Knowing this, that our old humanity was crucified together with Him, that the body of sin may be nullified, for us by no means to be still slaving for sin, for one who dies has been justified from sin. Now if we died together with Christ, we believe that we shall be living together with Him also, having perceived that Christ, having been roused from among the dead, is no longer dying. Death is lording it over Him no longer, for in that He died, He died to sin once for all time, yet in that He is living, He is living to God. Thus you also, be reckoning yourselves to be dead, indeed, to sin, yet living to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul to the Romans 6: 6-11, Concordant New Testament
A good friend of mine recently sent me an article about the return to the ministry of disgraced pastor Tony Evans. Evans, who left his ministry in 2024 over a personal "sin" that he has never revealed claims that he has "Successfully this restoration journey" as he once again stood behind the pulpit of Oak Cliff bible fellowship church in Dallas, Texas. What I found interesting about this article is the way that Tony Evans seemed to be raising the dead from long ago. What do I mean by that? Well, let's consider the words of the apostle Paul which we find in Romans. It is Paul who brilliantly lays out the truth of sin in our lives in this portion of his evangel. According to Paul, Christ has died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. That is, when Jesus gave Himself on that cross, it was for sin past, present and future. Many believers find this truth difficult to handle. Sure, we hold to the traditional Christian belief that Jesus was crucified once on that cross for the sins of man, but we seldom take to heart the true meaning of His sacrifice. On the one hand, we accept his death on the cross as a big part of our Christian faith. At the same time, we continue to hold fast to the false belief that our sin continues to play a large role in our lives. I can't say that I blame them, as mainstream church pastors like Tony Evans continue to speak to the existence of sin in our life. Yes, he even speaks to the existence of sin in his own life. Of course, this goes against everything the apostle was speaking to in Romans. That we are "By no means to be still slaving for sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:6}. And yet here we are, still resurrecting that which has been put to death so long ago.
Who Himself carries up our sins in His body on 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
The apostle Peter speaks to the truth that Christ Jesus "Carries up our sins in His body on the pole" {Peter to the Dispersion (1) 2:24}. What we have so often failed to realize is that when the apostles spoke of the death of sin, they were speaking the truth of the gospel. For Jesus has not come to condemn the world, but that all the world would be saved through Him {Johns Account 3:17}. We therefore now have NO condemnation in Christ Jesus {Paul to the Romans 8:1}. So, for what sin did Tony Evans recluse himself from his ministry for? What sin has God proven him guilty in His eyes? Of course, the answer is NONE! Yet I believe that now that he has completed his self-imposed restoration that he will once again continue to preach the existence of sin in the lives of his congregation. This is the mantra of those in the mainstream church. The mantra which speaks to our sin separating us from God. Yet the words of Paul once again speak to this lie of the church. That not only have we been crucified together with Christ Jesus, but that we now live our life in Him {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. We have not been separated from God, but reconciled unto Him {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:18}. So it is that Tony Evans continues to speak to the lie of the accuser. However, the truth spoken by the apostles speaks to our life in Christ, free of sin. I believe that this is a large part of the peace which we have in Christ Jesus. That we are no longer condemned, but restored. I trust in the words spoken by Jesus Himself, that my life is now in Him {Johns Account 14:20}. I live not in fear of judgement, but in the peace of a life in the Father.
How that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing us in the word of the conciliation
Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5: 19, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
No comments:
Post a Comment