Identification – A Reflection on Romans 6

The Parable of the Sculptor’s Masterpiece

A sculptor worked tirelessly on a block of marble. Every strike of the chisel removed pieces of stone, revealing the figure within. However, the sculptor explained to his apprentice that the marble had to be cut from the same quarry as the original masterpiece he sought to replicate. “Without this shared origin,” the sculptor said, “the new figure can never truly reflect the beauty of the original.”

This parable illustrates the astonishing truth of identification with Christ. It is not enough that Christ died for us; we must also recognize that we died with Him. Only through this shared union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection can the believer experience true victory and transformation.

Identification with Christ – Moving from Substitution to Union

Miles Stanford’s The Green Letters challenges us to move beyond substitutionary truths (Christ dying for us) to identification truths (we died with Christ). Romans 6 is the foundation for understanding this critical aspect of spiritual growth. As several Christian leaders have highlighted, our identification with Christ is the key to overcoming sin’s ruling power and walking in the newness of life.

1. Sin as a Master vs. Sin as a Guilt:
   Evan H. Hopkins notes that believers often recognize Christ as their justification, freeing them from the guilt of sin, but struggle with sin’s ruling power. Romans 6 reveals God’s provision for this deliverance: our old self—the "old man"—was crucified with Christ.

2. Indispensable for Sanctification:
   Andrew Murray writes that just as Christ’s atonement is essential for justification, our identification with His death is essential for sanctification. The believer must know they are one with Christ in His death to sin and His resurrection to new life.

3. From Death to Life:
   J. Hudson Taylor beautifully captures this truth: “I am dead and buried with Christ—ay, and risen too! And now Christ lives in me.” This union with Christ is not for a select few but is the birthright of every believer.

Key Truths on Identification

• We Died with Christ:
  Romans 6:6 declares, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him.” This is not metaphorical but a spiritual reality. The "old man"—our fallen self in Adam—was judicially put to death with Christ.

• Reckoning the Truth:
  As Watchman Nee explains, “Our sins are dealt with by the Blood, but we ourselves are dealt with by the Cross.”Reckoning ourselves dead to sin does not create the reality; it allows us to live out what is already true through faith.

• Walking in Victory:
  L.E. Maxwell reminds us that we are united with Christ not only in His death but also in His resurrection. This union enables us to live victoriously, no longer under sin’s dominion.

Practical Applications

1. Acknowledge Your Union with Christ:
   Recognize that your old self was crucified with Christ. This is not something you achieve but something you believe, based on God’s Word.

2. Reckon the Truth Daily:
   Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). This daily act of faith allows you to walk in the freedom Christ has already secured for you.

3. Yield to the Spirit’s Work:
   Victory over sin is not about self-effort but about yielding to the Spirit, who works out the life of Christ in and through you.

Reflection Questions

1. How does recognizing your union with Christ change the way you view your struggles with sin?

2. In what areas of your life do you need to “reckon yourself dead to sin”?

3. How can you daily yield to the Spirit to live out the victory Christ has secured for you?

Prayer

Lord, thank You for the truth of our identification with Christ. Thank You that our old selves were crucified with Him and that we have been raised to walk in newness of life. We reckon these truths as reality in our daily lives, yield to Your Spirit and trust in Your indwelling life to live victoriously through us. May our lives reflect the freedom and transformation found in union with Christ. Amen.

Closing Thought

The cross of Christ is not only the place where our sins were forgiven but where our old self was put to death. Through our union with Christ, we have been set free from sin’s dominion and empowered to live in the victory of His resurrection. Let us walk in the fullness of this truth, reckoning it daily and yielding to His Spirit.

This post draws inspiration from Miles Stanford’s The Green Letters, encouraging us to embrace our identification with Christ as the key to spiritual growth and victory.