We Are Made Free From Sin - Part 676

Surely He took our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But what we didn't know -- at least until we personally come face to face with Jesus -- is that He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was totally on Him. And by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Indeed, He was delivered up for our offences. He was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25) Throughout, God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, He died for us. (Romans 5:8) Just as one trespass in the Garden of Eden resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and everlasting life for each and every one of us. (Romans 5:18) He that spared not His only begotten but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32) 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) At the right time -- a time preordained before the foundation of the world was even shaped --- Christ -- God in the flesh -- died for those who knew Him not. (John 1:1-18 / Romans 5:6) Indeed, the scriptures state, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are -- as a consequence of the precious blood shed on the cross -- dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know us not that as many of us baptized into Jesus Christ are baptized into His death? 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.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection. Our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed. As a consequence, death has no more dominion over Him -- for in that He died -- He died unto sin once. But in that He lives He lives unto God.

Likewise, Romans chapter six encourages us to be dead unto sin "but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body. Neither yield ye your members -- your hands, heart, minds and souls -- as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin. Rather, willingly yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 

Why? Because you and I are not under the law -- but under grace. Thanks be to the King of kings -- that while we were the servants of sin, we obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered -- being then made free from sin, we became servants of righteousness. As we move forward in His Word, we become friends with the most High. Daughters and sons of our Lord God and Saviour. 

And thus, in the same instant that we ask Jesus into our lives, we come to realize that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, and who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) So then, no more boasting about human leaders. The scriptures state that all things are yours. (I Corinthians 3:21) We can rejoice in the knowledge that God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us -- so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21) 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) Thank you Jesus. Stand in the offering plate.