“When we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.” (Romans 6:3-5)

Many years ago, I came across a news story that shared the work of a Jesuit priest, Father Greg Boyle, who is in the business of erasing the past. He serves as the founder and director of Homeboy Industries in East Los Angeles. He worked to develop a team of physicians trained in tattoo removal. This team serves ex-gang members with the procedure of removing gang tattoos.

Practically speaking, the tattoos can serve as a barrier to these individuals getting jobs. It can endanger their lives on the streets. Mentally, the removal of these markings help lift the shackles of a past that taunts permanency over their lives. Spiritually speaking, it brings a picture of having the past cleaned and the freedom of new life. The cost for this service—absolutely free, and is offered to them as a gift.

I suspect that each of us have been tattooed by something in our past lives. Sin often leaves marks and impacts that do not easily disappear. And while there can be long-term realities, there is a gift that is offered to all. That gift is from Jesus. And He has the tattoos to prove that such freedom is real. You see them in the palms of His hands, His feet, and His side.

All marks that He received while winning freedom for every sin that has, or will ever try to be permanent in our lives. Baptism is such a beautiful process in which the past is forgiven and washed away. The new is brought about with the breath taken as we come up out of the water.

Romans explains this: “When we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death. For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.” (Romans 6:3-5)

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin, for when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead and He will never die again.

Death has no power over Him. When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live. Do not give in to sinful desires.

Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God. For you were dead, but now you have New Life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for this New Life that You have given to us. The fact that You have washed our lives clean of that sin. You have broken us out of that prison of sin and past failures, and You have granted us New Life. You have redeemed us and given to us a restored identity of who You created us to be.

We give You great thanks for that, and we celebrate that. And we pray that You would help us to no longer live as though we are still under that curse of the law, that we are no longer bound by sin, but instead let us live in the freedom that comes from You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.