Lion of Judah Worship Center, March 13, 2016

Scriptural text: Romans 6:2–4 NKJV:

“Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Dead to sin: Christ condemned sin in the flesh. Sin separated us from God, it created an estrangement; that is why the mosaic covenant, which consisted of external laws that revealed sin in human beings could never absolve them of the stain, but simply cover it. The new law in Christ places us in Him. Since we are in Him, I Cor. 1:30, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus…” and since we were crucified with Him, Gal. 2:20, that means in the sight of deity, we died, were buried and rose with Him to share His resurrected life. We are in essence free from slavery to sin, the sin nature. We have freedom to choose, verse 11 says, “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The work of freedom performed by Jesus is a decree of liberty to those who believe and receive.

Let us look at some supporting scriptures: Cor. 1:30 says, “Jesus is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.” Wisdom, James 1:5, tells us to ask God for the outpouring of his wisdom that is already stored up for us. The wisdom of God will not eliminate all trouble, but will guide us in ways we can learn from our difficulties. Righteousness: II Cor. 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Sanctification: I Cor. 1:2, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus…” The Corinthians holiness came from their position in Christ, not from their own goodness. Redemption: Col. 1:13–14, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

As we continue our walk through the Word we come to II Corinthians 5:17 that states: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” Why? Because we have died to sin and the sin nature, able to live the resurrected life set before us. However, a person who has been freed from sin, can act as though still a slave because of the mindset, Romans 12: and Proverbs 23:7 will substantiate this. If we continue to believe that at some future date and time God is going to come and set us free, we will continue in the same pathway.

That is where the application of faith comes in. We begin to confess: “By faith I consider myself dead to sin and all of its tentacles that reached deep inside of me and kept me returning to the pit deprivation. But thanks be to God the Word says that if I confess my sins He is faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness in Jesus’ Name.”

How do we reach that place of confidence in God?

1: Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you, James 4:8.

2: Praying in the Spirit, Jude 20 & I Cor. 14:4; if you have received the baptism in the Holy Spirit spend time praying in your heavenly language. If not: ask the Holy Spirit to pray through you for victory over temptation.

3: Meditating in the Word, Joshua 1:8

Never define yourself as an old sinner saved by grace! You were an old sinner, then you were transformed into a new creation by that act of grace.

Pastor Dowdy, Lion of Judah Worship Center

 

Copyright 2016 Lion of Judah Worship Center.