8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!

10 For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

11 Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

— Romans 5:8-11

6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

7 For anyone who has died has been freed 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 dominion over Him.

10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.

— Romans 6:6-10

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The transformative power of the gospel isn’t just a theory. It’s a live reality for those who experienced it firsthand. Paul’s life was radically changed by his encounter with Christ. His story reminds us that the gospel doesn’t just bring salvation. It brings transformation when we accept this gift. We’re no longer defined by our past, our failures, or even our successes. We are defined by God‘s love and grace and this new identity changes everything.

The Roman Christians, who first received Paul’s letter, lived in the society where gods were numerous and worship was transactional that people’s social standing determined their worth, but the gospel brought something different in Christ. God wasn’t distant or demanding. He was close, loving and offering a new life. This message was countercultural then and it’s just as countercultural now. We live in the world that often measures worth by success, appearance or approval, but the gospel tells us that our worth comes from God alone. The question is will we let the gospel change us. Will we embrace the truth that we don’t have to earn God‘s love, but that He freely offers it to us?