for one who has died has been set free from sin. now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
[romans 6:7-8]
in the life we lived before Christ, we bore the weight of sin on our backs, and it covered every inch of our body.
no amount of cutting or scratching could ever remove it; no amount of good works could touch it. it was integrated into our very being. it is only in death that we cast off this deadly, debilitating parasite – only when no life remains in us is it at last starved unto its withering.
truly, truly, i say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
[john 12:24-25]
has your old self been put to death? or do you cling to the scraps of your old life? are you protecting some area of sin that you think God can’t excise, or one you don’t think he needs to? God is a jealous God, and won’t suffer to be a servant of sin! repent now if this is you; do not wait!
Lord, show us the ways in which we are trying to cling to our sin! if we have truly died and live in you, show us the folly of our attempt; and if we yet stand apart from you, draw us to the fountain of your purifying blood! we cannot do this on our own: please help!
~ stephen hall