Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What does it mean to be free from sin? The testimony of some is that they have sin repeated in their lives, even though they are "Christians", how does this reconcile with the statements that we are made free from sin found in multiple contexts throughout the word of God.
The concept of redemption; to be bought back.
The concept of salvation; to be saved from death and bondage.
The concept of a change of life; to no longer be bound to our life, but to live in Jesus' life
To be called OUT of darkness, and brought into marvelous light.
It is important to note, even the redeemed can backslide, or commit sin because of temptation. Even Jesus was tempted; yet he never sinned. Do not think that there are not trials and testings and assaults of the powers of darkness, there are.
The grace of God empowers us. It gives strength in time of need, strength to endure temptation. There is no endurance when temptation is succumbed to, only sin and therefore death.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
What do I do if I find myself here? Do I conclude that since I failed to resist that I have no hope of resisting? That somehow there is within me a power which prevents my endurance?
Lets back up in Romans 6
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Grace includes the power to resist. Repentance is the power to be forgiven and brought back to right standing with God. The salvation of God is complete!
2Cor 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
bottom line:
This is not meant to be exhaustive, just illustrative; I have been saved from sin, not to continue in bondage, but to live in the life of Christ Jesus. A life so complete that power exists for every eventuality, free from Sin and the death which results from it, not because I can sin and still be acceptable, but because I can resist sin, endure temptation and show forth the righteous ways of God, and because I can repent if I fail, and the conviction of the Holy Ghost will lead me to that repentance, and I can be restored because of the power of the blood of Jesus.
If I had wrought salvation for myself, I would have something to boast in, but boasting is excluded, because all of this was provided for me by the offering of Jesus. I in no way have earned it, but I have received it because of the God who loves me.
So rejoice in this, we have been given the power to live free from sin, not free IN sin, but free FROM it. We have been given the gift of the Holy ghost to lead us into all truth, and the empowerment of the grace of God to help us to endure temptation, and at the end of it all is a crown of life.
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