Saturday, December 6, 2014

Romans 6 Dead And Yet Alive In Christ!

Romans 6 NIV                                                                        
Judy Mattson's photo.
Died in Christ and yet we live! Live life!
Photo: Old Sheldon Church, Beaufort, SC
There are those who think that because we believe, we can keep on sinning; because we are confident in the promise that God has forgiven our sins.  Paul addresses this problem in Chapter 6 of Romans. "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!" This attitude that God's grace will cover everything we can do, whatever or whenever we choose, without worrying about it's consequences is (at least in part) what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called cheap grace. What is cheap grace? Cheap grace is no grace!

We, who have been baptized were baptized into his death. As our old self was drowned in the waters of baptism; we were raised to new life in Him.  We have died once to sin; how and why would we continue in that sin. Assuredly, we will all continue to sin. While we are still in the flesh, we will continue to struggle with the desires of this world. We will struggle as simultaneous sinner and saint. But, those who abide in Christ and He in them will not willfully sin. To willfully sin is cheap grace and then to keep repeating the sin just because you think you enjoy it is to spit in the face of Jesus and actually reject the gift of life given to us in his death.

The old self was crucified with him, so that we might live life in the kingdom of God. Live Life in Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

No comments: