Romans 6:12: Let Not Sin Therefore Reign In Your Mortal Body, To Make You Obey its Passions.

Romans 6:12
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (ESV)

In the first century church one of the biggest challenges was a group of false teachers called the Gnostics. The Gnostics believed that the only thing that mattered was that which was spiritual. If you were saved, your spirit was saved. Your physical body could engage in as much sin as it wanted. As long as you were spiritually saved, you were fine. Paul would have something to say about that.

Notice there is a "therefore" in this verse. That word tells us that what Paul has previously said affects what he is saying now. What has he just been saying? Paul has been expounding on the truth that Christ died to sin for us, and he now lives life to God eternally. We also are to be crucified with Christ, putting our sinful nature to death and walking in newness of life in God.

In light of this truth we are to not let sin reign in our mortal body, making us obey its passions. Sadly, in our world today, we are often led exclusively by our passions. We know this is true in those who do not know Jesus, but tragically many Christians are also led by their passions. They have bought into the lie of the world that we should "follow our hearts."

I am always reminded what Jeremiah said about the heart: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)" If we follow our passions, which is what following our heart is all about, we will be in a world of trouble. The heart deceives us just like Eve was deceived when she followed her heart and ate forbidden fruit.

What are you following? Your heart? That is a disastrous idea. I encourage you to put to death the sin that would reign in your mortal body. Submit yourself, passions included, to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Comments

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co

Search This Blog