Dead to Sin, Alive to God

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. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:5-11
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Dead to Sin, Alive to God
We do not have a God that is disconnected and aloof from His creation. In fact, Christ identifies Himself with us. His death pays for our sins, and His righteousness is credited to us. We are connected intimately to our Savior, a connection forged in death. His death was on the cross; ours is in Baptism, which gives the benefits of His work on the cross. We are also given a new life through those same waters of holy Baptism and, in that way, have a resurrection like His. New life has already begun for you, a child of God. Those crucified with Christ in Baptism have been freed from sin’s effects. Because Christ has united Himself to us, we do not use forgiveness as an excuse to sin; instead, we joyfully live in service to Him and to our neighbor. What blessing is to be found in our connections to Him!