We deserved death for our sins. But Jesus was willing to go to the cross in our place. We pretty much understand the significance of His sacrifice. But Romans 6:6 tells us a whole lot more: “our old self was crucified with Him so that our body of sin might be done away with, that we would no longer be slaves to sin.”
When Paul says that we are freed from sin, he uses a word meaning justified or made righteous. It can literally be translated: “For he who has died is acquitted from sin.” We all know what happens when someone is acquitted in a trial—he’s found not guilty! That is exactly what God did as Jesus took penalty for sin off our shoulders and laid it upon Himself. And because of this, experiencing God’s life consists of a great deal more than merely trying to maintain sinless behavior now that we’re saved.