God's Invitation to Us

Isaiah 55

In many places around the world inflation has increased, and the cost of food and drink has become much more expensive in the last several years.  So, if you heard that there was someone giving away free food, and good quality food too, wouldn’t you go and take advantage of this opportunity?  Why pay many dollars for meat or bread when you could get even better quality for nothing?   Yet there are people, for whatever reason, who will do just that, and not just for physical food, but even for the much more important spiritual food.  In our Scripture for today we read of both an invitation and a warning that God has given to us through His prophet Isaiah.  Let’s take a look, and see if we have been ignoring that invitation and the warning from God.

Isaiah 55 follows the great Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53.  The Servant has suffered, died, and risen as seen in chapter 53.  Now the blessings purchased by the Servant are offered to all, as we read in today’s chapter.  We also see here that God offers salvation freely, but only on His terms, which include repentance, seeking Him while He may be found, and submitting to His Word, which never fails to accomplish His purpose.

As our Scripture opens, we read of the free offer of salvation that God has given (vs. 1-3).  This is a universal invitation, to everyone who thirsts.  God calls all who recognize their spiritual need to come to Him.  Salvation is given freely.  It cannot be earned, as it is received by faith.  People are continually running after and spending money on that which is not genuine “bread”, pursuing satisfaction from the world, when instead they can find real satisfaction and spiritual nourishment through Jesus.  God has given us the solution to spiritual hunger, and that comes through hearing and obeying His Word.  Salvation is free, but it is exclusive.  It only comes through God’s appointed Messiah.

Continuing in our Scripture we read of the Messiah and His global mission (vs. 4-5).  God speaks of the Messiah here as being a witness to the people, a leader and commander, and One who will draw nations to Him that did not know Him.  Jesus Christ is the authoritative leader, not one option out of many.  Through Him, the Gospel would reach Gentile nations, fulfilling God’s plan for worldwide salvation.  Jesus is not merely a moral teacher, He is God’s appointed ruler, and all nations will answer to Him.

Isaiah continues by giving us God’s urgent call to repentance (vs. 6-7).  There is a sense of urgency here, as there is a limited window of opportunity.  Salvation will not always be available, as judgment will come.  The window of opportunity will one day close.  In accepting God’s salvation, we must have repentance.  The wicked must “forsake his way”, and the unrighteous man “his thoughts”.  When we respond, God will have mercy.  He will abundantly pardon.  God’s forgiveness is lavish and complete.  However, repentance is not optional.  Too many preachers today think that talk of sin and repentance is not necessary.  They teach that God loves us just the way we are, and we don’t need to change.  The Bible clearly states that we must turn from sin and turn towards God.  No one is saved without forsaking their own sinful ways and thoughts.

Many people want things according to their way of thinking, and this includes how they think God and salvation should operate.  They think their way of thinking is correct, and that God and His Word are not logical.  They want things to be “fair” according to their way of thinking.  However, that is not the way it is.  God’s ways are higher, holier, and wiser than human reasoning (vs. 8-9).  Human philosophy, psychology, or whatever the current cultural trends are cannot define truth.  Only God’s Word reveals His ways.

Next, Isaiah proclaims the power of God’s Word (vs. 10-11).  God’s Word is effective, unstoppable, and always fruitful.  Just as rain produces growth, God’s Word produces spiritual life.  God pours the rain all throughout the world, and in like manner He has also poured out His Word throughout the world, as well.  Isaiah speaks of the inerrancy and sufficiency of the Bible.  God’s Word will accomplish exactly what He intends, never failing and never erring.  His promises never fail, His commands are perfect, and God’s purposes will always succeed.

Our Scripture ends with seeing the joyful transformation that God will bring (vs. 12-13).  There is joy and peace for the redeemed of God, along with all of creation responding to His salvation.  God will bring a reversal of the curse, where instead of thorns we have fir trees, and instead of briers we have myrtle trees.  Salvation brings an inner transformation in those who have accepted Jesus, and He will also bring a future restoration to all of creation.  This will happen in the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus.  Are you ready?  Have you accepted God’s free offer of salvation personally for yourself?  Come to Him today while the offer is still open!

