What shall we say
then?
Shall we continue in
sin
that grace may
abound?
Certainly no! How
shall
we who died to sin
live
any longer in it?
Romans 6:1–2
In the past
men theorized that baptism had regenerative powers. In fact, there are those
denominations that believe and teach baptismal regeneration, in this present
age. The earlier men who believed in baptismal regeneration would delay baptism
as far in life and baptized on their death–bed. They believed that they could
sin, do whatever they chose to do in this life and then find salvation, or in
the least forgiveness of their sinful past life by baptism. These modern
denominations that teach baptismal regeneration may not live as those earlier
men, but still find salvation, or in the least repentance of their sins by
baptism. This type of thinking and religious theory denigrates the work of the
Holy Spirit who indwells all believers upon their conversion to Jesus Christ.
Paul is clear in his teaching, a teaching he received to teach all Christians,
then, and now; we are not to continue in sin: “For if we sin willfully after
we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). When we hear and receive the word of
God, spoken or read by us and we are invigorated, that is, our faith joins in
with the Holy Spirit as our soul activated to believe on Jesus Christ. Now we
are to live according to the righteousness we receive by His death: then we
died to our past, to our autonomous self, we reject all antinomian attitude,
and we being dead because Christ died for us, we live no longer in sin. This is
not to say that we are sinless, that is, that we do not sin; what this means is
that we do not sin willfully. When we do sin, we have a Father who through the
work of Jesus Christ on the cross will forgive your sins. Does this mean we are
home free? NO! This means that we who have converted, not just made a decision,
deny ourselves, and live and grow in the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit
indwells us fully, that is, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit that immerses us
in totality for by this baptism we are baptized into Jesus Christ: “Or do
you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into His death” (Romans 6:3)? Does this mean all consequences of
our sins no longer apply? NO! Although, not all consequences are as bad as
others, yet, there are consequences, and by the love of God exercised through
the brotherhood of believers there can be some mitigation: “For whom the
LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6;
cf. Proverbs 3:11–12). God’s chastening is determined much by your sin,
your actions. God will correct us in one way or the other, but it should be our
desire that God’s chastening is not due to our sin. God by means of Love, His
love, sent Jesus to die for you and be your representative on the cross. You
died with Christ, and by the resurrection of Jesus Christ you have newness of
life: “Therefore 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” (Romans 6:4). By Christ’s death, we
died, and by Christ resurrection, we are alive, a newness of life, life
eternal: “For if we have been untied together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).
Brothers and sisters; you are crucified with Christ and this then has done away
with sin, sin that would condemn you to death, a death that all sinners who are
not of God will receive and this eternally. Are you still struggling with sin?
We all do! Yet, we are not held fast by sin: “knowing this, that our old man
was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we
should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:6). You do not have to
continue in sin, to do so is simply your choice, a choice that is free inasmuch
as you can choose the way you live, dress, act, speak, and even think. You do
have a will, and while this will is not the free–will of Adam, rather a
free–choice of your will that is contaminated by sin; you have indwelled in you
the Holy Spirit that will aid you and direct you not to sin. How? A great way
to avoid sin is to be absorbed in His word, to pray often to Him, asking Him
for strength: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who
seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8). It is what you ask for that determines what
you receive, or that which you seek what is found, and those things that are so
important that you knock for them, well the door will be opened to you. What
are you asking for, and what are you seeking, and what are you knocking to have
opened to you? Is it to be someone important, a person of influence, or a
celebrity, and is it something mundane, or earthly you ask for, and those
things that the world would see as good even though not of God: are these that
are most important to you? Or is it things of God, a repentance of sins, and
asking for more of God’s guidance in your life, or making intercession for
someone: it is your disposition and that disposition has as its foundation the
fact that you have died to sin through the baptism of Jesus Christ. Live what
you are in Christ: “For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we
died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that
Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has
dominion over Him” (Romans 6:8–9). God gives you righteousness; God gives
you life; God removes the stain of sin from your life, and God gives you
eternal life. What more do you want? What more can you do other than live for
Him, His Son, and allow the Holy Spirit to operate in your life? Nothing!
Praise God for all this is free!
Then Jesus said to His disciples,
“If anyone
desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and
take up his
cross, and
follow Me.
Matthew 16:24
You are alive in Christ
Richard L. Crumb
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