Welcome to Grace Baptist Church (CBA)
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Welcome to Grace Baptist Church (CBA)
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Dear Friends,
Recently I re-read Romans 6:1-4:
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism I unto death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Wow! Is Paul saying what I think he is saying, that Christians should no longer live in sin? Yes, I believe that is exactly what he is saying. While God’s amazing grace covers a multitude of sins, like those times when we slip up or act out of ignorance, still every Christian should be living a new life.
This new life is based solely on the finished work of Christ on the cross. Baptize means to be placed into. Those who have given their lives to Christ have been placed into Him. This means that His death, which destroyed the power of sin and paid sin’s debt, becomes a part of my life. If His death becomes a part of my life, then it stands to reason that His resurrection becomes a part of my life also.
To die to something means we no longer consider it to exist. While sin still exists in this world, as far as the Christian is concerned, sin no longer has any power over our lives. I can choose not to sin. Or more to the point of Paul, I can chose to no longer live in sin. Believers have changed addresses. I used to live governed by the sinful forces of this world, but now through Christ I live by the governing power of the Spirit and Word of God.
Paul says I have new life in Christ, a life where sin is defeated and resurrection is the norm. I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like real freedom. Believers move from a world of fear, doubt and hopelessness, into a life of freedom, love and blessing. Even when things don’t go the way we would like or the way we expect, we have the security of knowing that we are loved with an everlasting love. The momentary afflictions of this earthly life can never outweigh the eternal glory we have in Christ.
Paul could have said, “Which life are you living in, life before Christ, or the life of Christ?” Every day and in every situation we must choose who we will serve, the god of our appetites or the God who lives in us, you know the one who created the world and all that is in it, the one who brought the galaxy together and set the stars in place, that God! I trust we are choosing wisely.
Blessings,
Pastor Doug
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Word From Our Pastor