May 25, 2018: SOAP #3095: 1Kings 10, 11; 2Chronicles 9; Romans 6

Scripture:  Romans (NIV) 6:5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Observation:   What a freeing thing is death!  It is like the flight of an airplane that uses even the laws of gravity to rise above the laws of gravity.  It is gravity that holds the atmosphere tightly to the earth.  It is the interaction with that atmosphere that enables the plane to soar above the limits of that same gravity!  The moment its wheels are lifted off the runway; it is free!

Note this verse does not say “anyone for whom Christ died” but “anyone who has died.”  Christ death for me freed me from the results of my past actions.  He took the penalty for my sins.  But it is my death, the death of the “old man,” that frees me from the nature of sin.  What an important distinction!

Application:  Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, through seeing the grossness of my sins, through sorrowing that I have sinned, through confessing my sins, through asking his forgiveness, I died to my sins.  Through thanking Him for His forgiveness and making Him Lord of my life, I receive His life to enable me to live above the temptation to sin.  I am free!  I am free from sin and its manipulating power!

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, what freedom you have provided for me!  Through the death of your son in my place, through dying to myself and coming alive to the life of Jesus in me, I have died to my old way of living and started living for your pleasure.  What joy you have placed in my heart!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!