“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1-2 NKJV
We are still exploring the victory over the power of sin.
Jesus broke the power of sin in our life by His death and resurrection. He did the physical and the spiritual work required. How do we access this victory and live continuously in it? I believe there are the spiritual and the physical aspect to this. We start in the physical, then the spiritual. There are some things we do in the physical that has significant spiritual implication. That is why we should not play with or under-estimate the power in our spiritual life.
The work that Jesus did is multi-faceted. His sacrifice justifies us from the guilt of sin and made us right with Almighty Father; “even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,...Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:22, 24-25, 28 NKJV
He also redeemed us from the bondage of sin. “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:9-11 NKJV.
Our victory over sin and ability to live in this victory is through life in Jesus Christ. Life in Him not outside of Him.
Jesus died and he rose again to live forever. We too must put to death the old life - which is the body of sin by being baptised into Jesus. Apostle Paul highlighted the significance of baptism “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.” Romans 6:3-4 NKJV.
Now there might be a lot of debate on the importance or necessity of baptism by immersion. I am not getting into that debate but sticking with what the bible says. As Paul said, baptism is a likeness of the death of Jesus; “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans 6:5-6 NKJV.
Baptism unites us together with Jesus in the likeness of his death and by His resurrection, we shall be in the likeness of His resurrection as well, then there is no argument. Be baptized. Jesus himself said; “He who believes and is baptized will be saved;...”Mark 16:16 NKJV.
Have you been baptized by immersion? If not prayerfully reconsider. Baptism into Christ Jesus signifies we were buried with Him through baptism into death. And because He was raised from the dead by the Father, assuredly we also are raised to walk victoriously over sin in the newness of life. The physical act has spiritual implication. What have you got to lose?
Give sin a knockout.
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To be continued...
#Prayer forToday 14th February 2018
Everlasting Father, thank You for your abounding grace in my life. Thank You for the work of redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ. Help me and all Your children to walk in perfect victory over sin. Grant us even more grace to walk in the newness of life; to be dead to sin and alive to You. May we present our bodies as a living sacrifice and an instrument of righteousness to You.
I pray this inspires you to be more and do more for Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ).
#AdeolaAkintoye ©
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