I’ve been writing about the difference in the life lived before a knowledge of Jesus and the blessed life we have when we live under His reign. Today I want to look specifically at what it is that separates man from God and from living that life of favour – sin.
In the New City Catechism, Question 16 asks, “What is sin?” The answer is: “Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.” *
Sin is linked with the “disintegration of all creation.” When we sin, there must be a resulting disintegration. All four areas that man suffers afflictions in that we looked at in an earlier blog, are all the result of sin: poverty, enslavement, sickness and natural disasters.
Christians struggle with sin yet we are still are under grace. Let’s see how Paul writes how we are not under the power of sin:
22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Rom. 7:22- 8:2).
Since we have been freed from the power of sin, we are no longer captive to it and we can shine as lights in a dark world (Phil 2:15). Our lives are lives of grace – of consolation comfort affection mercy (Phil. 2:1).
We were saved when we believed but in the resurrection we will be saved perfectly. In the period in between we live a life for others -- comfort to others, encouragement to others, affection and mercy to others. We have the resources already within us by virtue of the fact that we came under the reign of Jesus. It’s up to us to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us to kill off self-centredness and deceit (Rom 8:13).
Our lights shine when we make time for God’s word and allow our minds to be influenced by the Holy Spirit and it's in those precious moments that God will open up riches like you have never seen before.
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All quotes from NLT.
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