Romans 6:1-14
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Friday night we went to the Yankee Doodle Pops concert and fireworks display. I was reminded of the freedom that I enjoy living here in America. Freedom comes at a very high cost and America has certainly paid a high cost for the freedom that we enjoy. It seems that many political figures have forgotten what the price of freedom has been and are striving to take our freedoms away a little bit at a time.
As I reflected on my freedom as an American it led me to remember my freedom as a Christian. I was bound in the chains of sin by my own doing. Christ was willing to become a man so that as the God Man He could lay down His life to save mine. There was no other way for my sin debt to be paid because death was required to pay my sin debt. God is the only one who can meet His righteous standard and yet He cannot die. This is why it is significant that Christ humbled Himself and became a man. As God Christ could be righteous and meet the Fathers standard and as man He could die to pay my debt of sin.
Christ's finished work on the cross triumphed over the work of Satan and sets the believer free from the bondage of sin. Christ has freed believers from the penalty of sin (Hell), the power of sin in our lives now, and He will one day take His children home to be eternal saved from the presence of sin. Believers have been delivered from sin, but they still have the choice to serve sin. Satan delights in believers who feel they cannot be delivered from their sin because he wants believers to live as though they are bound by sin when in reality they are free.
Praise the Lord for the victory that is provided through the finished work of Christ. This July 4th I don't just want to remember those who gave their lives to give me this great nation of America. I want to remember Christ who gave me freedom from the bondage of sin and hope as I look forward to spending eternity with Him in Heaven.
