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
Have you ever hung onto something which you knew was no good but still gave it credence? I believe that this is the very cycle many face with addictions. They know what they're doing is harmful, yet they continue in the destructive cycle. I've seen this repeated far too many times. In fact, I myself have been involved in this cycle as well. For many years, I was stuck in a cycle of food addiction as well as pornography. I knew that these things were bad for me, but I continued to engage in the cycle of destruction. Why do I mention this? Because I believe that there are far too many well meaning believers out there who have been deceived into clinging onto something which Jesus has already done away with. I'm talking about the idea of sin. Yes, I know that I spend a lot of time writing about the S word, but it is my hope that by doing so that the children of God will come to the realization of the truth which we have in Christ. In his evangel, the apostle Paul speaks to the truth that Jesus has indeed died to sin "Once for all time" {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. In fact, one of the core beliefs of this so called Christian religion is that Jesus indeed gave Himself to take away the sin of the world. The truth we have in Christ is that we have died to what once defined us. Many in the church will continue to proclaim that we're still sinners. They will back up this claim with the very words of Paul which we find in Romans, that all have sinned {Paul to the Romans 3:23}. Yet they leave out the important part which we find in the following passage. That "Being justified gratuitously in His grace" that it is Jesus Who has delivered us from sin {Paul to the Romans 3:24}.
How many of Gods children continue to hold onto that false belief that they remain sinners? I personally feel that there are quite a few that do. This false belief continues to be spoken by those within the mainstream church. That sin continues to be an issue in the lives of all believers. So it is that the hordes continue to follow this teaching. This despite claiming to believe that Jesus has indeed died for the forgiveness of their sin. Did Jesus somehow miss a few sins while hanging on that cross? I find that highly unlikely. Moments before His death, Jesus proclaimed "It is accomplished!" {Johns Account 19:30}. He had accomplished what He had come to do. Why is this important? Because to trust in the words of the Lord is to believe that we are no longer defined by that which we once held onto so tightly. We're no longer sinners in the eyes of God. That debt has been paid. That's not to say that sin in this world does not still remain, only that we who have died to sin are no longer defined by it. Paul proclaims "We, who died to sin, how shall we still be living in it?" {Paul to the Romans 6:2}. Why do we continue to cling to that old baggage? Because someone in the church says we do? Again, the evangel spoken by Paul makes it clear. That "If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation" {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:17}. I'm no longer that guy I once was! Through Christ Jesus, I am a sinner no longer. Knowing this, I no longer hold onto that former identity.
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: 2, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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