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Romans 6:6–7 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin, because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

Think

For some people, Christianity seems like just another to-do list. Be better. Try harder. Clean yourself up. It can feel like trading one kind of pressure for another. But when Paul writes Romans 6, he’s not talking about behavior modification. He’s talking about freedom. Deep, soul-level freedom that begins when we realize what’s actually been broken and who actually did the breaking.

At the heart of this chapter is a hard but liberating truth. The old self, the part of you bent toward sin, self-glory, and rebellion, was crucified with Christ. That means your past doesn’t get to boss you around anymore. The sin that once called the shots is no longer your master. You’ve been set free.

But if we’re honest, a lot of us don’t feel very free.

We still fall into the same patterns. Still fight the same battles. Still hear the same inner critic saying, “Nothing’s really changed.” And it’s true—our sin still shows up. But here’s what’s different: sin might still tempt you, but it no longer owns you. You may return to old habits, but you are no longer obligated to obey them. Your allegiance has changed.

Think of it like this. Imagine you worked for a cruel boss. He was manipulative, shaming, and impossible to please. But one day, you’re transferred to a new job with a new leader who is kind, empowering, and patient. The problem is, your old boss still calls you. Still tries to guilt-trip you into doing things his way. You might even pick up the phone out of habit. But you don’t work for him anymore. He has no authority over you.

That’s what Paul is saying. Sin is like the old boss. It may still shout, but it no longer has control. You’ve been transferred, rescued into a new way of living, led by grace, not guilt.

This kind of transformation showed up powerfully in the life of Harriet Tubman. After escaping slavery, she didn’t just enjoy her own freedom. She went back, again and again, to lead others out. She knew what it meant to be free and couldn’t stay silent while others remained in chains. The Underground Railroad wasn’t about comfort. It was about courage born from conviction. Tubman once said, “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more, if only they knew they were slaves.”

That’s the ache Paul addresses in Romans 6. Many believers don’t realize they’re still living like captives, even though the door is wide open. We go back to what’s familiar, even if it’s harmful. We pick up old chains that have already been broken. But the gospel is not about getting a new rulebook. It’s about getting a new identity.

Your old self was crucified. That’s past tense. And your new self is not just slightly improved. It’s reborn. You are not sin trying to be holy. You are holy, learning how to live free. That’s a massive shift.

Here’s another way to picture it. Imagine a bird raised in a cage. One day the door is opened, but the bird doesn’t fly out. It’s conditioned to stay put. Freedom feels foreign. Sometimes we’re like that. The door is open, but we’re still clinging to the perch. Not because we’re not free, but because we’re not used to living like it.

Paul is pleading with the church. Don’t go back to what Jesus already freed you from. Don’t treat sin like a pet you manage. Treat it like the prison it is. You don’t need to ask permission to live free. You need to believe that the cross really worked.

Freedom isn’t always loud. Sometimes it looks like small, quiet acts of defiance against the old ways. Choosing peace instead of control. Asking for help instead of hiding. Forgiving instead of holding onto the wound. Each moment becomes a declaration of who you now are.

That means when temptation comes, you don’t have to say yes. When shame rises, you don’t have to listen. When the past tries to name you, you can speak a new name over your life. Not because you’re strong, but because you’re dead. And now, in Christ, alive.

Romans 6 is not just a theological concept. It’s an invitation to a new rhythm. A new way of thinking. A daily dying to what’s false so you can walk in what’s true. You’re not who you used to be.

Apply

Write down this simple declaration and speak it out loud today: “I am no longer a slave to sin. I belong to Jesus.” When temptation comes—whether it’s fear, control, lust, comparison, or pride—pause and say it again. You’re not fighting for victory. You’re standing in the victory that’s already been won. And if someone close to you is still living like they’re in chains, remind them of what’s true. The cell is open. Freedom is here.

Pray

Jesus, I confess that I still live like I’m in chains. I forget that the old me is dead and gone. I return to sin that no longer owns me. Help me believe what you’ve already declared—that I am free. Teach me to live like it. And use my freedom to help others find theirs. In Jesus’ name. Amen.