Stuck In Reverse

4Therefore 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. 5For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be adone away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Likewise you also, creckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
Romans 6: 4 - 12 NKJV

I was listening to a radio preacher last night and was feeling pretty good on his message, until he was halfway through that is.  Perhaps it was just his leadup to the usual message I've heard from countless pulpit pounders in recent history.  What drew me into His talk was his suggestion that we "Walk in Jesus" in our daily lives.  If anyone knows my thoughts on Christ Jesus i us, you would understand my enthusiasm about this message from a church pulpit.  Then the hammer fell.  In the blink of an eye the message changed from hope in Jesus to the usual institutional church diatribe.  Claiming that our "Sin soaked" lives would forever prevent a christian from living as Christ Jesus, I'd heard enough.  Sadly, this pastors message is all too often a prevailing thought in christianity today.  Instead of seeing ourselves as new creations in Jesus, we continue to live in a past life of sin and repentance.  Each and every day we are told of our desperate need to beg our heavenly Father for His loving forgiveness.  The focus seems to be on our past iniquities and not on the very hope of Jesus.  In the same breath we can admit that Christ Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and yet still continue to say that we are but sinners saved by grace.  So which is it?  Is there yet a multitude of sins which Jesus missed when He became sin on our behalf and was crucified?  The apostle Paul didn't think so.  For in Romans 6, he tells us that our old sin nature, our old man, was put to death on that cross with Jesus.  Indeed, Christ Jesus has died to sin "Once for all."  To admit that there may have been sins which Jesus missed may just invalidate His sacrafice.

14For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16Therefore, 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. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 21For 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: 14 - 21 NKJV

It is common knowledge among christianity that we were enslaved to that original sin which befell Adam and Eve.  However, through Christ Jesus, our heavenly Father has redeemed His children that we might have eternity with Him.  Gods plan was never to use our sin against us, but to provide for us a way out of our sin condition.  This is the love and mercy of our Lord.

6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5: 6 - 8 NKJV

Again, here in Romans 5, Paul tells us that it is by our heavenly Fathers love toward us that Christ Jesus would give Himself on our behalf.  I will not believe even for a minute that Gods love for us would allow us to remain sinners despite the sacrafice of Jesus.  Yet this is the message which contiues to be preached in our houses of worship.  I will continue to stand by the message of hope in Christ Jesus, that He gave Himself for us and that we who have accepted Him walk as Christ today.

~Scott~