January 15
Freed From Sin’s Power
"For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."
Paul penned these words;"There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)!" We love to embrace this glorious truth because it removes the guilt and shame and the penalty of our sins for all of us who are in Christ Jesus. The gifts of God are easily recognized when they benefit us, especially without cost on our part! But when the gift of God presents a challenge, a painful undertaking, or calls for an admittance by our flesh then we are not so quick to embrace them in our lives. We like the promises of God without any changes, without any cost associated with them. We live in a "religious" world where half-truths become law in the lives of many simply because somewhere along the way someone decided they didn’t like the whole of it. Flesh will always alter truth in order to bring about a false justification of its’ desires. The excuses are always the same; I don’t have the power to overcome this or I can’t help the way I am! Sound familiar?
God makes it a clear path in the road of understanding concerning sin in the lives of all those who have professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just as there is now no more condemnation for their sins, there is also no more excuse for their sins. True salvation will always involve death; death of self. Jesus’ death on the cross powerfully illustrates this to us as taught here in these verses in Romans chapter six. When we give our lives to Jesus we have been crucified with Him and raised to walk in a new life; not like the old one that was enslaved to its lusts and was under the power of sin. If we’ve died with Christ then we are free from sin, and death no longer is master over us! Sin has no power of its own in the life of a born again Christian. To say that we cannot overcome a sin in our life after we are saved, is in essence saying that God’s Word is a lie for He tells us clearly that we are no longer under the power of sin.
Watchman Nee was on an airplane once and the flight attendant asked him if he wanted an alcoholic beverage. He politely replied; "I can’t, I’m dead." Brother Nee had chosen to believe all of God’s Word not just part. We cannot take the benefits offered by God without recognizing the responsibility that comes when receiving them. God has never given us the freedom to decide what is right or what is wrong, He alone has that honor. What He has given to us is the freedom to say no to sin, the power to turn away from it and the strength to overcome it. It does not matter what shackles have us bound, we are the one holding the key to loose them. God gave us that key in the death of Jesus and it is ours for the taking when we become a true child of God. When the penalty was removed so was the power!
SIN IS NO LONGER MASTER OVER ME
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
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