In the last article, we considered what the gospel is and what the power of the gospel means. Today, we look at what all these means to a Christian.
The Implications Of Jesus’ death To A Christian.
As a result of the sin of Adam, man lost his place and God’s nature. We inherited the nature of sin called flesh which made us to become the enemy of God. Man came under the slavery of sin because of his nature. Even if he desires to please God, he can’t because he does not have what it takes to do so. Man will resolve not to sin against God but after some time he will go back sinning because he is under an influence (sin nature). And as long as man is under that influence he cannot please God.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 (New Kings James Version)
You will notice from this passage of Scripture that sin is a law. A law is a force that exerts controls and constrains people to act the way they do. It is also a general rule which states what always happens when the same condition exists. Sin is a force that exerts control and constrains people to act against God’s will even if they don’t want to. The condition in which the law of sin and death operates is the flesh. As long as the sin-nature is there, sin will surely reign in us.
Just like in the natural, there is a law of gravity that is in operation. As long as we are on Earth, anything that goes up must surely come down. An Airplane is able to stay up for hours without being pulled down by the law of gravity, because a higher law was introduced which is the law of flight or the law of aerodynamics. In same way, for the law of sin to be dealt with, God simply introduced a higher law called the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
“The law was without power, because the law was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that others use for sin. By sending his Son to be an offering for sin, God used a human life to destroy sin.” Romans 8:3 (New Century Version)
God’s Target In Dealing With Sin
“We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours-except that ours are sinful-and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins.” Romans 8:3 (The Living Bible)
God did not send His Son Jesus Christ to the world so that we can be forgiven of our sins alone. Forgiveness is necessary but Jesus came for something more than that. He sent Jesus to destroy the nature of sin. He came to destroyed sin’s control or the Adamic nature (flesh). Jesus destroyed sin’s control by giving Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. This sin nature was abolished on the cross (Ephesians 2:12-16, Colossians 1:20-22).
“He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing.” 1Peter 2:24 (The Message)
What This Means To Us
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;” 2 Corinthians 5:14 (New King James Version)
“The love of Christ controls us, because we know that One died for all, so all have died.” (New Century Version)
Who is this man that died for all? Answering this will not really be a problem because majority of us know it was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. But the issue is Christ was not the only One that died on that day. We all died too. His death was also our death. Hallelujah!!! Paul says this must become a knowing to us. That the day Christ died, something in me died with Him.
“I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore — it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me.” Galatians 2:20 (New Century Version)
This is why Paul made this statement- I was put to death on the cross with Christ and I do not live anymore. It was not only Paul, I, Femi was also put to death on the cross with Christ and this also applies to you too. I don’t have a life anymore, Christ lives in me.
0 Comments