For that dying, dying to sin once for all, now, that living, living to God. So too consider yourselves existing dead to sin, now, alive to God in Christ Jesus.*
This word existing means "to be, to exist." It is related to the word used by Jesus, "I Am" which means "to be, exist" of God. Those who are born of God exist in Christ, they exist dead to sin, having been baptized into His death and raised into newness of Life. For the child of God is not the struggle over sin the same as dealing with a sickness? is it not the same issue of being whole? and did not Christ die so that we are made whole? So if a child of God struggles with sin, what is the problem? We say the struggle with cancer or sickness is a matter of belief and it existing God's will. It is God's will to be free from sin, in fact he died "once for all," so that we are dead to sin and made alive in Christ. It is a matter of belief, as Christ died and was raised again. "So too consider yourselves existing dead to sin, now, alive to God in Christ Jesus."
for if born, planted together in the likeness of His death exist, certainly also exist in his resurrection.*
Notice the wording here, like a seed being planted, a metamorphosis taking place. If I am born of God, I am planted or united in the likeness of Christ, and I exist in His death and resurrection. Here is a another lie that truth will set you free from, do we die to sin? no, Christ died, therefore I participate in the likeness of His death. The issue is one of belief or unbelief. Teachings that make repentance full of regret as if to purge sin, and includes forms of self-abasement of the flesh in attempts to die to sin like flogging the flesh until it desires to sin no more, these cause stumbling. The truth is Jesus was flogged for our sin and by His stripes we are healed. In Christ we do not die so much as participate in conformation, likeness of His death and resurrection. How does one participate in this?
Therefore buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ arose from the dead, through the glory of the Father, so also we walk in newness of Life.*
How was Christ raised from the dead? The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us.* It is the glory of the Father that we be raised into newness of Life. This is what Jesus said glorified the Father, that those who come, who look upon, who are drawn, and who believe in Him, these will receive eternal Life, being raised up into newness of Life. If there is not newness of Life the issue is not because God has not given us the power, it is not because we do not have his words written in a new covenant established in His blood, the issue is we do not believe.
If one is a child of God and enslaved to sin, which according to statistics in the American Church this is over half, what is the problem?* It is unbelief. Is it not the duty of the Church to teach truth that sets men free? But we don't have a problem. If the issue is of unbelief then what does this say about the American Church? people are not believing or they are not increasing in faith. Why? I believe it is the consequence of a works justified Church, its jumps to good works, "faith without works is dead" these say. But the sacrifice, the serving, the good works is at the expense of growth, of being strengthened in faith, and unfortunately also of loving one another. So what do you get? A Church that doesn't believe much, or is of little faith, whether it comes to having cancer or struggling with sexual immorality.
First, a child must believe he exists "in Christ," this is firm assurance of his salvation. Wavering here in unbelief is a wretched state, but many have been fed meat while they needed milk, and without a firm foundation children will not endure, choked out by the cares of this world. When we forgo the spiritual blessings and preach earthly ones, children are tossed to and fro by every deceitful teaching, jumping from book to book forgoing abiding in the Book. How important is a strong foundation, to know the spiritual blessings from Ephesians 1. John writes a child knows the Father and that his sins have been forgiven and a young person abides in the words of Jesus overcoming the evil one.
The child existing in Christ has testimony of Spirit and blood. Second, if he exists in Christ he exists dead to sin, and alive to God. Wavering here in unbelief is a wretched state, a mind that has not been transformed. And why do many not believe they are dead to sin? because the teachings of baptism are not taught correctly in the American Church. The very scriptures meant to give Liberty the enemy has worked hard to remove and distort and confuse causing many children to stumble. Take away repentance from dead works, the teachings of baptism, the foundation teaching of faith according to grace, and make it about a works justification and you have many existing in sin.
consider yourselves existing dead to sin, now, alive to God in Christ Jesus.*
This word for consider, logizomai means "to credit, count, reckon; regard, think, consider, reason, to set down as a matter of account." How does one consider himself dead to sin or how is this set down as a matter of account? nail it down, drive a stake in it, set it down as a matter of account, believe it. How do I overcome unbelief? being strengthened in faith until becoming fully convinced that what God said, he would do. If God says you are dead to sin then you are. But what if you are not, what is the problem? There is no condemnation in Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, so do not turn away because of unbelief but be strengthened in faith until you are fully convinced. Lord, we pray raise up godly teachers, those who exist in the likeness of His death and in the likeness of His resurrection. The one in Christ exists like Christ, righteousness is his true nature, he exists dead to sin, and alive to God.