Come Unto Me

Matthew 11:25-30

Many of you, particularly those in the United States, may be familiar with the song by the 19th century U.S. composer Stephen Foster, “My Old Kentucky Home”.  There is a line in the third verse of that song that goes  “Just a few more days for to tote the weary load”.  That line speaks to anyone who is tired from the heavy load, the heavy burden of physical work, and also troubles, concerns, and worries that we all face throughout life.  Where can we find rest or reprieve from this heavy load?  It seems that there is none, and that the load just gets heavier and more weary as life goes on, and there will be no rest until we are lying horizontal in the grave.  That does not need to be the case for the Christian, one who follows the Lord Jesus Christ.  In our Scripture for today from the Gospel of St. Matthew we read an invitation that the Savior gives for us to come to Him and give up our heavy burdens.  Let’s take a look at our Scripture from the last several verses of chapter 11.

In our Scripture we read a brief prayer of praise that Jesus gives to the Father, a declaration of His divine authority, and then follows with a gracious invitation to sinners.  Recently the Lord had sent out the disciples on a mission trip to bring His Gospel to various villages, and when they returned they gave their report, and Jesus called out woes to the cities that had seen His miracles but had refused to repent.  In His prayer, Jesus called the Father “Lord of heaven and earth” (vs. 25).  This affirms God’s absolute authority over all creation.

He declares that spiritual truth has been hidden from the wise and prudent, but revealed to babes.  The “wise and prudent” are the self-righteous, the intellectually proud, and all those who trust in their own understanding.  The proud cannot understand spiritual truth.  Spiritual truth is not discovered by human intellect, but is revealed by God.  However, Jesus declares that it has been revealed to “babes”.  These are the humble, the teachable, and those who recognize their need.  God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).  God’s plan of revelation is not accidental.  It is intentional and pleasing to Him (vs. 26).

Next we read of Jesus’ exclusive authority and revelation (vs. 27).  Jesus has been given all authority - authority over salvation, over judgment, authority over revelation, and over creation.  This is a powerful testimony to Jesus’ deity.  He possesses all authority and uniquely knows the Father.  Jesus is the exclusive mediator between God and mankind.  He is the only way to God (John 14:6).

Now we come to the Lord Jesus Christ’s gracious invitation to us (vs. 28-30).  This is a personal, direct, and compassionate call to us to come to Him.  Jesus does not say to come to religion, or come to works, or come to philosophy.  He says “Come unto Me.”  Jesus calls all those who are burdened by sin, those who are exhausted by the self-effort of trying to earn a way to heaven, and those who are weary from life’s trials.

Jesus promised that if these people will come to Him, He will give them rest.  They will find the rest of peace with God.  They will find strength for obedience to His Word, and relief from guilt, fear, and striving.  Jesus urges us to take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.  A yoke implies submission, obedience, and a partnership with God.  Christ’s yoke is not freedom from responsibility, but is freedom from bondage.  The world’s yoke may sound light, but it leads to sin and slavery.  Jesus’ yoke of obedience to His Word may sound heavy, but it leads away from error and into eternal joy.

Jesus is “meek and lowly in heart”.  He is gentle and humble.  He is accessible and  compassionate towards sinners.  When we walk with Jesus, He will bring us ongoing rest.  His burden is light because He carries it with us.  Because of Jesus’ life we can be certain that our Heavenly Father cares about us.  God’s love extends over us, and He wants us to come to Him with our burdens and pain.  Don’t allow trials to cloud your thinking about God’s deep concern for you.  Jesus’ presence doesn’t make us immune to struggles, but it does promise us comfort and rest during our trials.  His presence provides a refuge where we can lay down our heavy loads and catch our breath.

