have no more power over us as believers than we grant it
through unbelief. If we are alive unto sin it will be due largely to the fact
that we have failed to reckon ourselves dead to sin.
As we learn of our identification with Christ we begin to focus in on
our position in Him, the source of our spiritual life. Our position is
eternally established, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new
creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our condition is what we are in our
spiritual lives as Believers. Our position in Christ never changes, but
our condition does. As we exercise faith in our walk with the Lord, our
condition begins to reflect more and more of what are eternal position
is, in other words there will be growth in our lives. In most cases
believers are very aware of their condition and know little of their
position. This is the reason there is so much struggle with failure in
our lives. If we are to grow spiritually and be effective for Christ our
faith must be secure in our position in Him. "In Him, you also, after
listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having
also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise"
(Ephesians 1:13).
 Written by Alan Torres
Bibliography For Further Study
Newell, William R. Romans Verse by Verse. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 1996 (Originally published 1938).
Newell's commentary is a classic for understanding the doctrinal content of Romans, it can hardly be equalled.
Stanford, Miles J. The Green Letters. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing, 1975.
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