I CAN’T, I’M DEAD!
Romans 6:1-12 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
[2] God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
[3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
[4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
[5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
[6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
[7] For he that is dead is freed from sin.
[8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
[9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
[10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
We love to embrace the glorious Truths of the Word when it tells us we are free from the penalty of our sin for those 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 us to put our flesh in submission to God, 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” crazy 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 TRUTH. Our 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! We have all heard these justifications for sin.
The Lord makes a clear path in the road of understanding concerning sin in the lives of all those who havebeen born again by the Holy Ghost. 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 newness of life; not like the old one that was enslaved to the lust of the world and was under the power of sin. If we’ve died with Christ then we are free from sin and sin is no longer the 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 who died in a Chinese prison cell and who gave his life for the cause of Christ 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.” What a blessing and what a testimony! Brother Nee had chosen to believe all of God’s Word not just part it. We cannot take the benefits offered by God without recognizing the responsibility that comes when receiving them. The Lord has never given us the freedom to decide what is right or what is wrong, HE alone has that honor. What Jesus 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 ones holding the key through the power of the Holy Ghost to loose them. God gave the Christian that key on the cross when Jesus took the keys to sin, death, hell and the grave! When you were saved, the penalty of sin was removed and so was the power of sin in your life. It’s my prayer for you today that will crucify your flesh and walk in victory over sin!
Bro. Lawrence Longworth
Isaiah 61:1 “the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
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