Do you carry burdens that tire you out, burdens that deprive you of needed rest?  Set aside resentment, bitterness, and complaints.  Bring your burdens to Jesus and accept His invitation to find rest.

No Condemnation

Romans 7:21-8:6

I enjoy occasionally watching courtroom dramas on TV, whether it is a fictional series or an actual court case that has been allowed to be televised.  There is always one dramatic point, and that is when the verdict comes in.  The defendant will stand and they will find out whether they have been acquitted or found guilty, whether they are now free or condemned.  The condemned one finds out what his sentence will be as condemnation is proclaimed.  However, what if something very surprising and shocking happened, that the judge set the guilty one free since his own son was going to take the punishment, and that the guilty received no condemnation?  We would say that was preposterous and would never happen!  It did happen, it happened for each one who has accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior, which we will read about in today’s Scripture.

As we begin our study of this passage from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, we read about a struggle that anyone who has been a Christian for any length of time deals with, and that is the struggle between our old nature and our renewed, new nature (vs. 21-25).  Our old nature, our “flesh nature”, still desires to do the ungodly things that we used to partake in before we gave our lives to Jesus.  Our new nature, on the other hand, desires to follow the Lord and His Word.  These two natures battle inside of us, just like a game of tug-of-war, each one trying to pull us in their direction.

As Paul describes, the principle or law of sin is still active in the believer.  Whenever he desires to do good, evil is still present.  Even though we are genuinely saved, the sin nature still remains and resists holiness.  Our new nature, renewed by the Holy Spirit, loves righteousness, and longs to obey God.  But the old nature, following the law of sin, fights against this, trying to drag us back towards sin.  This is the believer’s ongoing battle, where the flesh and Spirit oppose each other (Galatians 5:17).

Paul saw this happening over and over again, and it was discouraging.  He cried out for help in this inward battle of tug-of-war (vs. 24).  This was not a cry of despair, but of longing for final victory, as he knew Who could deliver him.  Paul knew that Christ alone delivers from sin’s power and ultimate presence.

Before we accepted Jesus as our Savior, each one of us was on the side of evil, following what it dictated in our life.  If our life remained unchanged, we would rightly be getting the sentence of eternal condemnation.  Things are different for the believer and follower of Jesus.  Though they had committed plenty of sins before being born again, some of them possibly quite terrible, and still occasionally being pulled back into sin, they now, through the grace and mercy of the Lord taking upon Himself their sins, receive no condemnation (vs. 1).

The believer’s standing before God is completely transformed.  They do not receive less condemnation, they receive none at all.  Jesus bore the condemnation that we deserved, therefore God cannot condemn those united to His Son.  We may have to suffer from some discipline for our sins, but we will not be eternally condemned.

Before salvation, sin and death once ruled in the believer’s life like an unbreakable law.  But the Holy Spirit’s power is stronger, liberating the believer from sin’s power and control (vs. 2).  The Law of Moses could teach, command, and reveal God’s holiness, but it could not empower obedience.  God accomplished what the law could not by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and condemning sin in the flesh.  Because Jesus fulfilled the law, all believers who are walking in the Spirit, fulfill its righteous requirement.

When Jesus went to the cross on our behalf, He lifted the blame from our shoulders, and made us righteous before God (vs. 3-4).  We do not need to feel any condemnation of sin.  Those feelings do not belong.  They come from Satan.  Our sins are wiped clean, and we are chosen and loved by God.  Condemnation is reserved for those who reject the Lord (John 3:36).

There are two ways for mankind to live (vs. 5-6).  The unsaved have their mind set on sin and are hostile to God.  This will lead to spiritual death.  Believers who are walking with God and who have a Spirit-governed mind will find life and peace.

As we look back over this Scripture, we realize that the presence of sin, even in a believer’s life, is real and active.  For victory over this ongoing condition, we must depend on the Holy Spirit, not our own self-effort.  Human effort cannot produce holiness.  Jesus Christ alone can deliver us from sin’s power.  Genuine Christians can rest in their standing in Christ, as no condemnation means full acceptance and security.   We are set free from ever being condemned for our sins.

