St. Paul begins this chapter bringing to mind to you and I the importance of not misusing the gift of grace.
If one is dead to sin how will we live? St. Paul reminds us of our baptism and the significance of Christ's death and that through His death we may be resurrected to a new life. As we continue on in this journey as faithful baptized followers we will grow more and more into His image, and reflect more of His character. St. Paul in his explanation of this process of being free from sin draws upon the process and result of what takes place in our baptism experience. The crucifixion of Christ is the process whereby sin and death is destroyed and new life is poured forth upon us through the Holy Spirit. Paul challenges us to consider the extent of this gift of grace, and sacrament, and how it has equipped us to overcome sin. And by any means to use it and he warns us not abuse grace as some cheap license to sin. That is, by thinking that one could continue to violate God's authority, and by this same authority seek His gift of forgiveness as if it were some kind of earned right or entitlement. Paul's response to this is God forbid!
As Paul continues to draw upon the depth of our baptism he further explains what has taken place in baptism and why we have the power to overcome sin. Paul reveals to us that baptism is very much likened to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is very meaningful to us as believers of Jesus because it places us in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It seems that Paul has reminded us of this process to reveal to us the power that takes place in this death and resurrection process as it did for Jesus so it will and has for us. Also our baptism which has sealed by the Holy Spirit, marks the beginning of an eternal relationship with God. St. Paul reflects on this power in his writing to the Philippians 3:10, "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death." This power that has been instilled in us by grace through baptism has equipped us to be more than conquerors.
If we are
to consider the result of our baptism throughout our lifelong journey with
Christ then we need to consider what it has accomplished in us to deter us from
sin. It is important for us to realize that the driving force of our old
self that made it easy for us to sin has been buried, and we who have come
through that process no longer need to give in to that old nature. This likeness
we have with Christ is now our driving force and power to overcome the desire to
fall to temptation and sin. Our old life dies as we surrender our heart
and mind to Jesus Christ. Christ died to redeem us and to restore us that
through Him we should not serve sin. Once someone is dead from sin they
are free from sin through Christ who conquered sin and death. We can have
victory in our daily life since Christ provides a way for us and sin does not
have to control our lives. The gift of Christ's death, the sacrament of baptism,
reconciliation, and the guidance of sacred scripture and the Church, have
provided for us live a holy Catholic Christian life.
This Christian identity is composed of precisely two elements: this restraint from seeking oneself by oneself but instead receiving oneself from Christ and giving oneself with Christ, thereby participating personally in the life of Christ himself to the point of identifying with him sharing both his death and his life. This is what Paul wrote to his Letter to the Romans: "[A]ll of us...were baptized unto his death...we were buried therefore with him...we have been united with him....So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." These last words themselves are symptomatic: for Paul, in fact, it was not enough to say that Christians are baptized or believers; for him, it was just as important to say they are "In Christ Jesus."
-Pope Benedict XVI, "The Origins of the Church The Apostles And Their Co-Workers", pg. 129-130
1. What is the significance of baptism and it relates to Christ's death and resurrection?
2. St. Paul speaks about the gift of God's grace what does he mean?
3. What are some of the ways that we can live a holy Catholic Christian life?
Lord, let Your holy grace fall on this sinful heart of mine, so that I may love most what is most lovable, know best what is most important, and desire first what is most valuable. Let me fear and hate whatever draws me away form You. I do not want to judge things as they appear, but as really help me to please You more. Teach me to pray. Help me to love Your company and to seek it as often as possible. Make me aware of Your presence throughout the day. Amen.
-Anthony J. Paone, S.J., My Daily Bread, Brooklyn, N.Y., Confraternity Of The Precious Blood Of Jesus, Pg.245