I know that as a Bible student I had trouble finding my way to freedom from sin I felt like even though I was saved I felt like I was trapped in my sins and could not find a way out. So I would ask if you are in that boat. Is there a sin that you just can’t seem to stop committing? Is there something you should be doing that you can’t find the strength to do? Maybe you can’t find freedom from anger or maybe you can’t seem to muster up the love to evangelize or confront a fellow Christian because there lifestyle is out of wack with God’s commands.
The beautiful thing is that these problems are the exact reason that God gave us the Gospel. For those reasons God gave us His Son. The main thing we need to realize as Christians is that the Gospel is more than a “get out of hell free card” it is a way to have hope and freedom from sin.
Let me share with you this freedom from scripture. Romans 6:3-4 says “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” The beauty of this passage comes from the word “baptized”. The word in Greek culture was connected to the dyeing industry and so it is a picture message (not like the one you get on your cell phone) it’s a way to better understand what happens upon salvation for those who have been saved. The picture is that of a cloth being dyed so the cloth goes in to the dye one color and comes out a totally different color. The picture for Christians is that we go in as the old self and then when we come out we are “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph 4:24.
The gospel really gets its kick with that phrase “we too might walk in newness of life.” We are talking new life ladies and gentlemen! We have been made through the power of the Gospel to have a totally different life than we did before the day we were saved. That’s what passages like these are saying. It’s not a question of making our life different for the glory of God it’s a question of living in the different life that He has given us for the glory of God! 2 Pet 1:3 says “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us toc his own glory and excellence” We have all we need in the gospel! It is enough for us!
So what do we do with this hunk of information?
Step #1) Faith. The main problem with Christians is lack of belief. We seem to go to God on a trial and error basis. We say “this might work for us so ill give it a shot but if not then ill just have plan B here” God calls us to absolute faith (James 1:6b). He won’t bless those who do not believe Him. The best thing to do is to read passages like these here and then take Him at His word and simply believe what He is trying to say to you.
Step #2) Give up. Odd way to put it I know but here me out here. Over and over again I hear the same prayer and the same passive statement. “Lord help us today to be like Christ” and “so how can we look more like Christ in this?” ect. But here is the problem. WE HAVE BEEN MADE TO BE LIKE CHRIST ALREADY! That is what the gospel does! It presents us “holy and blameless and above reproach before Him” Col. 1:22b. Instead of asking God to provide a miracle to help us in our day to day life lets believe the miracle He has already provided in the Gospel of grace! God did not plan on using a limping church. That is why He gave us all His Son to allow us to walk in freedom from the power of sin and death.
Step #3) stop here! Open your Bible. Open to Romans 6 read the first 14 verses. And then believe it!
Living in Him
~Hammy