Reasons to Praise God

Psalm 145

Our psalm for this week, Psalm 145, is one of eight acrostic psalms in the Bible.  An acrostic psalm is one where each verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  Acrostics have been used for years to help teach young children their alphabet - A is for apple, B is for bear, etc.  Sometimes acrostics are used to help in memorizing a list or group of things.  When I was a young girl in school, we learned the planets in order by an acrostic - “My very energetic mother just sent us nine pies” for Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto (back when Pluto was considered a planet!).  Today, however, rather than the whole alphabet, I am only going to focus on the letter “G” in our psalm.  In this psalm of praise by King David, we will look at several attributes of God that David praises Him for, each beginning with the letter “G” - greatness, grace, goodness, glory, and generosity.  Let’s take a look into our psalm.

In opening, David commits himself to praise God every single day, throughout his whole life (vs. 1-2).  Before one wonders how they could keep that up every day, David gives us many things to praise God for, besides just material blessings.  He begins to praise the Lord for His nature and His many character traits that He displays for us each day, several which begin with “G”.  The first one is the Lord’s greatness (vs. 3).  When we consider God, He is beyond the range of physical human experience.  He is immeasurable and beyond human comprehension.  God created the whole universe, each galaxy, each star and solar system, by the word of His mouth.  He created each animal and plant with their complexities and differences.  That shows awe-inspiring greatness!

The second characteristic of the Lord that we can praise Him for is His grace (vs. 8, 17).  God’s grace is often coupled with His mercy, as they go hand in hand.  Grace is God bestowing upon us blessings that we don’t deserve, and mercy is withholding the punishment that we do deserve.  He knows our every step, word, and deed, and yet forgives us, showing mercy when we turn to Him.  We experience God’s saving grace when we call upon His Son Jesus for salvation, when we fear Him and call upon Him in truth (vs. 18-20).  God’s grace and mercy are evidence of just how much He loves us.

Another characteristic that begins with “G” is the Lord’s goodness (vs. 9).  Believers, in particular, receive God’s saving grace and mercy, but His goodness is evident to all of mankind.  God’s goodness is universal, and extends to all creation.  Satan tries to get us to believe that God is not good, that He does not love us.  Just look around you, and you can see that is a lie, that it is not true.  God is kind and compassionate to all of His creation.  As Jesus told us, God makes the sun and the rain to fall on both the evil and the good (Matthew 5:45).  Because of God’s love and goodness shown to everyone, it should lead sinners to repentance (Romans 2:4).

The next one is glory (vs. 11-13).  This psalm gives a cosmic proclamation that God’s Kingdom is glorious, powerful, and everlasting, enduring through all generations.  God’s glory is so overwhelming that no one can look upon Him and live.  Even Moses could only look upon His back (Exodus 33:18-23).  Prophets, such as Isaiah and Daniel, fell face down before the glory of God.  God, in all of His glory, holds absolute rule over history, nations, and individuals.  God’s Kingdom is not symbolic.  It is real, eternal, and grounded in His authority.  As believers, we need to live under His kingship, not cultural trends.  God’s glory, power, and authority provides stability in a chaotic world.

Our God is a generous God (vs. 14-16).  He upholds the fallen, feeds all living things, and satisfies the desires of every creature.  This is not a vague goodwill, it is divine specific caring.  God actively sustains His creation and cares for His people.  As believers, we can trust Him with our daily needs, and His care is never unjust or arbitrary.

In closing, we can praise the Lord for His greatness, as He is infinitely majestic.  We can praise Him for His goodness, as He is kind and compassionate, and also for His glory, since He rules eternally.  As Christians we need to cultivate daily praise, along with teaching the next generation to do so also.  When we live a life of praise, we have the Lord’s help in every situation.  No wonder David blessed the Lord so much!

