Devotion: Alive to God

Sermon Date: 4/27/2025

Bible Verses: Romans 6-14

Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning

Alive to God: A Devotion on Romans 6:8–11

Scripture:

“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 6:8–11 (ESV)

Devotional Thought:

In Romans 6, Paul paints a stunning picture of our identity in Christ. He reminds us that faith in Jesus is not just agreeing with facts—it is being joined to Him in His death and resurrection.

When Christ died, He died to sin once for all—sin's penalty was fully paid, and its power was broken. And when He rose, He rose never to die again, forever victorious over sin, death, and the grave.

Paul says something astonishing: because we are united with Christ, His victory becomes ours. If we have died with Christ, we are no longer under sin’s dominion. It doesn’t own us anymore.
We are alive to God.

But notice: Paul doesn't just say, “Feel like you are dead to sin.”
He says, "Consider yourselves" dead to sin and alive to God.
It’s a command to think differently about yourself—to believe what God says is now true, whether or not you feel it in every moment.

You are not who you used to be.
You are not a prisoner to sin anymore.
You are alive, raised with Christ, called to walk in newness of life.

Personal Application:

• Identity Check: Do you view yourself as dead to sin and alive to God? Or do you still live as if sin controls you?
• Renew Your Mind: Take hold of God’s truth. Every time temptation whispers that you are still bound, answer it: "No, I have died with Christ. I am alive to God."
• Live Resurrected: Being alive to God means pursuing Him passionately, living with hope, power, and joy that comes from belonging to Christ.