Chapter 6 really digs into the inconsistency of a lifestyle of sin in the life of the believer. Keep in mind, Paul is not saying that a believer doesn't sin. Everyone sins. It is just that believers are never to get comfortable continuing in sin (lifestyle).
In vv.1-7 the argument goes that since we have died to our old lives and now live a new life in Christ, we are no longer slaves to our old life. Whatever power sin had in our lives before Christ, it has died. The power that reigns in the new life is the power that was demonstrated in Christ's resurrection. Christ overcame death, hell, and the grave...and the same power to master sin resides in us who have believed.
In vv.8-11 we see that it is inconsistent to ever go back to a lifestyle of sin. We can no more, as a believer, go back to a sin lifestyle than Christ can ever die again.
In vv.12-14, the attraction of sin remains a present reality in our lives (more in Ch 7), but we are to resist the attraction. It has no rule or mastery over us. The saying "the devil made me do it" can NEVER be true of a believer. We can yield to the devil, but the devil can never take dominion over anyone who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.
In vv.15-19 the picture shifts slightly to choosing our allegience. Here is a key section in my view. According to Paul, one cannot negotiate his life in such a way as to have one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom. Wherever we place our feet, we declare our willing obedience to that. So, when we present ourselves to sin, we say that we choose to be obedient to lawlessness (v.19). Everyone serves something. Either we serve obedience resulting in righteousness and sanctification, or we serve lawlessness and impurity, resulting in more lawlessness and impurity.
HERE is why that is key to me...and I think it echoes and mirrors somewhat the discussion in church last night. At whatever place we are in our journey as Christians...we are to be obedient to God THERE. We are not all at the same place in our Christian walk...but we are all responsible to be obedient in what we do know. We cannot reject obedience in anything we know without choosing obedience to whatever we did embrace. Two examples-- to put flesh on it.
Many people share with me (after getting to know me) that they struggle with having a spiritual discipline of daily Bible reading and Prayer. Excuses abound as to why there is no discipline in this area. Yet, each person sharing USUALLY believes that they "should" be reading and praying daily. THE CHOICE to do it then is the opportunity to demonstrate allegience. If one believes that they should have this discipline but does not (for whatever reason), then they CHOOSE to obey the enemy over choosing to obey Christ.
A second example. Many people struggle with financial stewardship. (bible talk for tithing). Most people tell me that they believe tithing is taught in the Scripture and that they are supposed to do it. THE CHOICE to do it is the oportunity to demonstrate allegience. If one believes that he is to give a tithe (old word for 1/10 or 10 percent) of all of his income to the Lord through the local church (storehouse, Mal 3:8-10), then to not do it is to choose to obey the enemy over Christ. I know that sounds pretty harsh so let me clarify the line of thought.
The point is this: As believers, we are called to make choices. Many times though, we try to create a third option rather than choosing between the two presented. We try to create an option where we can be believers who are "backslidden" or "carnal" or "immature" or "at a different level." The fact remains: If you can recognize that you are disobedient and can explain "why" in one of these categories...then you are not "backslidden" but openly choose to disobey the truth. We, as believers, cannot continue to make allowances for sin to be acceptable in our lives. By doing so...we deceive ourselves.
The Christian life is all about choosing DAILY and even HOURLY where to place our allegience. It is never acceptable to withdraw our allegience from Christ (the point of the first verses), because we have already given ourselves over has Christ's servants (v.22).
Proverbs 13:24 is the takeaway for me. "He who withholds his rod (i.e. discipline/correction)hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently." Disciplining a child, if successful, requires great consistency. It is hard work. Children become confused when we discipline for an action one day, and ignore or reward on another. Disciplining children was always so much easier for me before I had them. I could watch you people out there with kids and knew exactly what you were doing right and wrong. I even corrected many of you (from the safe confines of my car as I left Walmart...where your child was showing out.) Now that I have them, I realize just how much work it is to remain consistent (and just) in disciplining a child. To love a child, is to be diligent in correcting.
Grace,
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4 comments:
I have always struggled with daily time with God. There has never been any good excuse, just me being lazy. God has done so much for us and just asks us to be obedient to Him. It's amazing how selfish we can be, not wanting to give Him any of our time when He has given us everything.
I am working on being obedient to Him in taking a daily quiet time. Something else I know I should be doing in memorizing scripture. I've tried before but have always been unsuccessful. Pastor Chris, is there anything you recommend in how to go about memorizing scripture?
Obedience, this word is so awesome to me. The idea that we have a choice to be obedient to our Christ. But how? I guess you know by now I am an all or nothing kind of girl. Paul describes here that we as fleshly dirty humans do have the ability to be any other way. We either give it all to Christ or we have already choosen to give to Satan. Oh me...!!! I have been in turmoil over my flesh before and it is not a fun place to be. I have made God frown with some of the choices I have made. But I have repented and God has cleaned me up. God has blessed me with a job, therefore God deserve what I can give back to Him. We say we love God and we love His church but we don't love Him enough to give. I know how it feels to think you can not give because you don't have enough money but God ALWAYS provides. We just have to be faithful to His commands, the blessings will not stop. God, Thank you for being faithful. For being a God who promises and delivers. Thank you for blessing me with a job and a wonderful church. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your plan and part of your church, what a privilge. I pray that you find us faithful. Break our hearts for your commands. Amen.
Lauren,
Good post. First...I am a little radical. I find it expedient to memorize Scripture. I think it is a good discipline...but it is okay (to me) if a person knows where to find it and has a Bible handy.
When I memorize verses...I kind of regress to the techniques I learned as a kid (which still work.) I write out the verse on an index card...by phrases and I carry it with me and rehearse it throughout the day. I learned (a word I am loosely using :) ) Spanish, Greek and Hebrew this way and it works. For instance, John 3:16--
"For God so loved the world
that he gave His only begotten Son
that whoever believes in Him
would not perish
but have everlasting life."
I would learn it a phrase at a time and then add a phrase to it. Once I could do the verse by memory...I would learn another one. Here is the big secret though...Keep the index cards and reveiw them every day when you get ready to do the next one. in other words, when you memorize 3:16, go on to 3:17...but whenever you work on 3:17, first go back and rehears 3:16.
Hope that makes sense. If not...let me know. There are a number of techniques out there. But this one works for me.
Amanda,
you still rock! Good post.
Brother Chris is correct on how to memorize. I was taught that way when I was little. I've taught it to kids who just "couldn't" memorize any verses. It was "too hard".
As you do it phrase by phrase, adding each new phrase, then repeating all you have learned:
The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want
He maketh me
to lie down
in green pastures
He leadeth me
beside the still waters
etc.
It is a mind trick on yourself. Whenever you get up to say it, you are nervous, but you have said the first verse soooooo many times, that it just falls out of your mouth, you relax and the rest of it flows.
For more detail, I read the first phrase while saying it three times, then say it without looking three time, rinse, repeat, until I get it down. Then I do the same thing with the second phrase. Then I do the same thing with both together. Then I move on to the third phrase. Then I do all three together the same way. Etc. The 3x5 card (or small notebook) trick works well with this.
Yes, you can look a bit stupid doing it if someone sees you, but it works. You can practice driving down the road saying it and that isn't so bad since people think you are just singing to music or talking on your hands free cellphone.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
(Joshua 1:8)
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