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The Daily Word of Righteousness
But What If We—Don't?, continued
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2—NIV)
The purpose of salvation through Christ is to set us free from the law of sin and death.
Because we have the wrong goal the whole system is thrown into disarray. Any systems analyst will tell you that if your goal is incorrect, no element in the system can be analyzed as to its effectiveness or even its right to be included in the system.
We have the wrong goal, an unscriptural goal. This is how we have arrived at the "standing in grace," "state of grace," "merits of Jesus Christ" conclusion.
The merits of Jesus Christ are as follows: The Lord Jesus Christ kept the Law of Moses perfectly. If we will receive Him the righteousness of the Law of Moses will be ascribed to us. This gives us a fresh start in life.
The imputation of the righteousness of the Law of Moses is not a pass out of Hell and admittance to Heaven, it is the first step toward our being set free from the law of sin and death. It is the starting point for our becoming a new creature. If we are not willing to follow the Holy Spirit in the work of moral transformation, then we come under judgment, and righteousness no longer will be ascribed to us. We have defeated the purpose of imputed righteousness.
In order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4—NIV)
Does the above verse sound to you like the righteous requirements of the Law of Moses are fully met in those who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit of God?
Do you believe from this that the righteousness the Lord Jesus Christ purchased by observing the Law of Moses perfectly will continue to be imputed to those who are living according to the sinful nature and not according to the Spirit of God?
What do you think about the relationship of living according to the Spirit of God as a condition of continuing in imputed righteousness? It appears to me that our assigned righteousness depends for its continuance on our resisting our sinful nature and living according to the Spirit of God.
Paul goes on to state it is not possible for us to live in the flesh and continue in a state of grace, or stand in grace, or be acceptable to God on the merits of Christ. We will die spiritually.
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:13—NIV)
We could list numerous New Testament verses that declare with absolute clarity that the Christian who continues to walk in sin, not following the Spirit, not taking up his cross and following Jesus, not presenting his body a living sacrifice, will die spiritually. He will be cut out of the Vine, out of Jesus Christ. He will not be resurrected and ascend to meet the Lord when He returns.
To be continued.