Christ has won

Jo Penn May 21, 2025 4 2

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Romans 6: 5-11 (NIVUK)

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I watched the recent TV coverage of Pope Francis’ funeral service, which spoke beautifully of how faith in Jesus offers hope beyond death.

The coverage from St Peter’s Square in Rome, showed the great contrast of the wooden coffin (adorned with a cross that caught the light when seen from above) with the red robes of the cardinals and the black mourning clothes of gathered prime ministers, presidents and royalty.

The first Bible reading (Acts 10:34-43) was the Apostle Peter’s speech at the house of Cornelius the Centurian (agent of the Roman Empire) explaining the story of Jesus starting with the declaration that ‘God does not show favouritism’.

I wonder what those gathered in St Peter’s square felt as they heard this sermon from the first Pope Peter, as recorded in scripture, spoken to a range of people including Jews and Gentiles?

Life in this world ends for every person: Pope, President, Prime Minister, Prince, Pauper. God’s plan is always about bringing joyously abundant life and ultimately life beyond the doorway of death. Jesus lives, Moses lives, Elijah lives, my Great Aunt lives because they trusted in God and are living outside of time in the stream of eternity.

The old way of living is always in worship of the Prince of this world – confined to this world’s despair, striving at the expense of others, being dragged down to live from motives at odds with the Holy Spirit, unable to free ourselves from spiritual and physical death.

We embrace the abundant life that God has for us by turning to Jesus who became the new Adam, the first fruits from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). Our baptism (going down into the water, to death, and being raised up to new life) along with the vows ‘renouncing sin’ and ‘turning to Christ’ symbolise the reality of the change that Jesus brings to us. This new life which is to be lived out now through our daily choices, actions and words.

Prayer:

Christ has won.

The Light of the world has beaten darkness.

The King of Love has beaten hate.

The Author of Life has beaten death.

Thanks be to God.