Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Monday, May 05, 2008 5:48:41 PM
‘if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. [Colossians 2:20-23]
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. [I Timothy 6:17]
How can the apostle say these things? What is his meaning?
Again, the apostles are faithful expositors of the doctrine of Christ. Isn’t sin a matter of the heart? Jesus says that out of the heart come the things that defile a man…
‘Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man…’ [Matthew 15:18-20].
James says that lust gives birth to sin and death...
‘Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death’ [James 1:14-15].
Now Christian we can begin to begin to understand the great liberty where in Christ has made us free. The regenerating power of the Spirit opens the heart and applies the redemption accomplished in Jesus Christ. Grace has set us free. Because we are raised up with Christ, sin is on longer our master that we must obey. Its power over us is broken as is the power of the grave.
A renewed heart is free of the corrupting power of sin. Those things that God has given for our enjoyment can be freely enjoyed because righteousness is of the heart, not in outward appearances.
We are diligent to guard our heart for that is where sin arises. We know the words of the accuser…Let us sin that grace may abound. But the word of the apostle stands firm…
‘God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?’ [Romans 6:1-2]
Shall our liberty cause another brother to sin? God forbid! Rather, for his sake we will practice self denial because we are no longer slaves to the things of the flesh, but rather slaves of righteousness.
Being freed from the bondage of sin in this life, we have a taste of what it is to be free of the presence of sin in the life to come. Death in this respect is our friend, because in the presence of Christ we will enjoy a full measure of the liberty of the sons of God.