Resurrection and Grace

On this day of recognition of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, I think it's fitting to note a few integral things about what his death and resurrection means to those who believe on him in reality and truth: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans ch. 6).

Well there it is my friend, the entire sixth chapter of the book of Romans. This chapter is more definitive than anywhere else in the Bible, as to what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ means to believers. The key is to read what is in front of you without reading something else into it, as it is written: "Wisdom is BEFORE [in front of] him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth" (Prov. 17:24). Seeing what is in front of us is wisdom. Looking for a reason for what is in front of us to be something else is foolishness. As the chapter clearly shows, Jesus did NOT come here to suffer a cruel, brutal scourging and death so that we would still remain sinners, even as so many claim. Read the chapter again, honestly and slowly, and you will see what's there. No my friend, God had already given man a religious system and his law in a carnal format to go by, and everyone was still in sin (Rom. 3:10; Rom. 7:14; Heb. 10:1-4). The very first verse of the chapter shows us clearly that those who are truly in Christ and follow after his Spirit are no longer sinners by nature. Next the chapter shows us that we are baptized, with the holy Ghost mind you, both into Jesus' death, as well as into his resurrection. That is how we "walk in newness of life," meaning by that "SPIRIT of life," which the same apostle says two chapters later makes us free from sin (Rom. 8:2). For confirmation of this point we have Col. 2:12: "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." That word 'operation' means 'power,' and that power is the power of the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead, as the scripture states, and as Peter also confirmed (I Pet. 3:18).

As the chapter proceeds, we see that through the power that the Spirit baptism imparts to us, we are able to literally 'crucify our old man,' and literally put our old nature of sin to death thereby (Acts 1:4,5,8). And the same power that crucifies the old man is the same power that gives us the capacity to "walk in newness of life." And what may be the most pertinent point of the chapter, considering all of the 'soft grace' nonsense that is so prevalent today, we see that truly being 'under grace' is absolutely synonymous with NOT having sin in our hearts, souls, or lives. Go ahead, read the chapter again; that's right, slowly and honestly. That is what is in front of us in no uncertain terms at all. I mean, look at this verse from the chapter at least: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?" A WHOLE LOT of 'Christian' folks today are just chomping at the bit to answer that question with a resounding YES! But the mighty apostle, by inspiration of God's holy Spirit of truth, thought otherwise: "God forbid." That is as emphatic a way as possible to hammer home the RIGHT answer of NOOOOOOO!!! And last but not least we have the reality that under any circumstances, "the wages of sin is death." No ifs, ands, or buts. That is why Jesus came friend, to set us free from both sin and it's wages of death. He is the "firstfruits of the resurrection from the dead," and if we are going to join him in that resurrection celebration at his coming, we will have to go to our grave with no sin in our lives or souls, like he did (I Cor. 15:23; I Jn. 3:2,3). That is what he paid the greatest of all costs to purchase for us; first the redemption of our soul from sin, and next the redemption of our body from corruption (Eph. 1:7,14; Tit. 2:14; Rom. 8:23; I Cor. 15:52,53). Amen, and Happy Easter. Reign in our lives, King Jesus.