Son of God
for if born, planted together in the likeness of His death exist, certainly also exist in his resurrection.*
Notice the wording here, like a seed being planted, a metamorphosis taking place. If I am born of God, I am planted or united in the likeness of Christ, and I exist in His death and resurrection. Here is a another lie that truth will set you free from, do we die to sin? no, Christ died, therefore I participate in the likeness of His death. The issue is one of belief or unbelief. Teachings that make repentance full of regret as if to purge sin, and includes forms of self-abasement of the flesh in attempts to die to sin like flogging the flesh until it desires to sin no more, these cause stumbling. The truth is Jesus was flogged for our sin and by His stripes we are healed. In Christ we do not die so much as participate in conformation, likeness of His death and resurrection. How does one participate in this?
Therefore buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ arose from the dead, through the glory of the Father, so also we walk in newness of Life.*
How was Christ raised from the dead? The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us.* It is the glory of the Father that we be raised into newness of Life. This is what Jesus said glorified the Father, that those who come, who look upon, who are drawn, and who believe in Him, these will receive eternal Life, being raised up into newness of Life. If there is not newness of Life the issue is not because God has not given us the power, it is not because we do not have his words written in a new covenant established in His blood, the issue is we do not believe.
If one is a child of God and enslaved to sin, which according to statistics in the American Church this is over half, what is the problem?* It is unbelief. Is it not the duty of the Church to teach truth that sets men free? But we don't have a problem. If the issue is of unbelief then what does this say about the American Church? people are not believing or they are not increasing in faith. Why? I believe it is the consequence of a works justified Church, its jumps to good works, "faith without works is dead" these say. But the sacrifice, the serving, the good works is at the expense of growth, of being strengthened in faith, and unfortunately also of loving one another. So what do you get? A Church that doesn't believe much, or is of little faith, whether it comes to having cancer or struggling with sexual immorality.
First, a child must believe he exists "in Christ," this is firm assurance of his salvation. Wavering here in unbelief is a wretched state, but many have been fed meat while they needed milk, and without a firm foundation children will not endure, choked out by the cares of this world. When we forgo the spiritual blessings and preach earthly ones, children are tossed to and fro by every deceitful teaching, jumping from book to book forgoing abiding in the Book. How important is a strong foundation, to know the spiritual blessings from Ephesians 1. John writes a child knows the Father and that his sins have been forgiven and a young person abides in the words of Jesus overcoming the evil one.
The child existing in Christ has testimony of Spirit and blood. Second, if he exists in Christ he exists dead to sin, and alive to God. Wavering here in unbelief is a wretched state, a mind that has not been transformed. And why do many not believe they are dead to sin? because the teachings of baptism are not taught correctly in the American Church. The very scriptures meant to give Liberty the enemy has worked hard to remove and distort and confuse causing many children to stumble. Take away repentance from dead works, the teachings of baptism, the foundation teaching of faith according to grace, and make it about a works justification and you have many existing in sin.
consider yourselves existing dead to sin, now, alive to God in Christ Jesus.*
This word for consider, logizomai means "to credit, count, reckon; regard, think, consider, reason, to set down as a matter of account." How does one consider himself dead to sin or how is this set down as a matter of account? nail it down, drive a stake in it, set it down as a matter of account, believe it. How do I overcome unbelief? being strengthened in faith until becoming fully convinced that what God said, he would do. If God says you are dead to sin then you are. But what if you are not, what is the problem? There is no condemnation in Christ, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin, so do not turn away because of unbelief but be strengthened in faith until you are fully convinced. Lord, we pray raise up godly teachers, those who exist in the likeness of His death and in the likeness of His resurrection. The one in Christ exists like Christ, righteousness is his true nature, he exists dead to sin, and alive to God.
Son of God