Salvation isn’t being saved from sinning, but from desiring to sin. When the “motions of sins . . . did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death” (Rom 7:5) we wanted it so; we desired to sin. But now with a new nature (Col 3:10), and God’s “work in you” (Phl 2:13), we never more will desire to sin; and that’s where God wants us, for He has our “treasure” (Mat 6:21). Continuing on with the old man in tow causes us to exercise our faith in God and Christ more all the time! The old man can’t interfere with our salvation, but only delay our growth in Christ.
NC
It is the power of God Himself, as it wrought in the Lord Jesus, which works in us to give us new standing in life. Viewed in connection with our resurrection with Him it implies—by the very fact of our receiving it—that we are forgiven perfectly and forever. We were under the burden of our sins, and “died” in them (were dead in them—NC). This burden the Savior took upon Himself, and died for us, accomplishing what “put away” our sins (Heb 9:26) in going down into death. “Raised” up with Him (Eph 2:6), inasmuch as partaking of that Life which He possesses as risen from the dead, we have—like Him and with Him—left all the burden of sin and condemnation behind us with the death from which we have been delivered. Therefore He says, “Having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col 2:13).
The Lord Jesus, when He arose, left death and the weight of condemnation under which we were lying, behind Him—we also being “raised” up with Him (Eph 2:6 – raised together with Him—NC). Naturally God, in this raising us up from the standing in which we were, has not raised us up to condemn us, or with condemnation attached to this life. For He had already borne the condemnation, and satisfied the justice of the Father, and died for the putting away of sin (Heb 9:26), before He communicated this Life to us. The Father brought us out of death and condemnation with His Son who had borne it for us.
Risen with the Lord Jesus, we are to set our affections on things above, where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and not on things on the earth. The two cannot go together. To look to have one’s motives above and below at the same time is not possible. Be tempted by things, have to resist them, we may; but this is not to have them as our object. The reason for this is found in our position: we have died, and our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Col 3:3; “hid” in the Gospel, and the Gospel is hidden to the unbeliever—NC).
It does not say, “We must die.” Man cannot do this by will: we cannot deny will by will. Nor would the will of the flesh ever do it (Rom 8:7). If it acts, it does not abdicate. We have died (Rom 6:2; Col 2:20, 3:3; Gal 2:20): this is the precious comforting truth with regard to the believer by virtue of the Lord Jesus having died for him, and he in Him. He has received His Life and all that He is for him on the Cross. He is no longer in the life with which the power of temptation, guilt and the attacks of sin are connected. Death has cut this connection (Ro 8:9).
Now that which was connected with the life of the “old man” was sin, condemnation, weakness, fear and powerlessness against the assaults of the Enemy—all this is past. We have a Life, but it is in the risen Lord Jesus; it is hidden with Him in the Father. We are not yet manifest in its glory, as we shall be before the eyes of all in heaven and earth. Our life is hidden, and safe in its eternal Source. He is hid in God, so also are we. When the Lord Jesus shall appear, “we shall also appear with Him in all His glory” (Col 3:4).
—J N Darby
MJS daily devotional excerpt for March 31
“Romans Six reveals our position as having died unto the principle of sin; Romans Seven teaches us our position as having died unto the principle of law. Both must be counted upon if we are to abide in Christ, and walk in the Spirit, as set forth in Romans Eight.
“We have to look at ourselves and see how far we are devotedly following the Lord Jesus, with full purpose of heart—how we can say, ‘This one thing I do’; but we must take care at the same time not to get into legal bondage by this standard. If I say, ‘Here is a rule of conduct: follow it,’ this cannot reach the heart, the affections. The ministration of the letter brings only failure, and condemnation; for it prescribes a rule which man, being a sinner, can never follow. It does not change a man; it proves him ‘ungodly and without strength.’ –MJS
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/day/2023/03/31/
NC
Facts From Colossians
It is the power of God Himself, as it wrought in the Lord Jesus, which works in us to give us new standing in life. Viewed in connection with our resurrection with Him it implies—by the very fact of our receiving it—that we are forgiven perfectly and forever. We were under the burden of our sins, and “died” in them (were dead in them—NC). This burden the Savior took upon Himself, and died for us, accomplishing what “put away” our sins (Heb 9:26) in going down into death. “Raised” up with Him (Eph 2:6), inasmuch as partaking of that Life which He possesses as risen from the dead, we have—like Him and with Him—left all the burden of sin and condemnation behind us with the death from which we have been delivered. Therefore He says, “Having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col 2:13).
The Lord Jesus, when He arose, left death and the weight of condemnation under which we were lying, behind Him—we also being “raised” up with Him (Eph 2:6 – raised together with Him—NC). Naturally God, in this raising us up from the standing in which we were, has not raised us up to condemn us, or with condemnation attached to this life. For He had already borne the condemnation, and satisfied the justice of the Father, and died for the putting away of sin (Heb 9:26), before He communicated this Life to us. The Father brought us out of death and condemnation with His Son who had borne it for us.
Risen with the Lord Jesus, we are to set our affections on things above, where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and not on things on the earth. The two cannot go together. To look to have one’s motives above and below at the same time is not possible. Be tempted by things, have to resist them, we may; but this is not to have them as our object. The reason for this is found in our position: we have died, and our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Col 3:3; “hid” in the Gospel, and the Gospel is hidden to the unbeliever—NC).
It does not say, “We must die.” Man cannot do this by will: we cannot deny will by will. Nor would the will of the flesh ever do it (Rom 8:7). If it acts, it does not abdicate. We have died (Rom 6:2; Col 2:20, 3:3; Gal 2:20): this is the precious comforting truth with regard to the believer by virtue of the Lord Jesus having died for him, and he in Him. He has received His Life and all that He is for him on the Cross. He is no longer in the life with which the power of temptation, guilt and the attacks of sin are connected. Death has cut this connection (Ro 8:9).
Now that which was connected with the life of the “old man” was sin, condemnation, weakness, fear and powerlessness against the assaults of the Enemy—all this is past. We have a Life, but it is in the risen Lord Jesus; it is hidden with Him in the Father. We are not yet manifest in its glory, as we shall be before the eyes of all in heaven and earth. Our life is hidden, and safe in its eternal Source. He is hid in God, so also are we. When the Lord Jesus shall appear, “we shall also appear with Him in all His glory” (Col 3:4).
—J N Darby
MJS daily devotional excerpt for March 31
“Romans Six reveals our position as having died unto the principle of sin; Romans Seven teaches us our position as having died unto the principle of law. Both must be counted upon if we are to abide in Christ, and walk in the Spirit, as set forth in Romans Eight.
“We have to look at ourselves and see how far we are devotedly following the Lord Jesus, with full purpose of heart—how we can say, ‘This one thing I do’; but we must take care at the same time not to get into legal bondage by this standard. If I say, ‘Here is a rule of conduct: follow it,’ this cannot reach the heart, the affections. The ministration of the letter brings only failure, and condemnation; for it prescribes a rule which man, being a sinner, can never follow. It does not change a man; it proves him ‘ungodly and without strength.’ –MJS
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/day/2023/03/31/
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