The Daily Word of Righteousness

Romans 6:1,2, #5

We are led by the Spirit thus to wash our robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. We cannot conduct this work of judgment according to our own desire to be holy and righteous. We have to pray each day, read our Bible, gather with fervent saints whenever possible, and otherwise keep ourselves in a position to hear what the Spirit is saying to us; how He is leading us.

We often hear the expression "grow in Christ." Growing in Christ has both a negative and a positive aspect.

When we mature in the ability to recognize good and evil, and possess the determination and strength to reject the evil, we have grown in Christ in the negative aspect.

Then, as we serve the Lord diligently, praying, reading our Bible, gathering with fervent disciples, giving of our means, ministering and being ministered to as the Lord leads, we are fed in the spirit realm with the body and blood of the Lamb of God. This is the positive aspect of growth in Christ.

When the Lord returns and the Day of Resurrection is at hand, we will be prepared to rise from the dead and be clothed upon with a wonderful robe of eternal life.

But if we, as a Christian, continue to yield to our sinful nature, we will be raised from the dead in any case. But we will not be clothed with a wonderful robe of eternal life. We will be clothed with the corruption that proceeds from the sinful nature we have cultivated and strengthened.

If there is anything Christian people need to understand, it is that each day we are on the earth we are determining the kind of resurrection we will experience.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1,2)

"We died to sin."

Does this mean we no longer have a sinful nature?

No, it certainly does not!

Does this mean it does not matter how we behave because God does not judge our actions and we shall go to Heaven by grace?

No, it certainly does not!

"We died to sin" means we have counted ourselves crucified with Christ and risen with Christ. Our whole old person, including our sinful nature, has been left on the cross with Christ. This is the only biblical, acceptable, effective orientation to our new life as a Christian.

From this time forth we are to set ourselves to follow the Spirit of God carefully. We owe our sinful nature absolutely nothing. The Holy Spirit keeps leading us in putting to death the urges of our sinful nature. This is how "we died to sin" becomes a reality.

We take the position by faith. Then the Holy Spirit makes our death and resurrection a reality.

Does all this make sense to you? (from Romans 6:1,2)