The Good Of The Father (Dead To That) # 2093

 

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living, no longer I; but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in the faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me 

Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

I have had far too many conversations with so called Christians who claim to believe in Jesus yet shudder at the mere mention that they are no longer under the yoke of sin.  Paul makes it clear in his evangel that Christ has given Himself for sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}.  Yet the same Christians who profess to believe that Jesus gave Himself for the forgiveness of sin also continue to profess that it is our sin which has separated us from God.  It's obvious that somewhere along the line that someone got their signals crossed somewhere.  Most believers have failed to understand the scriptures which proclaim the truth of the Lord Jesus, that we ourselves have died to that which we formerly were.  Paul speaks to the truth of our identity in Christ, as we ourselves have died with Him {Paul to the Galatians 2:20, Paul to the Romans 6:6}.  These words of Paul were difficult for me to process at first, as I definitely did not remember ever dying.  I would remember something like that.  Yet when Paul speaks to our death with Christ, he is referring to the death of that which we once were.  The church is big on referring to our very sin nature which continues to distance us from God.  Paul's words assure us that we are no longer held to this identity.  For the death which we have died, we died WITH Him at the cross.  I'm no longer that guy I once was.  Paul refers to this as our "Old self" {Paul to the Ephesians 4:22}.  Whatever you want to call it, sin nature or old self, we're now dead to that forever. 

I believe that the more people understand the death of our old nature, the more people will understand that we are no longer under the influence of sin.  For once the nature to sin has been put to death forever, how is it that it can be resurrected?  I'll tell you how, through the words and beliefs of those who are unaware of the truth.  No more is this evident than in the words and beliefs of those in the church.  It is they who continue to speak the lie of the deceiver to the children of God.  Despite professing that Jesus has come for the forgiveness of sin, they continue to keep the memory of that sin alive and well in the lives of those who will listen to them.  In their eyes, each and every bad thought and wrong choice constitutes sin.  My question is this, why would you want to keep beating yourself up over something which Jesus has already given Himself to take away from you?  The church already speaks to the truth that Jesus has come for the forgiveness of sin, why don't we take Him at His word?  Is He lying?  The truth of the matter is that Jesus has never lied, He is the same yesterday, today and forever {To the Hebrews 13:8}.  Therefore, if Jesus has proclaimed that He has come for the forgiveness of sin, I believe Him!  What I DON'T believe are the words of those within the mainstream church who continue to try to resurrect that which Jesus has put to death.  For if the Father had intended to have His children continue in their struggle against sin, then the sacrifice of Christ would not have included the forgiveness of sins.  Yet that has never been the case.  For through the selfless sacrifice of Christ Jesus, we are no longer in bondage to sin.  

To put off from you, as regards your former behavior, the old humanity which is corrupted in accord with its seductive desires 

Paul to the Ephesians 4: 22, Concordant New Testament 

~Scott~