SCRIPTURE: Romans 6
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” [John 8:34-36] Am I a slave to sin, or a slave to God? I can’t be both. Of course both sin and God are present in our lives (God is active in every sinners life, sin is active in every child of God’s life), but which one is our main identity? Either I’m a slave to sin and alienated from God, or I am a slave to God and alienated from sin. Paul makes this either/or very plain. We need to develop this kind of mindset to help us deal with the lingering effect of sin in our lives.
Who do you want to be a slave to – God or sin? (If you say ‘no one’, that’s sin since anyone or anything other than God is sin). If you repent and surrender to Jesus, we are identified with Him in His death for sin (the death penalty we deserve) and in His victory over death (the victory we need). Symbolized by baptism, we are symbolically by faith identified with His death and resurrection – dead to sin and alive to God! We are free indeed!
This has nothing to do with whether elements of the old self remain. Of course they do. But if in our heart we hate them, and dedicate ourselves to avoiding them, then they will slowly be weeded out. God sees us as sinless in principle, and then helps become sinless in practice. This is a process that takes time, but one that we must cooperate with.
We need to count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. The person who says, ‘I can sin because I know God forgives me’, shows that they have not died to sin, they still love it and cling to it. If they hate it, they will reject it. They will fail many times, but they will keep at it, because in their being they see that old lifestyle as contrary to who they are now in Christ.
How do you see yourself? Which direction is my heart and life leaning? Do I hate all that is contrary to God, do I desire to overcome those old attitudes and behaviours with His help – not in order to be forgiven but because I already am forgiven? Freedom begins with a frame of mind. I affirm in my mind what God says that I am – dead to sin, alive in Christ. From there it works itself out in practice – putting sin to death and bringing the Jesus lifestyle to life. The direction of our life (towards God or away from Him, towards sin or away from sin) determines the outcome of our life.
PRAYER:
Lord, I hate the lingering elements of sin in my life. I choose again today to crucify that stuff… with Your help!
Oh, and Happy Birthday Norm! Hope you had a great day!
Yes, you are able to do what you like on your Birthday … but just remember that you have to live with the rest of us the remaining 364 days … so be nice!
I like how the MESSAGE version states it …
“Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you (the Christ follower); God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did.”
When Christ died for my sin on the cross then a new language was written into the hearts of all who believe. This new language is what brings new life into us.
The “dead to sin” part has always been a struggle for me to fully understand since I kept feeling I was “resurrecting” my sin after dying to it. But when I start to understand that all that I am “resurrecting” are the memories of old nature habits and not the actual sinful nature – this is mind boggling!
As a child of God, I am spiritually alive in Christ. My sinful nature has been crucified with Christ on the cross – Christ accomplished that – not me! But what I am responsible for in my new life is to allow the Spirit of God to work on the fruit of His Spirit in me(Galatians 5:22) in order to not live out the old habits of my sinful nature.
Thank you Lord for new life in You!
Free to serve. Through the death and resurrection of Christ I have been set free to live a life of service. I serve a risen Savior and because He lives I may also live, because He has set me free from the slavery of sin. Christ Jesus is my Master and I work for Him. Although I do sin, it is by His grace I am alive forevermore. Sin is not my master but Christ Jesus, it is He whom I serve. Help me this day Lord to have open eyes to see You leading me as I continue to work in your vineyard. WWJD
I serve a risen Savior, he’s in the world today;
I know that he is living whatever men may say;
I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer,
And just the time I need him, he’s always near.
Chorus:
He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!
You ask my how I know he lives?
He lives within my heart.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing.
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the king!
The hope of all who seek him,
The help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.