Romans 6:6-8 AMPC
We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. [7] For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men]. [8] Now if we have died in union with Christ, we believe that we shall also live in union with Him,
The only possible solution to the effects of the fall on the human race was death and resurrection. What we did as fallen people had to be atoned for, and more importantly, what we had become had to be done away with. Having said that, forgiveness and the death of the old happened so that something totally new, free from the reign of sin, could emerge. Ephesians 2:10 says that everything will be summed up “in Christ.” God’s solution for fallen and broken humanity was to be accomplished in the person of Jesus Christ. Notice that I said, “in the person of Jesus Christ,” and not “by the person of Jesus Christ.” Being placed “in Christ,” His death on the cross became the death of our fallen enslaved selves, and His resurrection and newness of life was our resurrection and newness of life because we rose “in Him.” This was the new birth of a whole new humanity, a new creature like nothing the world had ever seen before. The old self you were that was a slave to various kinds of sin died, and the new person that you are in union with Christ is a slave to His righteousness (Romans 6:17).
So as far as sin is concerned, when tempted, we can truly say, “I am dead to sin, but alive to God “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). It’s not that we can’t sin; it’s that Jesus who is our life won’t. We can sin if we choose to not believe what the word of God says about who we are in Christ. God says that we died to sin and that those who have died are freed from sin and that Christ who won’t sin is our life. In other words, if impatience, for example, is something that you struggle with, the next time those feelings and thoughts rise up in you, remember that dead people can’t be impatient and Jesus won’t be impatient. Dead people can’t get offended, and Jesus won’t. Dead people can’t get frustrated, and Jesus won’t. Dead people can’t be selfish, and Jesus won’t be. Dead people aren’t anxious, and Jesus never is. Dead people aren’t bitter, and Jesus won’t be. Dead people can’t be resentful, and Jesus won’t be. Dead people can’t give in to immoral thoughts, and Jesus won’t. Etc. etc. You get the point I’m trying to make. His death was your death to sin, and His resurrection is your inclusion into His righteous life. Of course, we can sin, but isn’t it wonderful to know that we don’t have to? Victory is a person, not some formula, and as long as you abide in Him, you will enjoy Him and the life He lives, not sinning through you.