March 25, 2020 ALIVE TO GOD
Romans 6:1-2, 4, 6-7, 11-12a “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” “Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lust,”
Can we believe and accept what is said in these verses? (Read the entire chapter of Romans 6.) Let us be open to what Paul is saying here and not let our preconceptions or our personal preferences cause us to miss the obvious powerful point that Paul is making. Many believers have difficulty in believing that the power of sin has been broken in them and they are convinced that they cannot live without sinning. Do not misunderstand; I am not talking about reaching some ‘sinless perfection’ state where we never sin. However, I am saying that we do not have to sin; when and if we sin, we do so by choice-not by an uncontrollable power in us that makes us sin. We simply cannot blame or use our old sin nature as an excuse for our sin. I think that not receiving these and other verses like these at face value has been a major hindrance to the growth and spiritual well-being of many professing believers. Paul ask some powerful, thought provoking questions and made powerful comments. ‘If we have died to sin, how shall we live in it?--As Jesus was raised from the dead, so are we through baptism raised from the death of our old sin nature and now walk in newness of life---Our old self was crucified with Him that we should no longer be subject to sin--Consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God--Do not let sin reign in our mortal bodies.’ An important word to note is ‘consider.’ We are to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God. Do we view ourselves as believers who continue to sin; or do we consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God? That is crucial. These verses are really good news for us. We have been exposed to erroneous teaching for a long time regarding us being freed from the power of sin. 1 John echoes what Paul said: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteousness.” As said above, if we sin, we do so by choice, but even then God forgives us when we confess and turn from the sin. The point is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the power of sin over us has been broken, enabling us to live without being bound to sin. We are free to choose to walk by the Spirit, or walk according to our old nature, the flesh-but it is our choice. Let us consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God!
Romans 6:13 “and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Blessings,
Buddy
RSS Feed