Fight for Joy! Devotional - 1/5/2017

I am five days into my Bible reading plan for 2017. Although I am five days in I have read a chapter ahead in a few books, Romans not withstanding. The selected reading for today, therefore, is Romans 6. This great chapter builds towards the greatest chapter in all the Bible--Romans 8. For now, however, the focus is on being dead to sin and alive to God in Christ.

Reading: Romans 6

"For he who has died is freed from sin" Romans 6:7

Paul's letter to the Romans is the greatest letter ever written. I think I've said that many times. And if Romans is the greatest letter then chapter 8 is the greatest chapter. Paul’s primary purpose in writing Romans was to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers who had never received apostolic instruction. It is a deeply spiritual and thoroughly theological treatment of the gospel. One of my college professors who is now with Jesus--Ray Frank Robbins--referred to Romans as the Constitution of Christianity. 

John MacAruther writes, "The overarching theme of Romans is the righteousness that comes from God: the glorious truth that God justifies guilty, condemned sinners by grace alone through faith in Christ alone." In the first few chapters Paul discusses the condemnation of all mankind and our need for the righteousness of God in Christ. He explains how we can have that righteousness through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone.

Chapter six begins his great exposition on sanctification. In Christ, we are dead to sin and alive to Christ.  In fact, he writes in verse 11, "Consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). The word consider means "to reckon." In other words, it means I am to take into account what it means to be made righteous in Christ and to live accordingly. In this case, I am to consider myself to be dead to sin. In other words sin no longer has power over me. The power of sin has been broken. If I am dead to sin then I ought to be about the business of mortifying remaining sin in my life because I am dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

To be alive to God in Christ Jesus means we are in fellowship and union with Him. We are, by God's amazing grace, members of Christ.

What now?

• Remember, Christianity is not only a new life, but a newness of life—a life which never grows old.
• Determine, rather, not to live in sin, to which we died but to live to Christ--in sanctification and holiness.
• Consider the words of Müller: "Life and death cling together; the more the old dies and goes to ruin, the more gloriously does the new man arise.—Either you will slay sin, or sin will slay you.—Where faith is there is Christ, and where Christ is there is life."

Prayer: Lord, help me to do as Paul commands: to consider myself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ. Help me to understand and experience this sanctified life to the fullest for Your glory.

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