The Surprising Key to Spiritual Growth
Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but grace. -Romans 6:13-14
The key to life is death. Because Jesus died for sin, we must be willing to die to sin and follow Him.
Eternal life is more than overcoming death after our earthly lives end; eternal life is walking in Jesus resurrected power now. The apostle Paul argued that we should die to the wicked tyrant to sin that seeks to control us through unholy desires and temptations. We must so identify with the death and resurrection of Christ that sin loses its power in us and bodies ("members") become "instruments" for doing good rather than evil.
The presence of this warning reveals three realities about sanctification. First, the battle against sin does not end after a person is saved. Despite some claims to the contrary, moral perfection is impossible until we enter heaven. Left unchecked, sinful impulses will wreak havoc in our lives. Growing Christians will actively identify and war against threats to their walks with God. Last, the grace of God is our weapon to overcome sin rather than to excuse it or justify it (Romans 6:15). As God changes our hearts, His grace compels us to live for righteousness rather than wickedness.
Prayer : Father, transform me by Your grace. Sanctify my heart, mind, hands, feet so that I can live a holy life. Empower me to live victoriously over the temptations that I encounter. In Jesus name, Amen.
The key to life is death. Because Jesus died for sin, we must be willing to die to sin and follow Him.
Eternal life is more than overcoming death after our earthly lives end; eternal life is walking in Jesus resurrected power now. The apostle Paul argued that we should die to the wicked tyrant to sin that seeks to control us through unholy desires and temptations. We must so identify with the death and resurrection of Christ that sin loses its power in us and bodies ("members") become "instruments" for doing good rather than evil.
The presence of this warning reveals three realities about sanctification. First, the battle against sin does not end after a person is saved. Despite some claims to the contrary, moral perfection is impossible until we enter heaven. Left unchecked, sinful impulses will wreak havoc in our lives. Growing Christians will actively identify and war against threats to their walks with God. Last, the grace of God is our weapon to overcome sin rather than to excuse it or justify it (Romans 6:15). As God changes our hearts, His grace compels us to live for righteousness rather than wickedness.
Prayer : Father, transform me by Your grace. Sanctify my heart, mind, hands, feet so that I can live a holy life. Empower me to live victoriously over the temptations that I encounter. In Jesus name, Amen.
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