glorycloud's Diaryland Diary

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there is power in the gospel

Colossians 3:1-7

"[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
[2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
[3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
[4] When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
[5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
[6] For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
[7] In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them." Colossians 3:1-7

"Verse 7 "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them" Colossians 1:7 gives the hope that we can indeed mortify and put off our sins. There is power in the gospel to enable the transformation required by grace. The Colossian believers used to walk and live within the sphere of those sins, but now they don't. What used to characterize their lives no longer does. That reversal of lifestyle marks every genuine believer. No Christian is experientially as holy as he should be or as holy as he will be when he appears with Christ in glory, but neither is he unholy as he was. Every saint can say with John Newton, "I am not what I ought to be. . .[but] 'by the grace of God I am what I am." (1 Cor 15:10).

Third, Paul explains the reasons for death to sin. He gives two reasons, one negative and one positive. Negatively, death to sin is necessary because sin angers God (v.6 "For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience"). Every sin is a violation of His righteous justice, and His wrath is poised against it. Whereas the sinful world stands already condemned, all those in Christ have been delivered from condemnation (Rom.8:1). Insomuch as Christians, then, are no longer under God's wrath, sinfulness should no longer be their practice. We are no longer subject to God's wrath because of Christ's atoning work. The cross stands as the greatest evidence of God's justice and wrath against sin. God put the cross of Christ in the place of our sins, and so must we. It was because of our sin that Christ died. To think of why He died and to remember that we died in union with Him is reason enough to die to sin." pg. 10,11 Michael Barrett 'Living Out Our Faith: The Christian Life Inside Out' chapter 1 "The Beauty & Glory Of Christian Living" Edited By Joel R. Beeke

10:29 a.m. - 2014-09-29

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