Romans 6:8-14 captures the central tension of the Christian life on earth: we have died to sin, but we still sin. Why do we still sin if we have “died with Christ” and “also live with him” (v. 8)? Imagine a small country that has been ruled by a foreign power for many years. When the rightful rulers return and take over, the central identity of the country is restored. The invaders have no ultimate claim over the nation. But that doesn’t mean that every one of the invaders has physically left the country. They might remain, working to reinstate their illegitimate reign. The country’s identity remains its rightful one, but there are still battles being fought over specific areas of land and power.

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