As Paul leaves no doubt in the readers mind about our justification in Christ and us inheriting eternal life, righteousness, and grace through faith in that Christ was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification, the question then arises: why not sin, why not continue in sin? The question Paul actually assumes will be asked is, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" This question is actually quite subtle. The question Paul assumes has a purpose clause. Shall we continue in sin, so that, in order for, grace may abound. See it is God's grace that is bringing Him glory, so why not sin in order for grace to abound. This is carnal thinking at its' best, yea at it's worst. The main issue I want to focus on is Paul's answer. He says, "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Paul does not start listing off rules and regulations, a list of do's and don'ts, rather Paul gives some information never known before up to this point. Paul says how shall we, how can we live any longer in sin if we are dead to sin. He actually doesn't even place in "if" in the question rather just an "are". We "are dead to sin". Paul doesn't deal with the symptoms of our sin nature; our sins, rather the source, the sin nature itself; our flesh. God has identified us in Christ death and this is the very grounds in which the sin nature loses dominion over us today. Christ death is the means by which sin loses its' power today.
"How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" When we properly know and understand and reckon this fact by faith, the Spirit will work this truth effectually in our Christian walk gaining the right mind to renew daily, answering with Paul, how shall we live any longer therein because we are dead to sin. Praise God for His Word and what Christ has done for us at Calvary. If you are trying to defeat sin today without the death of Christ your attempts are vain, if you are trying to defeat sin by law keeping you are depending on a fleshly means for deliverance from fleshly failure. You are looking for strength from the very source (law) from which you are seeking deliverance. Deliverance comes only from Christ's work at Calvary, set your eyes on Calvary and you in Him. More to come.
Look Up,
Josh Strelecki
3 comments:
Setting my eyes on Him and REJOICING in His deliverance today! Setting my eyes on Christ in me and I in Him! Praying that the message of His grace would catch the heart and mind of His body. "Free from the law oh happy condition Jesus has bled and there is remission!"
Also, as I was reading your blog again I was reminded about what Brenda had quoted from Richard Jordan last night "You can't unlearn truth." Keep putting His truth out there baby those who read won't forget!
Michele you are too sweet to Josh...haha
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