Co-Crucifixion! Romans 6:1-14

Text: “Knowing this, that our old man (i.e. old nature) is crucified with Him (i.e. Christ), that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

Romans 6:6.

Good morning, co-crucified Christian!  You experience much victory over daily urges to sin, because you have indeed reckoned yourself, your old naturally sinful nature, to be dead unto sin but alive unto God (i.e. or Godliness) through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Praise God it is so!   (Romans 6:11)

This doctrine of co-crucifixion is a great help to Christians who desire to be as sincerely committed to Christ as one can possibly be.  Paul was thus inspired to cry out elsewhere in his epistles: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh (i.e. his then present daily life) I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave His life for me.”  (Galatians 2:20)

Paul’s old sinful nature was therefore being denied life, because Paul was reckoning it to be already dead; co-crucified as it were with his Lord at a place called Calvary. We latter day Christians can also experience the freedom from sin’s power if we will but reckon ourselves as dead unto it.  This then is the concept of co-crucifixion.

Imagine going to a city mortuary and being left in a room with many corpses.  Not a pleasant prospect, I know, but imagine it is so.  You have brought with you some items, including a large bottle of whiskey, some cigarettes, and a bankroll of spendable currency.  Now the experiment begins:

Going to the first corpse, you break the seal on the whiskey bottle, pour out a generous glass of the alcoholic beverage, and offer it to the corpse.  What happens?  Yes - NOTHING!  The dead body does not respond to the temptation.  (Proverbs 20:1)

Not easily discouraged, you then move to the next corpse, lighting a cigarette and offering it to the body.  Again, NOTHING happens!  The dead body does not respond to the enticement.

You quickly move to the next corpse - surely a large wad of banknotes will get a response?  But, no.  The dead do not respond to temptations of any kind.  They are unmoved by temptation.

Now perhaps we can more fully understand the doctrine of co-crucifixion.  If we can believe that our old carnal natures have, as Paul states, been crucified with Christ upon the Cross - then we can ‘reckon ourselves...’, the old carnal nature and the natural lusts and desires we each have, to be dead unto sin - just like the corpses we tempted in our illustration above. 

Being thus, dead to sin’s temptations, we can be more alive unto Godliness in Christ Jesus our Redeemer King. (Romans 6:12)

Isn’t that quite a thought to ponder over until our next Sunday Bible Exposition?  Amen, it is so.  Praise and glory to God!

Thought:  The old nature is DEAD – Co-Crucified with Christ - let us make it lie down.

The Accuracy of Geneis 3: Romans 5:12-21

Text:  “...No prophesy of the Scripture (i.e. the Bible) is of any private interpretation.  For the prophesy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake (and wrote!) as they were moved (i.e. or inspired) by the Holy Ghost.”

                                                                                                                 2 Peter 1:20-21.

Good morning, Bible-believing Christian!  Nothing can shake your faith in God, for your faith in God’s Word is both sure and, as a consequence, strong.  God’s inspired Word is your only authority; God’s Word is quite enough for you and quite enough for me also.  (Numbers 23:19)

Many today even, sad to say, among the universal church of God, would refer to the Genesis story of Creation, and particularly mankind’s fall from grace in Eden, as primitive myths, old traditional stories, which educated modern man could not possibly believe.  What ‘modernist’ twaddle!  What heresy!  What lack of true faith!        (1 Corinthians 2:12-16)

Believing as we do that ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, we do the Lord a terrible disservice when we refuse to believe His inspired account of Genesis.  (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Scripture supports Scripture; the New Testament verifies the truth of the Old Testament; the New Testament reveals the fulfilment of all God said would take place in the Old Testament.

Therefore, our Bible is as true and as relevant today as it was when holy men of God were inspired to write each precious Book contained therein. This fact is PROVEN by our passage this morning from Romans chapter 5; which of course confirms the complete accuracy of Genesis chapter 3.

Check it out for yourself, beloved in Christ!  (Acts 17:11)

Moses is the man most commonly believed to have been used of God the Holy Spirit to put into writing an account of the beginning of all things pertaining to mankind - his Creation; his fall into sin; and God’s Salvation plan; to name just a few.

