Buried But Not Bound: Why Your Past Doesn’t Define You

“We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life.”
— Romans 6:4

We all have a past. Some of us carry it like a backpack—others like a chain. But when you gave your life to Christ, your old life didn’t just end. It was buried.

The world—and the enemy—loves to remind us of what we’ve done. Shame whispers, “You’re still the same.” Guilt tries to drag us back into the grave we were saved from. But Scripture tells a different story: because of Him, our past has been paid for, covered, and left in the tomb.

Jesus didn’t die just to forgive you. He died to free you.

When He rose, He didn’t carry your sins with Him. They stayed buried. That means your old identity—your worst moments, your biggest regrets, your failures—is no longer who you are. You are not defined by what you did. You are defined by what He did.

This is more than just theology—it’s your reality. If you’re in Christ, you are a new creation. The grave is behind you, and grace is before you.

So why do we keep digging?

Because sometimes we forget. Sometimes we feel like we have to carry shame as a penance. But Christ didn’t call us to carry it. He carried it for us—once and for all. And He left it where it belongs: in the grave.

You don’t have to earn what Jesus already paid for. You don’t have to wear what He already removed. You don’t have to relive what He already redeemed.

Instead, you get to live. Really live. In freedom. In joy. In the confidence that you are loved, chosen, and restored.

So let’s stop digging up what Jesus left buried. Let’s stop rehearsing what God has already removed. And let’s walk boldly in the newness of life that He died—and rose again—to give us.

Because of Him, your past has no power. Your grave has no grip. And your life has just begun.

Want a daily reminder of this truth? Check out our Romans 6:4 T-Shirt—a bold reminder that your past is buried and your future is free.