Rhapsody of Realities 28 July
SCRIPTURE: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:18).
Paul had difficulty communicating the truth in the verse above due to the limitation of language. He said in the next verse, “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh…” Romans 6:19 “I’m using this freedom language because it’s easy to picture…” (Romans 6:19, MSG). He had to bring the discussion to a seeming mundane level that they could relate with.
The reality is that the new creation wasn’t “set free” from sin; rather, he was born sin-free; there’s a difference between the two. Born sin-free means you were born without sin. This is easy to understand when you realise that the new creation is the result of the resurrection (not the death) of Jesus Christ. Your new life started with the resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” Romans 6:4.
Read yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities here
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature…”; a new species or kind of man, born in righteousness with no past of sin to be set free from. In Christianity, we don’t get set free; we’re free-born! That’s the reality for the one who’s born again. You’re sin-free. No wonder Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you….”
The concept of sin can’t be properly understood until you have a good understanding of the doctrine of righteousness. So, when the Bible says, “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness” (Romans 6:20), the expression “free from righteousness” actually means righteousness-free or you were “righteousness-exempt.” In other words, you were a slave of sin, and couldn’t practise righteousness.
However, now that you’re born again, it’s the reverse; you can practise righteousness and produce fruits and works of righteousness because that’s your nature in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
CONFESSION: I’m a new creation, a new kind of man; old things are passed away and all things have become new. I walk in righteousness and produce works and fruits of righteousness. Glory to God!
FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4-7
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 3; Psalms 42-44
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Ephesians 4:1-10; Isaiah 48
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – Born Sin-Free – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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Rhapsody of Realities 28th July 2020
