The Word of God tells us that we have not only been forgiven of sin, we have also been freed from sin:
‘How shall we who died to sin still live in it?’ (Romans 6:2), ‘…we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life, (vs. 4) ‘…knowing this, that our old self [lit. man] was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.’ (vs. 6)
‘For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Jesus Christ, Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace,’ (vs.10-14).
‘Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God’ (I Peter 4:1-2).
‘Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh,’ (Galatians 5:16). ‘Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit,’ (vs. 24).
‘Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma,’ (Ephesians 5:1-2). ‘…for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is pleasing to the Lord,’ (vs. 8-10).
‘And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin, (I John 1:5-7).
‘As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am Holy,”’ (I Peter 1:14-16).
This, my dear brothers and sisters, is the Gospel of Jesus Christ: That we who believe in Him were crucified with Him, buried with Him through baptism, and raised up together with Him in newness of life, that we might no longer be slaves to sin; and, this, in order that we might be a Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession, that we might proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
‘Therefore, having these promises, beloved (that God dwells in us and walks among us), let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God,’ (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 