August 13, 2021 AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
1 Corinthians 15:34 “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.”
This is an amazing verse; it sums us in just six words a vital truth that must be embraced if we are to live this Christian life that God has made available to us. It seems apparent that most believers have the view that even though we are sinners saved by grace, we still live with the old nature that causes us to habitually sin. This view comes from misunderstanding what Paul was saying in Romans 7 where he was describing life lived according to the old man, the flesh. Paul goes on to say that he was delivered from that life by life in Christ Jesus; Romans 7 was NOT Paul’s testimony. It is certainly true that we are saved by grace and not by works, but when we are saved, God makes us new creations with new hearts, new minds, and new spirits; at salvation, we get a new nature that is not drawn to sin. There are numerous verses that in no uncertain terms tell us that the power of sin has been broken and that we are no longer slaves to sin. Our salvation is so much more than a ticket to heaven; with our salvation comes the power to say no to sin! It is possible for believers to choose to live according to the flesh, but it is a choice. Galatians 5:16 tells us “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” The danger of not embracing the truth that we have the power to say no to sin is that we excuse our sin by blaming it on the sin nature that works in us; and as a result, we may not even feel remorse or repentant when we sin, because after all-‘that’s just our nature.’ This is not about ‘sinless perfection;’ it’s about walking in the Spirit and in the ways of God; it’s about overcoming sin; and it’s about living in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. 1 John 2:1 says that “If we sin, we have an advocated with the Father.” Note the word ‘if;’ if we as believers make the choice to not walk by the Spirit and to walk according our flesh (if we sin), God forgives that sin when we confess it and turn from it. The key truth for us from today’s verse is that WE AWAKE to RIGHTEOUSNESS-awake to who God has made us-AND SIN NO MORE!!! There is more to look at on this topic, so we will continue in next posting.
Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”
Blessings,
Buddy
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