Free From Sin's Bondage - Reid Ferguson

Walk in Wisdom – Gleanings from Scripture

Today's Readings Mar. 8/06 : Matt. 23:25-39;
Romans 6:1-14; Psalm 55; Numb. 18-20

Jesus Christ died, not only to atone for sin, to make
all sin forgivable, He died to free us from sin's
bondage; from its power to control our lives and
keep us as slaves to it. One of the greatest facets of
the "Good News" is that not only HAS sin's penalty
been paid, but that Our Father intends to set each
and everyone who trusts His Son and appropriates
His death for their justification by faith - free from
being governed by that sin. Now we will not be free
from sin remaining in us until Christ comes, but we
are meant to be enjoying the conquest over its
power. As John Owen put it, sin has been dethroned
but not yet destroyed. But what I want to press
upon you today beloved is the fact that God is ever
and always on your side as you struggle against the
remainder of that sin within you. He does not leave
us to our own devices, nor has anything less in
mind for each of His children than total victory.
And "if God be for us, who can be against us?" Too
many of us have had the attitude that "that's just the
way it is" when it comes to our battle with sin. No
dear one, that's not "just the way it is." Yes, we are
intended to fight, but we are also intended to win!
God is for you. I know for many the battles have
been long and hard. Sometimes the pain of repeated
failure and succumbing to temptation over and over
in the same areas can be so disheartening as to
cause one nearly to give up. But don't you do it!
Rom. 6:4 says: "We were buried therefore with him
by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ
was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,
we too might walk in newness of life." Don't miss
those three marvelous words in the middle of this
sentence - "in order that." This is His purpose. This
is His design for you and me. This is what He has
set in motion and sealed with the blood of His Son.
Don't be afraid to go after every last little bit and
piece. Don't be afraid that once you start the battle
in earnest, you'll find some sins too entrenched, too
long untouched, too habitual to be brought down. It
is not so. If God has buried you with Christ "in
order that" "we too might walk in newness of life,"
then rest assured, it WILL be so. He will prevail.





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Blessings: Reid
Dulcius Ex Asperis