Romans 6:5-11
My hearts desire is that you and I grasp to some degree that
we have been born again, I know the world media loves to make fun of anyone who
advocates such doctrine, but not to worry for that is what Jesus said; “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.” (John 3:7)
Something wonderful has transpired in your spirit, so listen and think
on these verses; “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we
shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our
old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought
to nothing, so that we
would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
(Romans 6:5-6 ESV)
Now it is clear from sitting in adult Bible study classes that
some people do not believe they were enslaved to sin, and that is not a new
happening for it is recorded in John 8:39-44, and you can look it up. Jesus is teaching at the temple and people
came to Him and the scribes and the Pharisees were also there, and in the
exchange Jesus told them God was His Father but not theirs. They answered him, “Abraham is our father”
and like many who call themselves Christian they believe being born a Jew, as
so many today believe being born in the good old USA makes them Christian. These people believed going through the steps
or being a rule keeper made them in right standing with God. It was a wrong answer then and now, going to
a church will not make you in right standing with the Father, only by agreement
with God that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and by faith
receiving His gift of grace by faith in the person of the living Christ will
one find peace and enter into fellowship with God the Father.
Let’s look at the rest of the story; “For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now
if we have died with Christ, we believe
that we will also live with him.
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never
die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For
the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives
to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in
Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:7-11) It is a
choice!
Once
more, Dr. Bill Gillham makes clear in my simple mind, and yes I’m very simple
and often I praise the Father for designing me so. I believe Jesus tells the truth, in fact I
believe He is Truth. And the following
is from Bill:
Key
Concept - God accepts you based upon what you have done with
Christ. If you base acceptance upon anything other
than
Christ, you have
higher standards than God.
(See Diagram
3.4)
1. When Christ went to the cross, you were in
Him.
2. When Christ was buried, your old self was
buried in Him.
3. When Christ was raised, you exploded from the
grave a
new person in
Him.
4. When Christ took His seat at the Father’s
right hand, in
Christ, you took your seat next to the
Father.
Note: God views
everything (including your time line) as present tense.
Christ’s life is eternal, extending forever into what you call the
future and the past.
The dip in Christ’s lifeline
represents His time on planet earth.
In some way, Christ’s work on the
cross occurred outside the time
dimension. (Rev. 13:8)
Note: The Diagram would not transfer.
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