“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.” (Romans 6:3-4)
The moral values of our day are based on relativism, the philosophy that asserts that there are no absolutes, no God to whom human beings are accountable. Whatever any individual feels or asserts as right and true is so, and this despite the claims of science or Christian theological teachings. This has given rise to the acceptance of those who claim to be other than how God made them. There are very few lifestyles and actions that society still deems to be immoral or sinful. And so we are now in a morass of cultural and emotional chaos.
The Apostle Paul maintains that, although God is gracious, long suffering, and merciful, His grace never gives anyone license to sin. Grace does not cancel out our responsibility to pursue righteousness. Paul teaches this truth by pointing out the results of Baptism. In Baptism we die to sin. If we are dead to it then it should no longer rule over us or enslave us. We should never think it right, or ignore, or redefine it.
The idea of fighting against sin and temptation should not be foreign to us if we are indeed united with Jesus. If we do not feel the need or the desire to put up resistance then perhaps we ought to examine our lives. Paul warns us that we cannot have it both ways. Those who give in to sin become enslaved by it. Those so enslaved lose their ability to choose freely. They go along their merry way, thinking they are willingly pursuing their personal lifestyle preferences. In fact are being led around by Satan and neither serving themselves or the Lord Jesus. Those who are in Christ are God’s children. They no longer live for self but for Him. They desire to act in His righteousness and walk in His will. They are not perfect but are aware of their sin and their need for God’s help in overcoming it.