Grace: Sin, that grace may abound?
count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Do not offer … yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer … every part of yourself to [God] as an instrument of righteousness. (Rom 6:11-13)
Not all who fall into sin actually intend to. That is why someone regrets that action, that bad word uttered, that duty neglect – many regret the evil action and repent before God and people. Unfortunately, some catch themselves in the same sin, the same mistake again! It is heartbreaking, but remember “for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (Prov 24:16). In this season of Lent, it is good to visit the tools of victory over sin. How can we be liberated from that vicious cycle and consistently follow and truly serve the Lord God Almighty with joy? What power will break the chains and clear the traps that keep dragging some back to sin? In concerted prayer with fasting, we get deeper in fellowship with God, starve the appetites of the flesh and thus weaken, and possibly kill them! Paul uses this language as he invites us to live as those dead to sin.
In Rom 6:1-14 Paul describes believers as those who have died to sin, having been baptized into Jesus Christ; the baptism symbolizes journeying with Jesus Christ through his crucifixion to his death – for us the old nature is crucified and buried with Christ. Then we follow Him in his resurrection – and we are not raised with the old self, but rather raised to new life. Paul then instructs, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11). So, for those who feel like enjoying freedom to sin because grace is abundant, this is a serious eye-opening lesson. Are you truly a believer – born again? (This word first appears in Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, and is explained in baptism terms.)
The one who continues in sin is described as offering the parts of their bodies to be instruments of wickedness, yet that is exactly what God demands. In the Old Testament where sacrifice was prominently at the center of worship, God several times expressed His rejection of the worshippers’ offerings and sacrifices if they were not accompanied with obedience and hearts yielded to God. The first offering the God demands is not the money or the service, but ourselves; and as Paul puts it, you are required to “offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness” (v.13).
God has given sufficient grace for us to live this tall order with joy. It may demand disciplining yourself sometimes – as the Lent season demands – and our Lord Jesus Christ has gone through that kind of baptism too. As surely as Jesus rose from the dead, great victory awaits those who go through the baptism – ‘dead to sin’ – and live as those raised to new life in Jesus Christ.
God bless you all.