Most Christians understand and accept the concept of the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. But what many are far less familiar with is the meaning behind what Paul says :
“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we would no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)
When Paul says that we are freed from sin, he uses the same Greek word that is translated justified or made righteous we discussed in detail in the last chapter. Verse 7 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 of the charge brought against him.
This is exactly what God caused to happen for us as Christ took the guilt and punishment of sin off our shoulders and laid it upon Himself: we have been found not guilty in regard to our sin. So this should help us to better understand the fact that our ability to experience God’s life consists of something a great deal more than merely maintaining sinless behavior now that we’re saved.