Messianic Prophecy

Zechariah 9:9-12

Sometimes our eyes can play little tricks on us, like an optical illusion.  Our mind misinterprets what we are seeing.  When we look at something, we perceive it one way, when in reality it is different. One example of this is when driving and we see a couple of mountains in the distance.  Being many miles away, they look like they are right next to each other.  But as we get closer and closer, we see that is not the case.  The one mountain is in the front, but the other is miles and miles further behind.  Our distance from them made it appear as if they were both together.  This is similar to the way some people looked at some prophecies, particularly prophecies regarding the coming Messiah.  They perceived all of the prophecies of the Messiah as happening at the same time, just like perceiving the mountains being together, whereas in reality some would happen at one time and others at another.  One example is in our Scripture today.

Our Scripture comes from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah.  His ministry was in the years following the Babylonian exile, and he encouraged the returned remnant to rebuild the Temple and to renew their covenant loyalty to Yahweh.  This portion of the Old Testament book reveals the Lord Jesus Christ’s identity, His character, His mission, and His future restoration of Israel.  It speaks of the coming of the Messiah, who arrives in humility, bringing salvation, establishing peace, and ultimately restoring His covenant people, calling them to return to Him.

As we begin, we read a verse that is often associated with Palm Sunday.  That is because Zechariah prophesied of the coming Messiah arriving humbly, riding upon a donkey (vs. 9).  The prophet speaks of the people’s king arriving.  Israel’s rightful king was not a foreign ruler, but the promised Messiah, the Son of David.  They had recently been under the rule of the Babylonian emperor, and now, though they were allowed to return to their homeland, they were under Persian rule.  In the near future they would be under Greek rule, and then Roman rule.  However, one day their Messiah would come, and free them from oppression.  His rule would be just, morally perfect, and with divine righteousness.

This verse speaks of Jesus’ first coming, which is marked by humility, not political triumph.  He is humble, riding upon a lowly donkey, not a military war horse.  Matthew 21:1-9 and John 12:14-16 record Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, which explicitly fulfills this prophecy.  His first coming is characterized by humility, not conquest.  Jesus comes first to save before He comes to reign.

Verse 10 shifts from Jesus’ first coming to His second coming and His millennial reign.  At this time, the Messiah will end warfare, abolishing the instruments of war.  His dominion will be universal, and He will bring global peace to all nations.  This is where many of the Jewish people at the time of Jesus were confused.  They read this verse, along with other prophecies in Scripture, where the Messiah would restore Israel, and bring peace to God’s people.  Jesus fulfilled many prophecies, but why not these?  This is why many people wanted to make Him a king and urge Him to overthrow Rome.  However, this was not to be fulfilled in the Messiah’s first coming, but instead in His second.  This is like the second mountain, miles behind the first one.  Though we don’t know when His second coming will be, it is many years following the first.  These events await Christ’s return when He establishes His kingdom.

In verse 11 we see God’s covenant faithfulness and deliverance. God’s faithfulness to Israel is grounded in His covenant promises.  That covenant is still in effect.  God will literally restore them because He is faithful to His promises.  Verse 12 is a call for His people to return and a promise for their restoration and future blessings.  Israel’s hope is grounded in God’s covenant faithfulness and the coming Messianic King.  These promises of restoration are literal.  God is not finished with His people of Israel.

As we see in verse 12, when we place our hurts, our broken dreams, dissolved relationships, and shattered hopes into God’s hands, and stay close to Him through Bible reading and prayer, He will replace doubly the losses in our life with rich blessings.

The Messiah Jesus brings deliverance from spiritual bondage, which was fulfilled in His first coming, and deliverance from national oppression, which will be fulfilled in His second coming.  This is a powerful Messianic prophecy that anchors both Israel’s future and the Church’s hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Cost of Discipleship

Matthew 10:34-42

One big happy family.  That’s what a lot of TV shows, particularly in the past, liked to portray, and that is what most of us would like to have - family harmony.  However, though we try our best, sometimes that is not achievable.  There are a number of things that can cause the conflict and dissension, and we read about a significant one in our Scripture today.  Though often we want to do what we can to smooth things over, including compromise, the Lord Jesus warned that this is something that we can never compromise about.  Let’s look into our Gospel reading for today.

