“...our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:6,11 (NKJV)
Jesus didn’t call us to improve our old life. He called us to die to it. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). This isn’t about hardship for hardship’s sake—it’s about surrendering to a better way, a higher life, a new identity.
Paul reveals the mystery: when Christ was crucified, so were we. When Adam sinned, mankind died spiritually—we were separated from God and inherited a sin nature. But when Jesus died, He took that sin nature to the cross. Legally, He carried what we could not fix ourselves. Jesus is called the Last Adam, and through His death and resurrection, a new way was opened. Now, when we turn to Him in faith, our old sin nature is removed and we receive His righteous nature. What was lost in Adam is restored in Christ. This gives every person the opportunity to be made right with God—not through effort, but by receiving the righteousness of Christ.
But here’s the key: you must consider it so. Romans 6:11 tells us to “reckon” ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. That word “reckon” means to count it as fact, to think on it until it defines you. It’s not always obvious—so we must consider it over and over until it becomes our dominant mindset.
When your identity in Christ becomes your default in how you think about yourself, you will live a holier life naturally—more than you ever did by trying to be holy through your own willpower. This is the power of grace: it doesn’t just forgive you—it transforms you.
And God is always faithful. As you keep aligning your thoughts with His Word, His Spirit empowers you to live from your new identity. Holiness doesn’t come from trying harder—it flows from knowing who you are.
This is the crucified life: death to the old, life in the new. And it’s not a burden—it’s freedom.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Jesus didn’t call us to improve our old life. He called us to die to it. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). This isn’t about hardship for hardship’s sake—it’s about surrendering to a better way, a higher life, a new identity.
Paul reveals the mystery: when Christ was crucified, so were we. When Adam sinned, mankind died spiritually—we were separated from God and inherited a sin nature. But when Jesus died, He took that sin nature to the cross. Legally, He carried what we could not fix ourselves. Jesus is called the Last Adam, and through His death and resurrection, a new way was opened. Now, when we turn to Him in faith, our old sin nature is removed and we receive His righteous nature. What was lost in Adam is restored in Christ. This gives every person the opportunity to be made right with God—not through effort, but by receiving the righteousness of Christ.
But here’s the key: you must consider it so. Romans 6:11 tells us to “reckon” ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. That word “reckon” means to count it as fact, to think on it until it defines you. It’s not always obvious—so we must consider it over and over until it becomes our dominant mindset.
When your identity in Christ becomes your default in how you think about yourself, you will live a holier life naturally—more than you ever did by trying to be holy through your own willpower. This is the power of grace: it doesn’t just forgive you—it transforms you.
And God is always faithful. As you keep aligning your thoughts with His Word, His Spirit empowers you to live from your new identity. Holiness doesn’t come from trying harder—it flows from knowing who you are.
This is the crucified life: death to the old, life in the new. And it’s not a burden—it’s freedom.
Excerpt from Follow Me As I Follow Christ by Kevin Casey. Click Here: Available on Amazon (Kindle & paperback).
Posted in Grace and Faith
Pastor Kevin Casey
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2026
January
Day 1: Knowing Jesus is Eternal LifeDay 2: That I May Know HimDay 3: The Supremacy of ChristDay 4: Christ the FoundationDay 5: Forgiven CompletelyDay 6: Forgive as You’ve Been ForgivenDay 7: A New CreationDay 8: Righteous by FaithDay 9: Adopted and ChosenDay 10: Accepted in the BelovedDay 11: Seated with ChristDay 12: God’s WorkmanshipDay 13: Nothing Can Separate YouDay 14: Christ in You, the Hope of GloryDay 15: The Mind of ChristDay 16: The Image of God RestoredDay 17: Grace That TeachesDay 18: The Measure of FaithDay 19: Faith Works by LoveDay 20: The Faith of the Son of GodDay 21: The Crucified LifeDay 22: Renew Your MindDay 23: Take Every Thought CaptiveDay 24: Think on These ThingsDay 25: Be Spiritually Minded
February
Day 26: Press Toward the GoalDay 27: Led by the SpiritDay 28: Walk in the SpiritDay 29: Spirit of Power, Love, and Sound MindDay 30: Empowered From On HighDay 31: Healing Is in the AtonementDay 32: Minister Healing to OthersDay 33: Pray in the SpiritDay 34: The Spirit Helps Our WeaknessDay 35: Be Filled ContinuouslyDay 36: Gifts of the SpiritDay 37: Spirit-Led MinistryDay 38: Fruit of the SpiritDay 39: The Spirit Bears WitnessDay 40: Walk Worthy of Your CallingDay 41: Love Is the GreatestDay 42: Unity of the SpiritDay 43: Forgive One AnotherDay 44: Serve in LoveDay 45: Bear One Another’s BurdensDay 46: Honor Others Above YourselfDay 47: Godly RelationshipsDay 48: Love in the HomeDay 49: Hospitality and GenerosityDay 50: Giving and GenerosityDay 51: Pray Without Ceasing Day 52: Seated with Christ in AuthorityDay 53: Reigning in Life Through Christ
March
Day 54: Put on the Armor — Stand in VictoryDay 55: Life Is a MissionDay 56: Ambassadors for ChristDay 57: Share Your StoryDay 58: Not Ashamed of the GospelDay 59: Make Disciples Who MultiplyDay 60: Redeem the TimeDay 61: Open Doors and Bold SpeechDay 62: Witness to, Honor, and Pray for IsraelDay 63: Suffer for the GospelDay 64: Strength in WeaknessDay 65: Don’t Lose HeartDay 66: Our Light and Momentary TroublesDay 67: Set Your Mind on EternityDay 68: Death, Grief, and Eternal HopeDay 69: The Judgment Seat of ChristDay 70: The Blessed Hope