Yesterday Once More

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.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 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: 6-11 NKJV

It happened again today.  In moments of casual conversation with a few christian brothers, I once again heard that blast from the past.  I guess that I'm kind of used to the comment by now.  The fact that a christian would defy the very truth within them and proclaim, "But I'm just a sinner, we all are."  To my credit, this time I didn't choke on my coffee when I heard these words.  Like I said, maybe I'm just used to hearing them proclaimed by now.  Is this the new christian reality?  Thankfully not.  For if it were then nobody would be able to glory in the sacrafice of Christ Jesus who washed away the sins of all.  Indeed, what need would Jesus have to give His very life for us if it did not cleanse all sin from Gods children?  Oh, and in reference to the apostle Pauls mention in Romans 6, what need for our "Old" man to be slain if indeed we were to still walk in our old sin nature?  What then of our Lords loving grace and mercy if He did not shower it upon us at the cross?  What example of His ultimate goodness would we even have?  For what has become known as "The greatest story ever told" {The birth of Christ Jesus} has become the greatest gift ever given.  For long before the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, our Lords plan for the redemption of His children was already set in motion.  Therefore, there is no longer any need for those who have trusted in Christ Jesus to continue to live in their yesterday.  Our old man has been put to death with Christ.

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, Yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not inputting their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christs behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5: 16-21 NKJV

I would clarify to those few who utter those words of yesterday, that instead of being yet sinners, we who have trusted in Christ Jesus are now very ambassadors for Him.  For how will the world ever know of the great gift of Christ if it is not told by we who have experienced it first hand?  I recently heard a well known radio preacher who related the story of a young mother in some foriegn country who, through the grace of our Lord, had managed to be able to listen to our Lords gospel for the very first time.  Intrigued by this teaching, she invited her husband to listen also.  Although met with manly skepticism, he eventually told her that "This man who talks on the radio makes sense."  How would this man have known of this gospel of Christ if not for his wife?

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written:  "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"  But they have not all obeyed the gospel.  For Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?"  So then faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10: 14-17 NKJV

Does anyone still feel that we are indeed still yet sinners?  Look to the cross, see His blood which was shed for all mankind for the remission of sins.  Look at the empty tomb, which once entombed not only the crucified Christ, but our old man with Him.  I say we are no longer sinners, but ambassadors.

~Scott~