MONDAY February 1, 2021

Living for God

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.”
Galatians 2:17-19

What was Paul saying? He taught, if a Christian professed they were justified by Christ, but they were found to be living a life of sin, they would be a walking contradiction. Believers cannot continue to live a life of sin and call themselves Christians.

As a Christian under the grace of God, can you sin even more than you have done before? No! The Apostle Paul in Romans 6:1-2, contests that thinking: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Paul gave the illustration of baptism to show that as you are placed under the water, this becomes a symbol of death and the grave. When you are brought back up out of the water, this is a symbol of the Resurrection. The symbolism in baptism helps Christians to understand they are to be dead to sin. They should no longer be the same person they used to be:

…know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).

We sin because of our sinful nature. We were born in sin. Our first parents Adam and Eve brought sin into the world (Genesis 3). This is the reason Christ came from eternity to take upon Himself our sin. He was crucified on the Cross. He died and then resurrected on the third day.

Jesus brought life into the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. During Pentecost, 120 disciples were baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will teach, guide and convict you (John 14:26; John 16:13).

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion - it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!