Who Is In Christ?
Unpacking Romans 6:5–11 to Discover Who Shares in Christ’s Death, Resurrection, and Victory
⚠️ This blog isn’t about answers—it’s about awakening. Gospel Reclaimed is where I wrestle, wonder, and write about a gospel that’s far bigger, deeper, and more healing—a Father more faithful, a Savior more triumphant, and a Spirit more personal than religion ever taught me.
For centuries, theologians have been tangled in debates over “who’s in Christ”, as if it’s an exclusive members-only club with a divine bouncer and an ever-changing guest list.
Denominations have layered on rules, rituals, and requirements, turning the Gospel into a checklist. I’ve already unpacked this buffet-style madness in my post where everyone adds their favorite ingredient to the “how to be saved” recipe (👈 link here).
But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question all along?
Jesus didn’t cry out, “My part is done—now go earn your spot.”
He declared, “It is finished.”
So the real question isn’t: “How do I get into Christ?”
It’s this: “Who was already included in the finished work of Christ when He died and rose again?”
Buckle up. Romans 6:5–11 might just flip your understanding of salvation and reveal the stunning truth that we were all in Him all along.
Romans 6:5 - United in His Death, United in His Life
“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection…”
— Romans 6:5
This verse is the hinge point of everything we’re exploring. If we know who died with Christ, then we also know who will live with Him.
Let’s pause on that little word “if.”
In Greek, it doesn’t express uncertainty—it’s rhetorical. In this context, it’s better translated as “since.” The New Living Translation actually gets it right.
The author of Hebrews makes this truth plain:
“…by the grace of God He might taste death for all (everyone).”
— Hebrews 2:9
And Paul confirms it with a cause-and-effect statement:
“…because we have concluded this: that One has died for all, therefore all have died.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:14
There’s no “opt-in” moment here.
No one chose to be included in Christ’s death.
It’s a done deal. Finished. Immutable.
Even Jesus said:
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all (Greek: pas—all things or everyone) to Myself.”
— John 12:32
Whether Jesus was referring to being lifted up on the cross or from the grave, it’s undeniable that He meant all mankind—no special elite, no exceptions.
So let’s ask the better question:
Not “How do I get into Christ?”
But: Who was already included in Him?
Paul answers with clarity and confidence: “Certainly…”
Those united with Him in death (which he just told us includes all mankind) are certainly also united with Him in His resurrection.
This isn’t an isolated verse or a novel idea.
It’s echoed throughout Scripture.
Here’s Paul again:
“For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:21
The death, burial, and resurrection of the Last Adam didn’t merely make restoration possible—it reversed the curse.
Still not convinced?
Romans 6 is just getting started.
Romans 6:6 - Freedom Began at the Cross
“…knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6)
Paul is affirming a revealed reality. Humanity’s old self was crucified with Him—past tense. Accomplished fact.
“All we like sheep have gone astray… and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
— Isaiah 53:6
“For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.”
— Hebrews 10:14
And the purpose of this new life is made beautifully clear in Ephesians 2:10 (ISV):
“For we are God’s masterpiece (Greek: poièma = poem, workmanship).
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
The enslaving system of sin and death was dismantled at its core.
Because we were united with Christ in His death, we’ve also been raised into His new life.
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”
— John 8:36
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”
— Galatians 5:1
“Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness.”
— Romans 6:18
This was a cosmic, unconditional act of union.
The resurrection isn’t merely Christ’s personal victory over death—it’s humanity’s victory too.
The Gospel isn’t an invitation to “get in.” It’s news, a declaration that awakens people to their freedom from sin and their triumph over death in Christ.
Romans 6:7 - Freed from Sin: A Reality, Not an Achievement
“For he who has died is freed from sin.”
(Romans 6:7)
According to verse 6, that includes all of humanity. Our old self was crucified with Christ—past tense, accomplished fact.
The word “freed” in Greek is δικαιόω (dikaioō), which means justified, declared righteous. We stand absolved from sin (as translated in the Weymouth New Testament). Christ has already secured our total justification.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
— Galatians 5:1
Boom! 
Here it is: Paul declaring our righteous standing with God and calling us to live from that justification.
“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:21
Everyone died with Christ.
Everyone was made righteous.
Faith is the lens that allows us to recognize it and to live from Christ’s deliverance.
Romans 6:8 - Alive With Him, Forever Free
“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”
(Romans 6:8)
Let’s not forget—just like earlier verses, the word “if” here is rhetorical. It’s better understood as:
“Since we have died with Christ…”
Paul is not expressing doubt—he’s declaring the consequence of our co-crucifixion:
We shall also live with Him.
This echoes Paul’s words in Colossians 3:3: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
In Christ, our true life is already secured and sealed.
This isn’t wishful thinking—it’s the result of Christ’s vicarious life, lived on behalf of all humanity.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:22
Case closed:
We live because He lives.
His life is now our life—some just haven’t discovered it yet.
✨ If everyone died with Christ and was raised in Him, maybe we’ve misunderstood what it even means to be born into this world.
Coming soon: “Born Into a Grave Already Emptied.”
Romans 6:9 — No More Dying: The Victory Is Final
“Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.”
(Romans 6:9)
Paul is clear: death lost its grip on Christ, and it lost its grip on us who were united with Him.
We’re not waiting under death’s shadow for a final verdict—the judgment already happened at the cross. The resurrection was the verdict: life wins.
This is what Jesus affirmed in John 6:33: “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
He came for the whole graveyard, not just the ‘good’ ones.
Christ came to give life to the dead… all of them.
Romans 6:10 — Once for All, Forever Alive
“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.”
(Romans 6:10)
Just like Christ’s death to sin was once and final, so is ours because we were in Him.
The Gospel is true for all:
“We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” — Hebrews 10:10
Sin was dealt with once for everyone. And the life He now lives is fully to God—that’s the life we now share.
“When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” — Colossians 3:4
“If [since] Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” — Romans 8:10
Romans 6:11 — Dead to Sin, Alive to God
“Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 6:11)
This isn’t motivational fluff. Paul is saying: “You’ve already died. You’ve already been raised. Now reckon it true.”
“If [since] we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.”
— 2 Timothy 2:11
“He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:15
This is your reality:
Dead to sin. Alive to God. In Christ.
So wake up to it.
Walk in it.
Live from it.
The cross closed the chapter on sin, and resurrection opened the story of life.
It’s not about dying again—it’s about living differently.
So... Who Are in Christ?
All of humanity.
“If One died for all, then all died.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:14
“Because I live, you will live also.”
— John 14:19
“And to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
— Ephesians 4:24
“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.”
— 1 Peter 2:24
- In His triumph over sin, all were freed.
- In His death, all died.
- In His resurrection, all were raised.
That’s the Good News.
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