Caught up in Grace

Romans 6:1
¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?


This is what Paul asked Christians.

Romans 6:2
²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

This is his answer!

So what does his answer mean?

Colossians 3:1-6
¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your^a]">[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

That's right it means you died to all of the above. Suppose the perfect way to describe it would be the way pastor described it today:

A Drug Dealer came up to you and wanted to sell you drugs

this substance is lethal

He convinces you to buy it and use it.

You get addicted.

You die from the lethality of the drug.

Drug dealer returns when you are in your tomb.

He tries to sell you drugs.

But can he?

This I would say is the perfect picture of what it is to die to sin. So what is it to live by grace? Grace is the power to overcome sin, not an license to sin. simple as that. So this is a thought:

Baptism -> The Greek words are baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, and baptistes . The root wordbapto , is translated "dip, dipped, dipping" (qoute from: http://www.mindspring.com/~mamcgee/grace_baptism.html).

so if baptism is to be dipped or submerged. what does it resemble?

Take a read below:

Jesus alive.

Jesus dies.

Jesus rises.

You are dry.

You are submerged.

You rise.

Yeap boys and girls! It's the image of you dying with Christ and rising with him. It's not just a symbol but an outward action of what is within the heart!

But always remember these things, you are not a sinner with God's Grace. You are the righteousness of Christ and was ONCE a sinner long ago.

Romans 3:21-26
²¹But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets,

²²Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction,

²³Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory ^b]">[b]which God bestows and receives.

²⁴[All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

²⁵Whom God put forward [^c]">[c]before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

²⁶It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (^d]">[d]in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.