“Living a Changed Life”
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:1-4)
In 1982, ABC Evening News reported on an unusual work of modern art: a chair affixed to a shotgun. It was to be viewed by sitting in the chair and looking directly into the gun barrel. The gun was loaded and set on a timer to fire at an undetermined moment within the next hundred years. The amazing thing was that people waited in lines to sit and stare into the shell's path! People were literally lined out the door and down the block waiting for their turn to look into the barrel of a loaded gun. They all knew that the gun could go off at point-blank range at any moment, but they were gambling that the fatal blast wouldn't happen during their minute in the chair. They were willing to gamble that they wouldn’t pay with their life for the momentary thrill of sitting in the chair and staring death in the face.
It was billed as art – but the author of the piece knew that it wasn’t really about artwork. It was about something that lives in the heart of every human being. The thrill of getting away with something we know we shouldn’t do. It’s irrational for any person to intentionally position themselves in front of a loaded shotgun. Yet these people were paying for the opportunity! People leaving the exhibit took pride in the fact that they, “got away with it.” Talk about something that reveals the real nature of the human heart. The gamble of “getting away with it” has caused countless people to ignore the consequences of sin until the inevitable self destruction comes their way.
In the passage above from Romans 6 Paul reminds us how foolhardy it is to take a soft approach to sin in our life. Notice Paul starts this passage by using the words, “shall we?” Paul is raising the question of whether a Christian ought to choose to sin occasionally because he enjoys the momentary pleasure that sin gives. That is the situation that every one of us faces from time to time, isn’t it? Sometimes we run up against some especially delicious temptations. At times, we all are confronted with the feeling, “Why not give in? After all, I'm not going to hell because of this. My salvation rests on Christ and not on me. And actually, God is not going to reject me because of this, for the Law does not condemn me any longer. I am not under Law any longer but under grace.”
In the verses that follow, Paul answers that question. He asks, “Shall we sin?” His answer is: “No - By no means!” If you, as a Christian, go on and sin deliberately, even if it is only occasionally, you must face what sin will do to you. You must face the full results of what will happen when we choose what we know to be wrong.
Now that you have become a Christian and Christ has entered your life - you have been joined to him by faith in his work, by the power of the Holy Spirit. You have been baptized into his death and resurrection. In other words you have been totally immersed and united to Him who died and rose again on your behalf. You have been baptized into His death – His sacrifice has completely paid your sin debt. You have been baptized into His resurrection – His victory over the grave is your victory over the grave. As a Christian you are to live a life that demonstrates your unity with Him. This unity with Christ carries with it a responsibility. What is the responsibility? Die completely to sin’s reign in your life. If you are united to Christ, you are no longer united with the world and its influences. Die to sin and its pull. Die to sin and its influence in your life. Put to death any temptation that would cause compromise in your life and pull you away from the narrow path. Jesus says in John 8:34, “anyone who sins becomes a slave to sin.” Recognize that it’s not one little indiscretion which you can probably “get away with.” In reality it’s a trap of the enemy, who is trying to lead you down the path of destruction. The day will come – when you least expect it – he’ll pull the trigger. And at that moment you’ll wish you had never sat down in the chair.
Whatever temptation you are facing today; don’t gamble that you can get away with it. Live the new life Jesus has provided for you and enjoy the goodness that it brings.
In Joy,
PT
In 1982, ABC Evening News reported on an unusual work of modern art: a chair affixed to a shotgun. It was to be viewed by sitting in the chair and looking directly into the gun barrel. The gun was loaded and set on a timer to fire at an undetermined moment within the next hundred years. The amazing thing was that people waited in lines to sit and stare into the shell's path! People were literally lined out the door and down the block waiting for their turn to look into the barrel of a loaded gun. They all knew that the gun could go off at point-blank range at any moment, but they were gambling that the fatal blast wouldn't happen during their minute in the chair. They were willing to gamble that they wouldn’t pay with their life for the momentary thrill of sitting in the chair and staring death in the face.
It was billed as art – but the author of the piece knew that it wasn’t really about artwork. It was about something that lives in the heart of every human being. The thrill of getting away with something we know we shouldn’t do. It’s irrational for any person to intentionally position themselves in front of a loaded shotgun. Yet these people were paying for the opportunity! People leaving the exhibit took pride in the fact that they, “got away with it.” Talk about something that reveals the real nature of the human heart. The gamble of “getting away with it” has caused countless people to ignore the consequences of sin until the inevitable self destruction comes their way.
In the passage above from Romans 6 Paul reminds us how foolhardy it is to take a soft approach to sin in our life. Notice Paul starts this passage by using the words, “shall we?” Paul is raising the question of whether a Christian ought to choose to sin occasionally because he enjoys the momentary pleasure that sin gives. That is the situation that every one of us faces from time to time, isn’t it? Sometimes we run up against some especially delicious temptations. At times, we all are confronted with the feeling, “Why not give in? After all, I'm not going to hell because of this. My salvation rests on Christ and not on me. And actually, God is not going to reject me because of this, for the Law does not condemn me any longer. I am not under Law any longer but under grace.”
In the verses that follow, Paul answers that question. He asks, “Shall we sin?” His answer is: “No - By no means!” If you, as a Christian, go on and sin deliberately, even if it is only occasionally, you must face what sin will do to you. You must face the full results of what will happen when we choose what we know to be wrong.
Now that you have become a Christian and Christ has entered your life - you have been joined to him by faith in his work, by the power of the Holy Spirit. You have been baptized into his death and resurrection. In other words you have been totally immersed and united to Him who died and rose again on your behalf. You have been baptized into His death – His sacrifice has completely paid your sin debt. You have been baptized into His resurrection – His victory over the grave is your victory over the grave. As a Christian you are to live a life that demonstrates your unity with Him. This unity with Christ carries with it a responsibility. What is the responsibility? Die completely to sin’s reign in your life. If you are united to Christ, you are no longer united with the world and its influences. Die to sin and its pull. Die to sin and its influence in your life. Put to death any temptation that would cause compromise in your life and pull you away from the narrow path. Jesus says in John 8:34, “anyone who sins becomes a slave to sin.” Recognize that it’s not one little indiscretion which you can probably “get away with.” In reality it’s a trap of the enemy, who is trying to lead you down the path of destruction. The day will come – when you least expect it – he’ll pull the trigger. And at that moment you’ll wish you had never sat down in the chair.
Whatever temptation you are facing today; don’t gamble that you can get away with it. Live the new life Jesus has provided for you and enjoy the goodness that it brings.
In Joy,
PT
posted by Larry | 8:55 PM
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