The main theme of Genesis is man’s sin; the initial steps taken by God for his Redemption by  Divine Covenant (i.e. the Old Testament); a Covenant made between God and His chosen people.  (Genesis 17:1-8) (Exodus 6:7-8)

The Book of Genesis (i.e. beginnings) records this people’s history of failures and God’s gracious restorations; fallible creatures that we are. (1 John 1:8) (Isaiah 64:6)

Read Genesis chapter 3:, compare it with Romans chapter 5:12-21; and marvel at the accuracy of the Genesis account of man’s disobedience and God’s reconciling grace.  Nothing has changed to this day, has it?  (Hebrews 13:8)

Adam sinned against God, and all mankind which was to come from his loins fell from grace with him and were condemned to death.  “For the wages of sin is death...”  (Romans 6:23)  (Romans 5:12)

Christ, in His mercy, paid the terrible price for the sins of His people – all who would by God’s grace believe and receive His gift of Salvation. Therefore, it is His obedience to the Father’s Divine will that is imputed unto all who are born again of Him by faith - and thus we are SAVED. Hallelujah!  What a gracious Saviour Lord God!         (1 Peter 1:18-25)

This, then, is the Genesis message of Salvation in Christ alone.  This is also the message of the third chapter of Romans.  The New Testament message thus proves beyond a shadow of a doubt the veracity (i.e. truth) of the Old. 

Now, surely that is something to really boost our God-given faith in the Lord Jesus?  Amen!  Praise God for Jesus, and His Calvary Atonement for very real sinners like we.

Thought:       The Salvation story is old - yet ever new!

The Genesis Atonement Romans 5:1-11

Text:  “Much more then, being now justified (i.e. declared not guilty!) by His (Christ’s) Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Romans 5:9.

“...And without shedding of Blood is no remission (i.e. of sin).” 

Hebrews 9:22b.

Good morning, Blood bought Christian! Your strength and consistent confidence lies in the fact of your faith that, you have been Redeemed from out of the world by the precious Blood of the Lamb - Christ Jesus, the righteous and only begotten Son of the Living God. Hallelujah! What a Saviour! (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Thus it is that, you can boldly face your daily foes - the world, the flesh, and the Devil - and not be afraid.  Fearing God, you fear nothing else, for the Lord Jesus has made you at one with Him. (John 17:18-23)

The above principle is the simple meaning of the Scriptural word Atonement’. If this word is broken down, it becomes for us AT-ONE-MENT - sinful mankind made one with God; reconciled to a Holy God of wrath against sin, through the Sacrificially shed Blood of the sinless Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

In this manner, God’s legal wrath against all sin was appeased, on our behalf, by God’s love - revealed as it is in the Cross of God the Son, Christ  Jesus.  This, of course, is the great Reformed Protestant doctrine of Substitution. By being ‘born again’ in Christ, we are brought to be ‘at one’ with God Himself. Praise God for this Bible truth!       (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Atonement is, of course, the subject of this morning’s Bible reading from the book of Romans; and the aspect of Atonement portrayed here, is the aggregate of blessings believers receive at the gracious and merciful hand of God as a result of His good grace alone in Christ Jesus, ALONE.  (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Psalm 34:8)

Look briefly, at the aggregate of blessings God grants us once we are justified by Him: Peace (V1); Access to God in prayer (V2); rejoicing (V2); glory in trials (V3); patience (V3); experience (V4); hope (V4); and love unlimited (V5). What a soul-thrilling array of Divine blessings indeed! Can we fail at this point to give a word of sincere thanks unto God for His grace towards us this day?  Never!  “Thanks be to God!” Amen. (Philippians 4:6-7)

However, notwithstanding the above Scriptural message, the Atonement is not exclusively a New Testament doctrine. God’s WAY of Salvation never changes. Atonement is by grace alone, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Atonement Sacrifice ALONE!  Neither is there Salvation in any other Name, method, or set of teachings. We have, as always, God’s own Word on the matter, and that should be enough for any true believer.  (Hebrews 13:8) (Acts 4:12) (John 14:6)

We find many types, or illustrations, of Christ’s Atonement throughout the pages of the Old Testament; the first one in the Book of Genesis, chapter 3:. Throughout the whole Book of revealed Scriptural truth, the message remains the same: “And ye shall seek Me, and find Me (Christ), when ye shall search for Me with all of your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Our fore-parents sinned the first sin in Eden, and God, in His love, gave them the first promise of Atonement Salvation immediately. In verse 15 of Genesis 3: we see the promise of the Saviour - “...the seed of the woman...”. Think about it, beloved in Christ! In the natural realm, the woman has no ‘seed’ of procreation, and needs her egg fertilised by the seed of the male.

