32. In the likeness of Resurrection
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him.
By faith we are together in the likeness of Christ’s death, and so shall we be in the likeness of His resurrection. The conditional promise: if we are dead with Christ (which happens if we believe in Him), then we will live with Him. The “if” condition is not really a condition for we have been planted in His death by faith; faith is the hand that receives the promise, the promise of death, death to sin and death to death. The truth is that we have been planted; therefore, we shall in truth arise. We are, not if we are, dead with Christ; therefore, we shall also live with Him.
It is in the “likeness” of Christ’s death and the “likeness” of His resurrection. Likeness means like, not same; we are created in the image and likeness of God; we are not God and we are not the same as God; we reflect God. Christ’s death is a one-time-only event since He died for the sins of someone else, not His own. Christ’s resurrection is a one-time-only event since there has been no other resurrection like His. By faith we share in His death = our sin is paid for and punished; by faith we share in His resurrection = we live because He lives. We do not die and we are not punished for our sin; and we will rise and live with Him. We do not deserve to rise again, but Jesus deserved resurrection to life for us. Because He lives we shall live.
Death comes to all sinners; Life comes to all believers. God shares His Life with us when we die and rise with Christ. We die and rise with Him daily when we repent and believe the Gospel in our remembrance of Baptism. Technically, it is not our death nor is it our resurrection; it is Christ’s death and resurrection and He shares it with us. He gives us His life. We are dead to sin and alive to God.