Sanctification in Christ (Part 1 of 2) by Sewell Hall (Reprinted from Biblical Insights, http://www.biblical-insights.org/)
Few chapters in the New Testament provide so much useful information
regarding baptism, as does Romans 6. It clearly teaches the necessity
of baptism, the action of baptism, the proper subjects of baptism,
and the basis of its efficacy. But all of this is incidental
to the primary theme-the life of holiness to which one is committed
in baptism.
Opponents of Paul's teaching that salvation is obtained by grace
through faith rather than by works of the law "slanderously
reported" that he was saying, "Let us do evil that good
may come" (Rom 3:8). In Romans 6 Paul is showing that such
a charge was not justified. He gives three major reasons why one
who is saved by grace will not "continue in sin that grace
may abound."
A New Life
In verses 1-13, Paul points to the new life that a Christian has entered after his baptism. Baptism is not a mere ritual; it is a union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection (3-5). The old man that practiced sin is crucified with Christ (v 6). After baptism that man is dead and inactive. "For he who has died has been freed from sin" (v 7).
There is a sense in which Jesus escaped from sin when he died-not that he himself had sinned, but God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us" (2 Cor 5:21). He faced temptation (Heb 4:15); "he bore our griefs and carried our sorrows" (Isa 53:4) and lived his life in the flesh under the dominion of death, doomed to die (Rom 6:9). But "Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all, but the life that He lives, He lives to God" (vv 9-10).
Now "if we have been united with Him in the likeness of His death, [putting off the old man, sh.] certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (v 5). "If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him" (v 8). Once our old man is dead and we are raised as a new man with Christ, we will live unto God as he does (v 10).
This new life is God's gift, undeserved and unmerited. It is ours "by faith in the working of God who raised Him from the dead" (Col 2:12). At the same time, it is not something miraculously produced, requiring nothing of us. Verses 12 and 13 show that we must choose to act in a manner consistent with our death to sin and our resurrection to a new life. Paul admonishes, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
Similar instructions to the Colossians describe both the old man to be put off and the new man to be put on: "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry…anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col 3:3, 5, 8-10).
This "newness of life" (Rom 6:4) is the same as being "born again" (John 3:3). It is making a completely fresh start: in John 3 as a newborn babe governed by the Spirit (John 3:5) and in Romans 6:4,8 as one united with Christ in his death and resurrection. Such a person can say with Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20). Such a person will not practice sin.
God Consciousness by Jon W. Quinn (From The Expository Files: http://www.flash.net/~wberkley/efjune03.htm)
One aspect of real faith is a constant awareness of God's divine presence throughout the various routines of daily life. In Paul's sermon on Mar's Hill in ancient Athens, he told the idolaters about the true and living God. He said, "God who made the world and all things in it... Lord of heaven and earth... He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things... He is not far from each one of us for in Him we live and move and exist..." (Excerpts from Acts 17:24-28). How fortunate is the person who has developed within himself or herself this consciousness of God.
It is easy for such a one to pray because God is near (1 Pet. 3:12). Fears and anxieties are greatly reduced and replaced with confidence and purpose (Psa. 46:1). The power of temptation is greatly reduced (Heb. 4:13) and thanksgiving is easy and joyful (James 1:17).
This kind of faith obviously makes for a calmer, happier human
being - one that is capable of great satisfaction and contentment.
Reverence for Almighty God does not diminish from a person's well
being, but rather makes for an abundant life - now and in the
age to come. As Jesus said, "I came that they might have
life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10).
Suppose God suddenly demanded that we repay Him for all that He
provides for us. Suppose He said if payment was not made, that
He would withdraw all those things that, up to this point, at
least, He has given freely. If He sent us a bill, how could we
even hope to pay it?
For example, the Bible teaches that God prepared the light and the sun (Psa. 74:6). Suppose He threatened to turn them off if we did not pay within 30 days. The book of Job asks the question, "Were He to snatch them away, who could restrain Him?" (Job 9:12). And what if payment were due for our bodies which He designed? The Psalmist acknowledges "I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." (Psa. 139:14). And who can put a price tag on love, joy and peace? Can we repay Him for the air that we breathe and the earth upon which we live? And the value of all these is small when compared to the life which Jesus offered up for us on the cross to secure our redemption. What if God, fed up with all the mocking and irreverence and blasphemy, just said "pay up?"
Fortunately, God has not asked for remuneration, but He has commanded that we honor Him as God; to respect Him, obey Him and love Him (Eccl. 12:13; Matt. 7:21 and 1 John 5:3). In fact, respecting, obeying and loving God are all related - you really do not have one without the others. He is deserving of our complete devotion and undying gratitude.
It helps to always maintain that consciousness of God and all that He is, and what He deserves from us. He is not far away at all.
Can We See The Bible Alike? by Bob Buchanon (From The Beacon 2/4/03)
The Bible is the only book in all the world that can tell us for certain what to do to be saved. One might read all of the books of history, science and poetry ever written, and find not one word on what to do to be saved.
Does the Bible tell us plainly enough what to do, so that any ordinary man can understand it? Did God want us to understand His message? Can we all see the Bible alike?
Why is it that some people read and study the Bible for a lifetime and still know very little about it? The explanation is simple. They read the same passages over hundreds of times and get the same wrong or inadequate picture each time.
Unless we can break out of our misunderstandings and get into the original meaning of these key words and concepts, we may never understand the Bible. God has given us a book full of rich meanings. I believe He expects every serious child of His to try to get the true picture of what He has revealed.
We need to remember that for a thousand years of church history the Bible was not allowed to speak. Men read the Scriptures in search of proof texts to support the authoritative teachings of the Catholic Church. They resorted to methods of interpretation that would make the Bible say what fitted their theological, social, and political systems. Their minds were closed to the plain meaning of the Bible, and its words of truth were not allowed to judge and reform a corrupt church and social order. The very key to Bible interpretation was lost.
While the Protestant Reformation led to a rediscovery of the Word of God, a tragic and familiar pattern soon developed among the non-Catholics which was just as bad as what the Catholics were doing. Hundreds of competing denominations and sects read the same Bible and agreed that it was the one sure rule of faith and order. But each of them claimed to be the true _expression of the faith revealed in the Scriptures and condemned other as heretics. As one theologian sadly commented: ``The Bible is the book in which everyone seeks and promptly finds his own dogmas.''
Look at the confusion, strife, and division in the religious world today. We disagree, come to different conclusions and think we are both right. The problem is with man, not God. God has given us a book that we can understand. The Bible was written for this purpose (Ephesians 3:2-4), and we are commanded to understand it (Ephesians 5:17).
If we are able to understand the Bible at all, we will understand it alike. There will not be the 350 or more denominations with the varied teachings. If we do not understand alike, we misunderstand. One of us, or both of us, will have to admit error. We cannot have different answers and both be right. Disagreement is evidence of misunderstanding. When we understand we are alike. When we misunderstand we are different. When we misunderstand, we disagree. When we understand, we agree. To say we cannot understand alike is to charge God of being the author of confusion. The Bible says, ``God is not the author of confusion'' (1 Corinthians 14:33).
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