To the Ends of the Earth: Legacy – Catholic Men's Devotionals, Week 5 – Let's Be Honest...
To the Ends of the Earth: Witness – Week 5, Day 2 – Death and Sin No Longer Have Power Over Us
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For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our former man was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:5–11
Though Paul reminds us in this passage that we are no longer slaves to sin, we still often act as though we are. We become caught up in our addictions and our selfishness. We forget that the cross and the resurrection have brought us freedom from the power of sin over our lives. Being Catholic does not guarantee that we will never sin, but it does mean that sin no longer has to have power over us. In Christ, because we are set free from the power of sin, we can now shine the light of the Gospel into the lives of others. The shackles that have held us back are thrown off, we are released from the prison of shame and guilt, and we are graced to live a life that pours out the love of Jesus to all we meet.
Understanding what it means to be dead to sin allows us to calculate our true position in Christ. Because we share in his death, we also share in his resurrection, bringing the beauty, the power, and the wonder of the Kingdom of God into the lives of the lost through our Catholic witness. Our journey becomes a series of teachable moments, lessons we are constantly learning and passing on to others for the sake of the Gospel and the unity of God’s people.
Questions for reflection
In what ways do you live as though sin still has power over you? How can you cast aside that way of living in order to live in true freedom?
What practical things can you do to claim your new life in Christ and live it out in such a way that you shine as a beacon of hope to others?
How can you support a brother who is still trapped in habits of sin?
Praying with Scripture
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. (Rom 8:2)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
