Our Sin, His Righteousness (Pt. 6)

We know that our old self
was crucified with him in order
that the body of sin might be
brought to nothing, so that
we would no longer be
enslaved to sin.
For one who has died has
been set free from sin.
Romans 6:6-7

Once we have been
born again in Christ
we are no longer
“SINNERS”
according to the
New Testament
definition of sinner (hamartōlos):
“one who is devoted to sin,
not free from sin,
pre-eminently sinful,
especially wicked,
heathen.”
Strongs Dictionary

The relationship of sin
to the Christian has changed…
it is no longer a friend,
it is an enemy;
it is no longer the natural
outworking of who they are
but antithetical to who they are.

“…by the new birth a
radical break with sin takes place.
Although the character of sin
in the Christian is no different
from its character before
he became a child of God,
the status of sin has been
dramatically changed.”
~Sinclair Ferguson, The Christian Life

“[Christ] taketh away
[sin] by justification that
it should not condemn,
by sanctification that
it should not reign,
by glorification that it
should not be…”
~ John Owen

In the New Testament
every Christian is now
a SAINT,
a HOLY ONE.

Yet there is
still
SIN WITHIN:
The “old man.”
A body of death!
An earthly body.

WE MUST KEEP IN MIND
that we have not yet been
delivered from the
PRESENCE
of sin.

Sin is still
present in the world.
And the Prince of Sin himself
and his minions are still
on the warpath and will
be until Christ comes again.
AND
Sin is still present within.

In our new birth a radical break
with sin took place but
the presence and character
of sin in our members
remains. It no longer
reigns however it still remains
and it is no different from before we
became a child of God.
We have indwelling sin.
And we will still sin.
So in a different sense
we are still
“SINNERS.”

If we say we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
 If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
If we say we have not sinned,
we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-9

Yet despite the continued
presence of this body of death,
we have been
set free from the
POWER
of sin.
It no longer holds us captive.
We are no longer its slave.

Sooooo….
considering these things listen
to Paul as he continues in
Romans 6:

“So you also must consider yourselves
dead to sin and alive to God
in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign
in your mortal body, to make
you obey its passions. Do not
present your members to sin
as instruments for unrighteousness,
but present yourselves
to God as those who have
been brought from death to life,
and your members to God as
instruments for righteousness.
For sin will have no dominion
over you, since you are not
under law but under grace.”
Romans 6:11-14

Paul says do not let sin
REIGN!
Do not present your members
to sin to obey it and its
passions – present them to God as
INSTRUMENTS OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!

“Put to death therefore what
is earthly in you: sexual immorality,
 impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
On account of these the
wrath of God is coming.
In these you too once walked,
when you were living in them.
But now you must put them
all away: anger, wrath, malice,
slander, and obscene talk
from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another,
seeing that you have put off
the old self with its practices and
have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in
knowledge after the image
of its creator.”
Colossians 3:5-10

It is so difficult, painful,
and even heart breaking to have
this old body of death remaining.
If it would just lie there it would
be one thing, but it is very active,
resistant, rebellious, and
self-focused.

We will be in a battle
until we go to heaven.
We have two at war within.
In essence it is our
old “sinner” self,
the flesh,
against the Spirit.

SINNER VS SPIRIT

Realizing that sin remains is
essential and in an odd way
helpful. It is that aspect
of this present earthly state
that keeps us running
to the throne of grace.
It reminds us
that we are not perfect,
that there is only ONE
who is perfect.
It is comforts us to know
that there isn’t something
wrong with us because we still sin.
We ALWAYS will be in
need of God’s mercy.
Confession and repentance
need to be a part of our
moment by moment practice.
Forgiveness is something
we will be quick to
seek and quick to give others.
(Ephesians 4:32).

“However, just as some
Christians idolize their sense
of sainthood, some idolize
their sinfulness.
When this…becomes
one’s idol, statements like
‘I know I’m not perfect, but’
become the norm, and contempt
– rather than compassion –
for fellow sinners
becomes our practice.”
~Josh Squires, Desiring God,
a ministry of John Piper

We are not to identify with
or relate to or abide in our
OLD SINNER SELF
any longer!
We are now to be the
S A I N T
we are and identify
with the Spirit,
walk in the Spirit,
and
abide in the Spirit.

Remember now that
you are a new creation!
You are a
SAINT IN CHRIST!!!

The old man sinner
has been crucified with Christ.
Yet the
SIN CORRUPT FLESH
will continue to fight
you until the end!!!
It wants what it wants
when it wants it.
It must be put to death!!!
No longer “hang out” with it.
No longer “walk and talk” with it.
No longer “give in” or “serve” it.

Will you count the cost?
Will you die to self?

Will you serve your
old sinful self — or Christ?

Close in prayer
and in the worship song
below.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie

Heavenly Father,
I praise you for your
mercy and your grace.
I am so thankful
for all you have
given to me in Christ.
I want to live in the
light of who I am in Christ.
and put to death
the old sinner that remains.
I need your help Lord.
I want to walk according
to the Spirit yet…
“I am so slow to learn,
so prone to forget,
so weak to climb;
I am in the foothills
when I should be on the heights;
I am pained by my graceless heart,
my prayerless days,
my poverty of love,
my sloth in the heavenly race,
my sullied conscience,
my wasted hours,
my unspent opportunities.”
~Valley of Vision Prayers

Lord please have mercy!
I want to be who I have
been redeemed to be.

“Absent from Flesh”
Jamie Barnes/Isaac Watts
LINK TO AUDIO