This portion of the Gospel of Matthew is a continuation of the message that the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples as He commissioned them to go throughout the land of Israel, two by two, bringing His message to the villages in preparation of His coming there.  Jesus had warned them of persecution, and now He told them what the cost of discipleship would be.  We will see what loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ looks like in a hostile world.

First we read something that might be a bit of a surprise, especially when we so often think of Jesus as One who brings peace.  In our opening verses we read that Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword, setting family members against one another (vs. 34-36).  An important thing to realize when we read these verses is that Jesus is not contradicting His role as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Rather, He is teaching us that the Gospel divides.  It divides those who follow God and His Word, the Bible from those who reject Him and follow Satan’s lies.  The “sword” is figurative, referring to the sharp division that God’s truth creates.  In a world opposed to God, the Gospel cannot help but create sharp lines of separation.

When a person follows Jesus, unbelieving family members may respond with hostility.  The Lord quoted Micah 7:6 to show that such division is characteristic of the last days, and His return.  Genuine Christians must expect opposition, even from those closest to them, because loyalty to Jesus exposes the spiritual loyalties of others.  It is true that Jesus is the Great Peacemaker, but before peace He brings division.  Where light comes, the darkness must leave.  Where the truth is, the lie must be trampled underfoot.  Christ’s truth is absolute, therefore conflict with error and darkness is inevitable. Faithfulness may cost relationships.  Standing with Jesus is worth more than maintaining peace at the expense of truth.  If we follow Jesus, we will have enemies.  He who is friends with the world is an enemy of God (James 4:4).

Continuing on we read that Jesus demands our supreme love.  He requires first place, above parents, children, and one’s own life (vs. 37-39).  Jesus tells us that we cannot become His disciple unless we place Him as our top priority, which could cause unbelieving family to reject us.  Taking up our cross is embracing a path of suffering, shame, and death to self.  In Jesus’ day, the listeners knew the cross meant execution.  One who “finds his life” in vs. 39 means clinging to earthly comfort and self-preservation.  “Losing life” means to surrender everything for the Savior’s sake.  Losing the lesser life will gain the greater, eternal one.

Jesus’ Lordship is total.  No earthly relationship or personal ambition can rival obedience to Him.  True salvation produces a willingness to forsake all (Luke 14:26-33).  What in my life is competing for my allegiance?  Truly following the Savior should reorder our loves so that He is supreme.

Jesus concluded this segment of Scripture by stating that receiving His servants is receiving Him (vs. 40-42).  Jesus identified Himself with His messengers.  To welcome them is to welcome Him.  The one who opens the door to a Christian believer out of hospitality also opens the door to Jesus, who sent him, and therefore to God the Father.  To open the door to God’s messenger is to open the door to God’s message.

God sees and rewards even the smallest acts done for Jesus and His servants.  Acts of kindness done for believers will be noted and rewarded.  Even a cup of water given to a thirsty disciple will not be overlooked on Judgment Day.

In closing, when we stand for Biblical truth we can expect opposition, even from family members.  We will also see various things in our life that will try to compete with our loyalty to Jesus, such as relationships and responsibilities.  However, as a faithful Christian, we must always choose Jesus first and foremost.  Finally, we must remember the promise that Jesus gave - losing our life for Him will lead to finding true life.

Dead to Sin

Romans 6:3-11

Many of us have attended a funeral or a wake where the deceased was visible in their open coffin.  As you stand by the coffin of your friend or loved one perhaps you say something to them.  Of course, there is no response.  Maybe you even confess some secret that you had never told them.  The deceased doesn’t sit up and sock you in the nose.  If the confused little child tells daddy to get up, he doesn’t move.  He won’t hear or obey anything that is said because he is dead.  The dead don’t respond.  They have no interest in what is going on, whether in that room, or outside in the world at large.  In our Scripture today as we continue on in the Book of Romans, St. Paul tells us that in one way we are to be like that dead person in the coffin.  Let’s look into our Scripture to discover what he means.

