Dearest e-votees-
When we give a gift we are yielding control to what becomes of it. The recipient gains control or liberty with said gift.
When God gives us salvation by grace God yields a measure of control as well. Grace is ours. What we do with that grace is our choice.
Paul has a few things to say about how we might employ the freedom from sin we have in Christ.
Peace,
Karl
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1 Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:1b-11, NRSV
When we are baptized we are connected with Jesus' death. As he died so we die too. As the consequences of sin exacted his life from him the power of sin is put to death in our lives. Because Jesus was bound, beaten and killed we are freed, healed and born anew. When death occurs sin loses its grip. When Jesus died sin could harm him no more. When we are baptized into Christ we are joined into his death and, therefore, into the freedom from the ultimate consequences of sin.
When we are baptized we are connected with Jesus' resurrection. As he lived so we live too. The power of God that worked his resurrection is at work in us too. Because death could not hold Jesus down we will not be forever weighed down with mortality either. When new life occurs sin loses its grip. When Jesus rose from the dead sin could harm him no more. When we are baptized into Christ we are joined into his resurrection and, therefore, into the freedom from the ultimate consequences of death.
God, because Jesus lives we live too. Help us enjoy and glorify you in the freedom have in Christ. Your grace is enough for us. Amen.
When we give a gift we are yielding control to what becomes of it. The recipient gains control or liberty with said gift.
When God gives us salvation by grace God yields a measure of control as well. Grace is ours. What we do with that grace is our choice.
Paul has a few things to say about how we might employ the freedom from sin we have in Christ.
Peace,
Karl
------------
1 Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in the newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
When we are baptized we are connected with Jesus' death. As he died so we die too. As the consequences of sin exacted his life from him the power of sin is put to death in our lives. Because Jesus was bound, beaten and killed we are freed, healed and born anew. When death occurs sin loses its grip. When Jesus died sin could harm him no more. When we are baptized into Christ we are joined into his death and, therefore, into the freedom from the ultimate consequences of sin.
When we are baptized we are connected with Jesus' resurrection. As he lived so we live too. The power of God that worked his resurrection is at work in us too. Because death could not hold Jesus down we will not be forever weighed down with mortality either. When new life occurs sin loses its grip. When Jesus rose from the dead sin could harm him no more. When we are baptized into Christ we are joined into his resurrection and, therefore, into the freedom from the ultimate consequences of death.
God, because Jesus lives we live too. Help us enjoy and glorify you in the freedom have in Christ. Your grace is enough for us. Amen.
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