Good morning blessed ones!

As Christians, we not only have a new life but we also have been freed from the bondage of sin. Jesus’ death made it possible for us to be free from sin’s control. Now, it is through Jesus that God sees us. In this way, we are “in” Jesus Christ. We were also in Him when He was crucified. Therefore when we accepted Him as our Lord, we were liberated from our sinful nature. We are now dead to sin and able to enjoy the benefits of our new life in Christ Jesus.

Paul tells us this in Romans 6:1-3,

• Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace?  Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?  Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death?

Family we must understand that we were all born into this world as sinners because of what Adam did. The only way out of our sin dilemma was through death. 2 Corinthians 5:15 declares,

• He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead they will live for Christ, Who died and was raised for them.

Now God deals with us through Jesus; God has placed us “in” Jesus. We have been bought with a price and we are not our own. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says

• But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption –

Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to do this:

• …to put off your old self which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

I love to confess Galatians 2:20 every day.  It says,

• I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Many Christians do not understand the phrase “we are dead to sin”. Romans 6:6-7 says,

• We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives.  We are no longer slaves to sin.  For when we died with Christ we were set from the power of sin.

See, according to the Word of God, we no longer have to sin (or be involuntarily enslaved by sin). It is so important that we remind ourselves on a daily basis that we are dead to sin. This truth must be real to us through our faith in His Word. Romans 6:11 says

• So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Jesus said in John 8:31-32,

• “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed.  And (then) you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free [in reality].”

I encourage you today to put yourself in remembrance of what Jesus died to give you – Freedom from sin (sinning). Hebrews 2:1 says

• We must therefore give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard (spoken by the Lord Jesus), lest we drift away.

Let us decide to do what Proverbs 4:20-24 admonishes us to do today:

• “My child pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to My words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart for they bring life to those who find them and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life.”

Be blessed today!

Walking in His life,

Lisa Gordon

Jesus City Church