However, the first mention of the shedding of blood - the innocent to atone for the sins of the guilty - is found later in verse twenty-one of the same chapter. Here we learn of God putting to death the innocent animals He had created, in order to make a covering of robes for His errant people.  It is the first mention of death in Scriptures; it is the first illustration of something dying that others may receive forgiveness, and of course, by that forgiveness, life anew and renewed fellowship with the Creator God.

Of course, in order to take the animal’s skins to clothe Adam and Eve blood, naturally, had to be shed. Thus, even at this early stage of humankind’s existence with a thrice Holy Lord God, we find the Lord teaching us His only way of Atonement. It is a concept Christ Himself deemed ultra important for us to remember. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

The sinless Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, sheds His Blood and dies on a Cross, to make the necessary ATONEMENT SACRIFICE to bring together the sinful creature with his/her altogether Holy Creator Lord.  Born again Christians are thus covered in the robe of righteousness provided by God - the precious Blood of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Thus, we are at all times made to be AT ONE with God. Now, isn’t this some really good news? Hallelujah! Thanks be to God! Amen.

Thought: The blessings of Christ’s ATONEMENT are all yours - only when you are ALL His!

                              

True Righteousness! Romans 4:1-25

Text:  “...Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness...to him that worketh not, but believeth (i.e. trusteth) on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”

Romans 4:3-5.

Good morning, righteous Christian!  Having believed God’s Word which tells us that we have absolutely no righteousness in our natural state; you have wisely sought to be made righteous by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Romans 3:10)

It is the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus alone which qualifies sinner’s souls to inherit Heaven; and that true righteousness comes only by faith in the Finished Work of Christ, His Sacrifice, at Calvary’s Cross.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

How, then, can we prove to ourselves and to others that we have indeed been made possessors of true righteousness; that we are indeed true children of Abraham, promised to him by the Lord God?  (Genesis 12:1-3)

If faith, God’s free gift, is a substance untouchable, unseen, untasted, etc., how can one prove its reality to oneself and to a sceptical world of unbelievers?  (Hebrews 11:1) (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This task becomes easy to accomplish - IF the Christian thinks the problem through using the Light of God’s Word.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

True Christian faith rests on the finished work of Atonement Sacrifice of Christ Jesus alone.  There is Eternal forgiveness and Salvation in none other!            (Acts 4:12) (John 14:6)

God’s Word in today’s reading reveals how Abraham was accounted righteous by God because of his belief.  He had no confidence in his own ‘good works’; his own social status; his own family name - although by the standards of the day Abraham was probably streets in front of many others of his contemporaries.  No!  Like the faithful Paul, Abraham counted all such human standards but ‘dung’ as compared to the true righteousness necessary for Salvation.  (Philippians 3:3-9)

Thus, the sincere ‘born again’ Christian can prove his/her Salvation today, both to him or herself, or to others all around.  (Matthew 7:20)

Have YOU really trusted in Christ’s Atonement at Calvary’s Cross?  If so, the following manifestations of true faith must be in consistent evidence:  one must believe in God’s Word; be living a Christ like life to the very best of one’s ability; doing and saying the things which Christ would approve of; and standing against the actions and words Christ would not approve of Himself.  (Ephesians 5:11) (Matthew 5:16)  

True Christians must be Christ like!

Although faith itself is an untouchable commodity, the works it produces are certainly felt in a very tangible manner.  This is what James is saying in Chapter 2 of his Spirit-inspired Epistle.  “Faith without works is dead...”  (James 2:1-16)

True righteousness is thus proven when the believer sees his/her own sincere strivings to be like Jesus in private; and when others witness that same Christlikeness in public.  As one old theologian has remarked, “You cannot be SAVED and not know it; neither can you be saved and not show it!”

The greatest observable evidence of Christ being Whom He claimed to be - God the Son - is seen in the true Christian.  The true Christian always seeks opportunities to glorify the Person who has saved him/her.  (Ephesians 5:14-20)

Is it not absolutely awesome?  God grants His elect people faith to believe, then, grants us true righteousness as a consequence of our belief!  Hallelujah!  What a Saviour!

Thought:  God only imputes righteousness to those who admit they are bankrupt of the same.