CAN WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

CAN WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" Romans 6:1-2

"A Christian has died to sin! Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip. When you became a Christian, your old self died (Galatians 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin's power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God's grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God's grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those who He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin DESPITE our rebellion against Him. It is this same grace that God expresses towards us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Romans 6:1-2). We cannot presume upon God's forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The VICTORY has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You need only to apply HIS victory to each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ's resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you." -- EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY -- The Devotional by Dr. Henry Blackaby -- published by our friends at Broadman Holman.

Good words to ponder again and again.

Great quote: "Our first point about adoption is that it is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher than justification...that justification, by which we mean God's forgiveness of the past together with His acceptance for the future, is the primary and fundamental blessing of the gospel is not the question...but this is not to say that justification is the highest blessing of the gospel. Adoption is higher, because of the richer relationship with God that it involves...Justification is a forensic idea, conceived in terms of law, viewing God as judge...justification does not of itself imply any intimate or deep relationship with God the judge...but Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship, and establishes us as His children and heirs...to be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the father is a greater blessing." J I Packer, Knowing God.