I’m A Believer (Part Four)

Ok, I know I’m a day late.  I am sorry.  I attended a wonder Church service late night and let the time get away.

We are still looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the first necessity.

Romans 6:6-11 NASB  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  (7)  for he who has died is freed from sin.  (8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  (9)  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.  (10)  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  (11)  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Necessity One:  Believers must be disciplined in their thinking.  Paul tells us that there are things we need to know.  One, a believer that is dead in Christ is freed from sin.  Two, since he is dead with Christ he shall also live with Christ.

We are also to reckon (used in King James Version).  We are to ponder or think about how Christ died unto sin once and lives unto God.  Likewise reckon that believers are dead to sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.

No wonder Paul says in Philippians 4:13 NASB  I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me.

It is a necessity that we be disciplined in our thinking so we can reckon about Christ.

Next week we will finish this series with a look at the Second Necessity.

I’m A Believer (Part Three)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;
            “I’m a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Are you still humming this song?  Let’s look at this week’s lesson.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the second reality.

Romans 6:4-5 NASB  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Reality two:  Believers have been raised with Christ.  We are raised to walk in a newness of life.  We enjoy freedom from the penalty of sin. There is nothing we could ever do within ourselves that justifies our forgiveness and salvation.  It is good to know that through Christ we have justification.

We enjoy freedom from the power sin has to rule our lives. We are no longer under the bondage of sin.  When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, His Holy Spirit comes in our lives and becomes our Comforter, Mentor and Guide.  We begin a journey at that moment.  As we mature as Christians we gain a better understanding of our Relationship with God.  This growing process of the Christian is the process of sanctification.  It is the continual growing process of the Christian.

Paul is basically saying if we have been justified we shall be sanctified. You cannot have sanctification without first having justification.  It is justification that opens the way for God’s sanctifying grace

Next week we will look at the First of Two Necessities.

I’m A Believer (Part Two)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;

            “I'm a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Are you still humming this song?  Let’s look at this week’s lesson.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the introduction for our series.

Romans 6:3-4 NASB  Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  (4)  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Paul says it clearly.  Believers have died and been buried with Christ.  When a person is saved, they are baptized into Christ Jesus.  They are identified with Christ in His death and resurrection.  We have become spiritually united with Christ the very moment we are saved.  As a result we die to sin.  

This is a spiritual baptism.  It is at that moment we are saved.  Our water baptism does not save us it is an answer of a good conscience toward God and represents the death burial and resurrection and identifies us with Christ.

Next week we will look at the Second Reality

I’m A Believer (Part One)

The Monkey’s had a hit song in 1966 with “I’m A Believer” and one line goes like this;

            “I'm a believer, not a trace of doubt in my mind”

Now that I have you humming this song let’s look at our study for the next five weeks.  We are looking at Freedom.  When I say freedom, I am talking about real freedom that comes from the right relationship with Jesus Christ. This week let’s explore the introduction for our series.

Romans 6:1-2 NASB What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?  (2)  May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

In chapter 5 Paul explains that sin entered into the world through Adam’s fall.  He explains that many died as a result of sin that was charged to all.  He then goes on to say that through Christ’s death on the cross we now have eternal life.  We are freed from the bondage of sin through Grace.  Paul tells us that where sin increased Grace increased that much more.

It is here that we see out scripture for this week.  Paul asked the question in such a way that it sounds absurd to the reader.  He is basically saying it like this;

Since grace was offered because man has sinned and come short of the Glory of God, should we keep on transgressing God’s will so God can keep on showing us how gracious he is.

Nothing could be further from the truth.  Yes, we are saved by God’s Grace.  We also know that when we are saved we are a new creature and we are to live our lives free from any constraints that sin has on us.  Being free from the bondage of sin doesn’t mean we no longer sin.  It means we are not controlled by a life outside of the will of God.  Yes, we are humans and we will do things that miss the mark which God wants for us.  (By the way that is what sin means Hamartia).   

As believers we want to look at two Realities and two Necessities about the freedom we enjoy through Jesus Christ.

Next week we will look at the first Reality