God's Ample Provision

"...dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus ... ye are dead to the law through the body of Christ ... that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (Rom. 6:11; 7:4).

The great majority of Christians know the power and efficacy of the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. This knowledge has brought in many believers a great emancipation. By virtue of the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, we enjoy the peace of forgiveness (1 John 1:7), we have free access to pray and worship our God (Heb. 10:19), and we can also overcome the accusations of the evil one (Rev. 12:11).

However, this experience is still primary; we are still in the rudiments, that is, in the first steps. As we advance in knowing God and his purpose, and in knowing our human nature, we realize that our problem goes much further than a few sinful deeds that could hinder our Christian career.

There is something inherited from the Adamic nature that does not allow us to live or serve God and our brethren freely. The New Testament defines it as "the flesh" (Rom. 7:18), or "the old man" (Eph. 4:22). Paul recounts in Romans 7 his experience in this regard, going so far as to exclaim: "Wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?". It sounds like an agonized cry of someone who longs to do good, who desires to please God, but finds a powerful law in his members enslaving him.

Paul does not think highly of himself (Rom. 12:3), even denying his natural goodness (Phil. 3:4-8). This is certainly a great sign of his Christian maturity. In crying out, "Who will deliver me?", he makes it very clear that help must come from outside - someone must deliver him. How important it is that we understand well God's way of delivering us from ourselves!

Regarding this point, Paul's teaching in Romans is very clear and simple: we have died to sin and we have died to the law. Though it may seem crazy at first glance, and may our minds resist accepting it, such is God's blessed and ample provision for solving the great problem of 'sin' (singular, i.e., our sinful nature).

We needed to die (what folly!) and God provided what we needed: we died with Christ, and were even buried with him (Rom. 6:4). We needed to be raised from the dead, and the Scriptures emphatically declare: "...he raised us up together with him, and...made us sit together with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6).

Is not all this a mystery? But at the same time, isn't this something so wonderful that it is beyond our ability to comprehend? Of course it is, but let us remember that we are talking about heavenly things. These are the words of God. To the rest of men they are foolishness, but to believers, they are spirit and life. Today, the Holy Spirit reveals these things to us and lifts us up, confirms us, and enables us to keep moving forward in this blessed and challenging race of faith.

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