What, then, shall we declare? That we may be persisting in sin that grace should be increasing? May it not be coming to that! We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?
Paul to the Romans 6: 1-2, Concordant New Testament
The question arose the other day after the posting of my page on being free in Christ Jesus. Although I fully intended to address this issue in the future, a good friend asked of me THE question many ask when they are told that sin is no longer the issue. Are we free now to do whatever we want without fear of the Lords judgement? Is this our freedom in Jesus? No! I believe that the apostle Paul gave the best answer to this question in Romans. In regards to the issue of sin, "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?"{Paul to the Romans 6:2}. Maybe I could have rephrased my words better in my initial post, but I believe that I did well given the circumstances. As Paul explains, the reason that we are free from the issue of sin is because of the work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus took our sins upon Himself on that cross {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}. Because of this, we are correct to consider ourselves to be dead to sin {Paul to the Romans 6:11}. Knowing this, consider once again the question I opened this page with. Being free in Christ Jesus, am I now free to behave any way I want without fear of Gods judgement? Well, yes. That's not to say that there doesn't continue to be consequences for what we do, only that, through Jesus, that sin is no longer a concern for us. So, what is it that we consider sin? Can our own misbehavior be considered a sin? Or, is this simply our own forgetting of who we are in Christ? Many consider their instances of behaving badly to be equal to sin. Therefore, when I mention that Jesus has now made us free from the bondage of sin there is some confusion. Is it sin, or simply bad choices? Whatever it is, we can be assured that we are no longer under its penalty. Jesus has paid that debt in full. I've mentioned that I have a friend whose faith is steeped deeply in the Eastern Orthodox religious system. When I speak to him of our freedom in Christ, he instantly counters that he has done many wrong things. Remember that our freedom in Christ also frees us from guilt and shame. For if we have died to sin, what is it that we're now guilty of?
Who Himself carries up our sins in His body on to the pole, that, coming away from sins, we should be living for righteousness; by Whose welt you were healed.
Peter to the Dispersion (1) 2: 24, Concordant New Testament
One of the primary beliefs of the Christian faith is that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. This is what we supposedly believe. Yet, if we believe it, why do we not put it into practice? Why is it that we, as believers, continue to consider sin an issue in our lives? Do we not believe that Christ Jesus gave Himself for the forgiveness of sins as we have been told? Sadly, many well meaning believers have lost sight of this truth. For if we fully understood what Jesus accomplished on the cross, we would also understand the words of Paul which we find in Romans. If we understood what Jesus has accomplished, we might not even question the Christian "Grace card" which Paul speaks of in Romans 6:1. I believe that Paul wrote these iconic words to remind us of the truth of what Jesus has accomplished for us. As believers, we definitely need that reminder. Our weekly discussion group has been focused on the truth of living in union with Jesus {Johns Account 14:20}. Yet we also have been reminded that sin is no longer an issue for us. Freedom in Christ means living without the fear of guilt and shame. Freedom to me means knowing that sin is no longer a barrier between myself and God. Thanks to the works of Christ Jesus, I do not need that grace card. What I DO need is to remember all which He has accomplished.
For freedom Christ frees us! Stand firm, then, and be not again enthralled with the yoke of slavery.
Paul to the Galatians 5: 1, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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