So much is posted about the law, sin, morality and what constitutes righteousness. A lot of it misses a vital point. We need to know that death comes before resurrection. Lord Jesus did not just die to pay the price for sin. He died for the sinner, the one who commits sin. And that is everyone who is born of Adam.
Much is debated about the Law. This is what Paul had to say: Galatians 2:19 "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God."
Who imposes any laws on the dead? Who would take a dead person to court, even if they were known to be criminals? The law does not change, but death renders it ineffective and pointless
What about sin? Christians are dead to sin also. We do not try to die. That is impossible. God credits the death of Jesus to us. When sin comes along to tempt us, we can say, "Leave me alone. I'm dead."
Romans 6:9-11 "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.…"
"Count" means to consider or reckon. It has its basis in truth. If I have money in the bank, I can use my debit card to pay even if I have no money in my wallet. I count on the money in bank account. In the same way, we can count on the death of Jesus as our death. It's a real event in history.
The world is our enemy because it is Satan's realm. The world demands our loyalty. It tries to distract us from the Kingdom of God. It has its own morality, which changes according to how much evil worldly people will accept. What was intolerable even ten years ago is now being normalised. The world punishes those who stand against it. How do we deal with this?
Galatians 6:13-15
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.…
When young David went to fight Goliath, King Saul offered him his armour. David refused it. He did not need it and it did not fit. The world seeks to impose its values on Christians. Right now, there is a battle for our children. The state seeks to undermine the authority of parents. Fornication is commonplace and the world approves. It is no longer acceptable to discipline children. These attitudes have crept into the church, where they do not belong. We need to know that we have no business accepting the world's standards and that we are immune to its influence. Again, what harm can the world do to a dead person?
Decades ago, I met a farmer who became a preacher. He was mocked and ridiculed a lot. He was no longer one of the farming community. He was not a polished product of theological college. Someone asked him how he dealt with the insults and mockery. He shrugged and said, "You can't hurt a dead man" Oh how we need to die so that we may live.
There is one more aspect to cover. I'll post that separately.
Much is debated about the Law. This is what Paul had to say: Galatians 2:19 "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God."
Who imposes any laws on the dead? Who would take a dead person to court, even if they were known to be criminals? The law does not change, but death renders it ineffective and pointless
What about sin? Christians are dead to sin also. We do not try to die. That is impossible. God credits the death of Jesus to us. When sin comes along to tempt us, we can say, "Leave me alone. I'm dead."
Romans 6:9-11 "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. So you too must count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.…"
"Count" means to consider or reckon. It has its basis in truth. If I have money in the bank, I can use my debit card to pay even if I have no money in my wallet. I count on the money in bank account. In the same way, we can count on the death of Jesus as our death. It's a real event in history.
The world is our enemy because it is Satan's realm. The world demands our loyalty. It tries to distract us from the Kingdom of God. It has its own morality, which changes according to how much evil worldly people will accept. What was intolerable even ten years ago is now being normalised. The world punishes those who stand against it. How do we deal with this?
Galatians 6:13-15
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything. What counts is a new creation.…
When young David went to fight Goliath, King Saul offered him his armour. David refused it. He did not need it and it did not fit. The world seeks to impose its values on Christians. Right now, there is a battle for our children. The state seeks to undermine the authority of parents. Fornication is commonplace and the world approves. It is no longer acceptable to discipline children. These attitudes have crept into the church, where they do not belong. We need to know that we have no business accepting the world's standards and that we are immune to its influence. Again, what harm can the world do to a dead person?
Decades ago, I met a farmer who became a preacher. He was mocked and ridiculed a lot. He was no longer one of the farming community. He was not a polished product of theological college. Someone asked him how he dealt with the insults and mockery. He shrugged and said, "You can't hurt a dead man" Oh how we need to die so that we may live.
There is one more aspect to cover. I'll post that separately.
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