August 8, 2017 FOR HE WHO HAS DIED
Romans 6:5-7: “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, 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.”
Most would be quick to say that they are not slaves to anyone or to anything, yet the reality is that many who profess to be a Christian, find themselves enslaved to their old self. It is paramount that we understand in our mind and in our spirit that our salvation not only assures us of eternal life in heaven when we die, it also enables us to live a super-natural life here on planet earth. Not only does our salvation enable us to live super-naturally, it is the plan of God that we do so. It’s a rather no-brainer statement, but the fact is that we cannot live the super-natural life in our own human strength! A major aspect of the super-natural life is that we can live without sinning! Some will disagree with that statement, but as you read the scriptures with an open mind and heart, you will see that that is exactly the plan of God for believers. The key to living without sin is to understand and apply the truth that we find in this verse for today. Just as Jesus died, we must “become united with Him in the likeness of His death” by agreeing that because we have been joined to Him in our salvation, our old self was also crucified with Him. And, just as Jesus was resurrected from the dead, we are also resurrected in newness-with a new nature! This is the great miracle of salvation-being made new. Referring to our new nature, 1 John 2:9 is an interesting verse in that it says: “No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” What died with Jesus was our old self-the self that was enslaved to sin. By sharing in the resurrection of Jesus, we now have a new nature, one that is not a salve to sin. We must recognize the untruth that says that even though we have been saved, we still have an old sin nature to contend with day-by-day. It certainly is possible for believers to sin, but only when they choose not to walk in their new identity-the new creation they are. It grieves the heart of God when the one He gave His Son for, turns from his new nature and allows the old sin nature to express itself. As believers, we can sin, but, it is no longer our nature to sin; if we have been joined to God, then it is our desire to do the things that please Him. Notice what is said in 1 John 2:1: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (Emphasis mine.) No longer believe that it is your nature to sin; but believe the truth that you are no longer enslaved to sin and that it is now your nature to be pleasing to the Father-and it does please Him when we live in our new identity-identifying with the death and the resurrection of Jesus. Confess with your mouth your new identity, that you are a new creation, and that in all of your life, you will do the things that please your Father.
Romans 8:11: “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.”
Galatians 5:16: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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