What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? -- Rom. 6:1-2
You can almost hear the shock in Paul's voice. He is aghast! "You all think the purpose of grace is so you can sin?! Are you crazy? Why, oh why, would you return to that life Jesus freed you from?" Paul goes on to describe the intensity of the battle a Christian will face, and the reality that we sometimes give in to sin, but the idea that we would "blame" or presume upon grace is unthinkable to him. The gospel of grace is what frees us from the power of sin and enables, empowers, and motivates a life of holiness.
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![]() "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." -- John 5:24 It's a simple thought, but linger over it for a bit. In Christ, we leave death and enter life. The Gospel is not about "good people" becoming "better people." It's about dead people being graciously GIVEN life and learning to glorify God in, through, and because of that life. "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." -- John 15:15
What other God, of what other religion (including the religiosity prevalent in many churches), offers such privilege? We are friends of God! Not just "called" friends, but welcomed and INVITED into His counsel and His throne room, where He makes known to us His truth. Spend some time there today. |
Pastor Jim ReynoldsWalking with Jesus Archives
April 2019
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