When we decide we are going to trust God and follow Him it is necessary to establish who is in charge in this life we live. As believers we are called to do many things, but the most important thing we can do is love the Lord our God with all our heart. What comes from surrendering to the Lord in this way? The new creation begins to take shape and the old man begins to fade into the reality of the new abundant life and lifestyle. We are called to follow God and Paul brings into focus the need for a new attitude to take over and that attitude is this DON'T SIN! You may think "Wow, I sure wish I could live that kind of life." Scripture shows us this life is possible and in fact, with God's help we are able to live a life. in accordance to the righteousness God has given us. Are we perfect? No. Jesus is the only perfect person and our power to live a holy life doesn't come from anything we do. We are flawed, but forgiven.
How can this holy life be accomplished? We must turn over our ownership to God and his grace. Romans 6:19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. Let me summarize: Don't Sin!
There. Wasn't that easy? Easy in reading but in living a little more of a stretch. Keep in mind everything we need to become that person has been given to us by God. Paul continues to explain in Romans 6:13 to use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
We pursue the call of God and He takes the grace He has given us and gives us wings to fly as never before and fly in the freedom that is only given by Him. Conclusion: Don't sin. Don't let sin be your master anymore because that is not who you are anymore. This new creation is only beginning and God has a more holy life in store because of the righteousness He has given us through Jesus. The Holy Spirit is in place in our life to continue to grow us in this grace He has given us, and before long, righteousness takes over, and we begin to resist the sinful life and realize it is traded in for a life of righteousness.
Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica the following words in 2 Thessalonians 2:13 As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.
You may say, "David do you believe you are perfect?" NO! And neither does God. I am forgiven and the slate is clean so I can pursue the holiness of God which is totally doable because of the Holy Spirit at the wheel. This is how a dirty ole sinner like me can live a life of victory. I live and grow in the grace of God every day and He replaces what I want with what He wants. It is a life of surrender and I surrender to His will and find out how to live by spending time in His Word and growing more intimate with God through a growing prayer life. Believe me, it just works and God is to be glorified because of all He has done to make it possible. Who is my daddy? God is my daddy and He has given my the Holy Spirit to grow closer in this relationship and see the righteousness of God come to the forefront of my life. Sin is no longer our master, God is our master. Live for Him and quit making excuses for sin in. your life and He will continue to give you the grace to make it all happen.
Vesselogcial Out,
David Warren
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