“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.”
The resurrection in your soul happened, so that you can bring fruit unto God. He didn’t join you and I to Christ to live in sin, but to live to Him who died for us and rose again.
It is a hellish lie that we’re saved to serve ourselves, since we’re forgiven. We are saved, if we are, to serve God BY the death and resurrection of Christ, so that what happened to Him happened to us: we DIED to the old life at Calvary, and we’ve got newness of life from God, now (Rom 6:11). Take no gospel that doesn’t make you obedient and holy by grace. The gospel isn’t a “lesser” holiness, which makes obedience unnecessary; the GOSPEL gives a man life, which reveals itself in obedience to Christ’s commands.
You were born WICKED the first time, but by the new birth, you’re holy. The BELIEVER is joined to Christ and alive from the dead, so I have the strength of “no condemnation”, the help of God. I’m not on my own to fight my lusts, but the God who rose from the dead REIGNS over me graciously, to do His will, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom 6:14). I’m accepted, and as accepted, I have everything that I need.
I’m to believe this is true and practice it ZEALOUSLY (Rom 7:6). I grieve for those who learn “doctrine”, but it doesn’t impact their life. We are prone to believe a part of God’s word, rather than the whole thing, but when we take the whole counsel, we see FORGIVENESS and holiness, both. God doesn’t do one or the other, but He gives both always, and there is nothing else to live for, but God’s will, “for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (Rom 6:19).
If it required strength from us, then it couldn’t be done, but this is faith:
1. Faith BELIEVES the gospel, and by faith, the gospel is worked in my life. Faith believes what God says, and then what God says is in me.
2. Do you believe that you’re to be holy because you are holy… that the fact that Christ DIED and rose again is the FACT of your forgiveness and sanctification? If so, then be who you are and never promise yourself peace in sin - “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom 6:22). Use the weapons of your warfare to war with the sin that’s in you, and never let your past failures keep you from believing now, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (vs23).
We’re such that we say, “I can’t be perfect”, so we don’t try to live godly. It is BETTER to say, “I can’t be perfect, but day after day, I will do what I can. I will grow in the areas I’m reproved of God, trusting Him for forgiveness and cleansing!” The same sins you are forgiven of, as they come to your mind, are the sins that He’ll help you conquer. He didn’t reveal evil in us to say, “I forgive”, and then leave us slaves of lusts, but He forgives and gives holiness simultaneously to all that believe.
Do you believe this? Do you believe that Christ’s death has earned your obedience? If so, then you have life, and you’ll experience it more abundantly. Everything else is lies from Satan and the flesh, and it profits you not.
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