ROMANS 6:1-10 – What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 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. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

THEME OF THE DAY. DEFEATING OUR GREATEST SPIRITUAL FOE. The Christian has three spiritual enemies to fight each day. They are the devil, the world, and self. Of the three, the one we greet in the mirror each morning causes us the greatest spiritual damage. More Christians are spiritually defeated, not by the devil and world but by not waging warfare against self. And this foe is so subtle. It whispers, “seek comfort” not self-discipline. It cries, “You have rights” not death to self. It compromises Biblical separation by tolerated worldliness. And self always justifies lack of commitment to prayer, the Word, and church. Yes, we are in a spiritual war against self and unless fought against, the devil and world need not attack us. We will be spiritually defeated by the foe of self. But there is hope . . . .

When it comes to defeating our greatest spiritual foe, there are numerous spiritual principles and commands to consider. But no matter where we go, there is one underlying truth that must be understood, believed, embraced, and lived if any victory over our sinful self is to be achieved. It is found in today’s scripture. The Apostle Paul is writing what is one of the most important passages of scripture to live the Christian life as God intends – full of joy, power, and influence. As we read it, two truths jump out with force. First, our death with Christ. Go back and note how often Paul refers to the believer being in union with Christ in His death which means “death to the power of sin.” At least seven times the Apostle reminds us that when Christ died for sin, we died to sin. This is the key truth to overcome all sin. By virtue of our union with the Lord Jesus in His death, the power of sin is broken. And when the power of sin is broken, the power to overcome self is present. Friends, we don’t have to be enslaved to self. Self died with Christ. We are free. Keep telling ourselves this truth and victory over sin will come consistently.

The other truth helping us defeat our greatest foe, self, is just as we died with Christ to sin, we rose with Him to overcome sin. Again, go back and read today’s scripture and note the Apostle’s reference to our union with Christ in His resurrection. At least four times we are reminded that Christ’s resurrection is also ours. Sin cannot have dominion over us and that means self cannot rule us unless we let it.

Overcoming self. It has been done by our Lord Jesus. We now, by faith, must recognize our union with Him and then daily say, “No, self. You died. You are not my master. Jesus is. You have nothing to do with me anymore.” And in doing so, the joyful Christian life becomes reality.

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for looking too often and focusing too long on myself and not Your glorious Son.”

QUOTE: “The way to overcome self is to forget self. The way to defeat self is to ignore self.”