At the time of the Apostle Paul’s writing of this epistle to the church in Rome, there was a false teaching circulating among the churches which taught that it was okay for believers to continue to sin.  They taught that since God gives us His grace when He forgives our sins, that the more we sin the more grace we will receive.  They felt that it was actually good to sin, because the more sin, the more grace.  Paul refutes this false teaching here.

Ongoing sin in our life is incompatible with salvation.  The justification that we receive when saved brings us into a new position before God.  That position brings a new relationship to sin, with a new mindset and new obedience.  Paul begins by saying that when we were saved, we were baptized into Christ’s death (vs. 3).  This is not referring to water baptism, but rather the spiritual union we have with Jesus.  Our water baptism symbolizes our union with His death.  His death counts as ours.  We are now no longer the person that we were before Jesus saved us.

The burial of the deceased shows the finality of death.  However, as Christians we have a new hope because of the resurrection of the Lord from the dead (vs. 4-5).  His death and burial was not final.  He rose again!  His resurrection is not merely a future hope, it is the pattern and power of Christian living now.  Being united with Jesus means our lifestyle must reflect His resurrection power, not the grave of our old life.  We are united to the Savior just like a plant is grafted onto another one.  Jesus’ death and resurrection were not just events in the past, they are spiritually shared realities for us.  Our union with Jesus is the root, and our sanctification, our living an obedient and sanctified life is the fruit.

Paul continues by stating that our old man, our old nature, was crucified with the Lord Jesus, and we are no longer slaves to sin (vs. 6).  The “old man” is who we were in Adam, when we lived under sin’s rule.  That old man was executed, just as Jesus was on the cross.  The “body of sin” is the whole system of sin’s influence over our mortal life.  It was destroyed, rendered powerless, but not annihilated.  Sin remains present with us, however its authority is broken.

The Emancipation Proclamation was made during the U.S. Civil War, and it freed the slaves.  When they were freed, they no longer had to obey their masters.  Their former master could shout at them to go work in the fields, but they did not have to obey.  They were free.  In like manner, a dead person does not obey anything said to them.  They are dead.  Similarly, we are freed from sin’s control and authority (vs. 7).  It can tell us to do any manner of wickedness, but we don’t have to obey.  Jesus’ death broke the power of sin, and when we accepted Him as Savior, we also died to sin and were set free from its power and authority over us.  Sin’s demands are no longer binding.  Jesus Christ is the new Master.

Christians are now dead to sin, and the Bible promises that we shall also live with God for eternity (vs. 8).  Our life is inseparable from Jesus.  He empowers our spiritual life currently in the present, and in the future promises a bodily resurrection and eternal life. Death cannot reclaim Jesus (vs. 9). His resurrection is irreversible and triumphant.  Our new life shares the permanence of Jesus’ risen life.

Jesus’ death was a single, decisive act.  When He died on the cross, He conquered death (vs. 10).  Now He lives in perfect fellowship and victory with the Father.  As believers, our relationship to sin and to God mirrors that of Jesus.  To “reckon” ourselves as dead to sin, as Paul says in verse 11, is to count it as true, to adopt it as our mindset. This is not wishful thinking, but a declared reality.  Our victory over sin begins with believing what God says about ourselves.

Looking back over our Scripture, we have learned from God’s Word that if we have accepted Jesus as Savior, then we are dead to sin and alive to God.  This is not just some motivational language, it is spiritual reality.  Sin’s power over us is broken.  We are no longer enslaved by it.  Just as a dead person doesn’t obey anything said to him, nor a freed slave has to obey, we are dead and freed from sin’s power.  Knowing this, our daily choices should reflect Christ’s risen life, with purity, obedience, and holiness.