Born in Adam, Redeemed in Christ

Every one of us enters this world in Adam. As Paul says:

“Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”(Romans 5:12)

We were born spiritually dead, enslaved under sin’s dominion. But here’s the wonder of the gospel: through Christ’s death on the cross, we have been redeemed. Jesus didn’t just pay a debt; He also forgave us — past, present, and future sins covered once and for all.

At this stage, the cross alone is sufficient. As Paul says in Colossians 1:14: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Forgiveness is real because of His shed blood.

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Justification and Resurrection

But forgiveness is not the full story. If Christ had died but not risen, forgiveness would still leave us in bondage to death. That’s why Paul insists:

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

Justification is God’s declaration that we are righteous in Christ. But it is anchored not only in His death but in His resurrection. As N. T. Wright explains:

“Justification is God’s declaration in the present, based on Christ’s resurrection, that all who believe in Him are already members of His covenant family.” (Justification: God’s Plan & Paul’s Vision)

The resurrection proves the verdict is true. Without it, forgiveness would be incomplete, and justification impossible.

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The Problem of the Present Body

So far, so good. We are forgiven and justified — but we still live in these bodies. And that means we still face the daily struggle of temptation. Paul calls it “the body of death” (Romans 7:24).

Even though sin’s penalty is gone, sin’s presence lingers in our mortal flesh. Our minds are renewed, but our bodies still groan (Romans 8:23).

So how does God deal with this? The answer is stunning: by uniting us with Christ’s death.

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Dying With Christ

Romans 6 is one of the most explosive chapters in the Bible:

“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

“For he who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:7)

When Christ died, God counted us as having died with Him. That means:

• We are no longer under the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14).
• We are no longer under the law (Romans 7:1–4).
• We are no longer bound to the old life.

Paul explains the analogy in Romans 7: a wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but if he dies, she is free. Likewise, our death with Christ means we are no longer bound to the Law.

This is the deepest layer of sanctification: we aren’t just forgiven sinners trying harder. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ.

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But Why Do I Still Feel Like Sinning?

This is the question almost everyone asks. “If I’m dead to sin, why do I still feel temptation?”

The answer: temptation doesn’t require a “sinful nature.”

Think about Adam and Eve. They were created without sin — no “fallen flesh” — and yet they sinned. Why? Because free beings can choose rebellion even without sinful instincts.

So when you feel temptation, it doesn’t mean you’re still “under sin.” It means you’re human, with freedom to obey or disobey. Sin no longer reigns; it merely entices. As Paul says: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body” (Romans 6:12). Notice — it tries to reign, but it no longer has the right.

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The Freedom of Sanctification

This is huge. Many theologians teach that we are forgiven but still under the power of sin. But Romans 6 shouts the opposite:

• “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
• “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)

Because of our union with Christ’s death and resurrection, sanctification isn’t about struggling under sin’s rule. It’s about living out a freedom already secured.

As John Wesley put it:

“Being justified freely by His grace, we are delivered both from the guilt and the power of sin.”

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Conclusion: More Than Forgiven

Here’s the good news in full:

1. The Cross: Forgiveness — our sins covered once for all.
2. The Resurrection: Justification — God’s verdict that we are righteous in Christ.
3. Our Union With Christ: Sanctification — dead to sin, freed from law, alive to God.

We are not just forgiven sinners limping through life. We are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), freed from sin’s power, and called to walk in the freedom Christ secured.

Yes, we still face temptation. But sin has no claim, no dominion, no authority. In Christ’s death, we died. In Christ’s resurrection, we live. And that changes everything.