Romans 6:8

Romans 6:8 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Now if we 

died with 

Christ, we 

believe that 

we shall also 

live with Him, 

Amplified: Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, (Amplified Bible - Lockman)

GWT: If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (GWT)

NLT: And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. (NLT - Tyndale House)

Phillips: And if we were dead men with him we can believe that we shall also be men newly alive with him. (Phillips: Touchstone)

Wuest: Now, in view of the fact that we died once for all with Christ, we believe that we shall also live by means of Him,

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Many of the topics in this verse have already been covered so let' take a look at some new words to investigate.

Lets talk about believing in Christ

If we believe...

     "If" implies "assuming we believe."  None of the accomplishments by Christ stated here will have happened to anyone who has not believed.

Now, what does it mean to believe in Christ?

believe.  

1st there is mental agreement of a fact.  Such as, I believe in George Washington.  The agreement I believe in such a man does not mean I have a relationship with him.

2nd the Bible says the demons believe in Jesus.  But of course they have no submissive relationship with him; therefore are not a part of Christ's kingdom.

3rd there is the Greek meaning of belief we will examine here.

Here are the biblical facts about true believing in Jesus Christ:

• Meaning:  persuaded to be true and real, we then  choose to trust and act
• Convinced to partner with
• Persuaded to the point that it is genuine persuasion; fully convinced with the message.
• a continual attitude that grows and does not disappear.
• willing to abandon contradictory thoughts in order to accept the whole message.
• belief is more in the person of Christ as it is His message.  
• means changing our mind.  This thought defines the meaning of repentance "a change of mind" which leads to a change of behavior.  When we believe in Christ, He enters our life and alters the way we see things, thus leading to the way we express ourselves.
• "Believe" used in this verse means this:  when we understand and accept what Christ did for us on the cross--dealing with our sin problem--we can then proceed to become freed from them.  
• It means surrendering ourselves to the truth of the Person and His message.
• This persuasion takes place in the heart.  It may begin in the mind, but the will of the heart must surrender and take part in the offer made by Christ.
• This conviction is evidence we are born again.  When we sin, we know it, it bothers us, and guilt drives us to the Solution available by the Cross.  A true Christian cannot continue in a habit of sin without "conviction, persuasion, belief" he is must find remedy in the Cross

If we believe [surrendering to Christ's work on the cross] it means our mind is in agreement with Him, His Lordship, His commands, His promises, His specific guidance to our conscience from the Bible.  

It also includes an agreement of the heart.  Our heart goes out to Him, is convinced in our heart He is the Son of God worthy of our following.  Believing is also a conviction.  Something inside us has become persuaded He is true to believe therefore prompts us to obey.

If we believe, ...

We will live with Him

     means this:  to be connected, woven into, becoming a constant recipient of Christ into our spirit and soul, thus energizing our body to follow "the narrow way."  This means more than living with Him in heaven.  It means that this believing is like opening a door to another place.  It is the place of Life, enjoyable, refreshing, and desiring to remain.

Life is...

• that energy possessed by the Godhead.
• abundantly fruitful with Their personality and goodness
• Gloriously enjoyable
• inviting, desiring, comfortable
• giving us what we need in the spirit and soul
• opposes the Old Self and all that is corrupted

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." (Gal 2:20-note)

Since you have believed, continue to hear and follow Him and you will increase to experience and to enjoy His life in you.