Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
After thoroughly explaining justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone in the previous chapters, Paul asks the obvious question about sin. Paul answers his own rhetorical objection by stating that believers have died to sin and can no longer live in it. Why? What has changed and what does it mean to die to sin? This change comes through the power of God in regeneration and the gift of the indwelling Spirit. Believers are new creations in Christ with new desires. The power of sin has been broken in believers by the power of irresistible grace and the wretched man [Romans 7:24] has been delivered from his body of death. Sin is not completely eradicated, but believers are no longer captives to sin.
Focus on Christ #122
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3 comments:
So much for those who like to draw a deep and endlessly wide chasm between positional truth and practical reality. So it is with the folks who hold to the notion that there is such a thing as the static "carnal Christian".
Mark,
Indeed. Unfortunately far too many do not give the proper consideration to the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in being able to change those he redeems. The free grace advocates have made discipleship and obedience to be an option controlled totally by human decision.
I think even Calvinists give far too little credit to the power of God in discipleship and sanctification.
Here after I shall refer to those folk as the "fruitless-faith" crowd.
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