. . . our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin —Romans 6:6
I feel like I need a bumper sticker or, at least, a postcard to put on my refrigerator that reads, “Sin is not my friend.” I know that it sounds silly; but sin is like a persistent “friend” that I can’t seem to get rid of. It seems to have my best interest at heart. It tells me that I can’t have any real fun without it. It shows up when I’m down and says, “Forget it. Let’s have a good time.” It tells me that I’m the most important thing in the world. It assures me that everyone else is wrong and foolish. It tells me how good-looking I am (But I know it’s kidding when it pulls that one.) I tell it to go away; but it assures me that it wouldn’t be a real friend if it left me in my time of need. Most importantly it knows me. It seems to know things about me that no one else does. It knows things that make me happy at least for a while. Are you sure that Sin is Not My Friend?
OC says not and asks:
“Have you made the following decision about sin— that it must be completely killed in you?” Kill my friend? Is he serious. Okay maybe make it go home for a while. Maybe tell it, “Don’t call me. I’ll call you.” But kill it.
OC is way too radical. I mean didn’t even the great Paul say he does that which he doesn’t want to? Doesn’t that mean he struggle with sin always. Why should I expect to eradicate something that Paul couldn’t?
OC goes on: “It takes a long time to come to the point of making this complete and effective decision about sin. It is, however, the greatest moment in your life once you decide that sin must die in you-not simply be restrained, suppressed, or counteracted, but crucified— just as Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. No one can bring anyone else to this decision. We may be mentally and spiritually convinced, but what we need to do is actually make the decision that Paul urged us to do in this passage.”
Okay that was low OC. Reminding me that it was Paul who talked about being crucified with Him and killing sin.
I think the killing of sin is possible if I realize that 1. I can’t do it. 2. He can. 3. I need to ask Him for help and 4. Trust Him.
“Pull yourself up, take some time alone with God, and make this important decision, saying, “Lord, identify me with Your death until I know that sin is dead in me.” Make the moral decision that sin in you must be put to death.”
Making the decision that I can live without my old friend, in fact, I can only truly live without him, is a freeing moment and I need to be free.
Goodby old friend. You are dead to me. Don’t come back. You’ve been crucified with Christ. I don’t think I’ll miss you. The alternative is so much better.
Be blessed.
Nick
This was not some divine future expectation on the part of Paul, but was a very radical and definite experience in his life. Are you prepared to let the Spirit of God search you until you know what the level and nature of sin is in your life— to see the very things that struggle against God’s Spirit in you? If so, will you then agree with God’s verdict on the nature of sin— that it should be identified with the death of Jesus? You cannot “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin” ( Romans 6:11 ) unless you have radically dealt with the issue of your will before God.
Have you entered into the glorious privilege of being crucified with Christ, until all that remains in your flesh and blood is His life? “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . .” ( Galatians 2:20 ).
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