because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of
sin and death.
(Romans 8:2)
This
morning, I came across a meme that talked about the extent to which
Christianity has influenced the world. One of the comments beneath it said, in
effect, that Christianity has done nothing because if it had done something, we
would have heaven on earth. I recommended a couple books to him.
As I look at today’s verse, though, I hear his words echoing. How can I be free from the law of sin and death when I still sin? People like the man I mentioned point out that the Church is full of hypocrites. There’s a real sense in which they’re correct, but I find myself wondering what these people think the hypocrisy is. I suspect that they are idealistic, and believe that for Christianity to be true, the split second that someone becomes a Christian, there is zero sin in their life from that time until the end of forever.
Have you listened to what those promoting Socialism say? Have you listened to the words to the song “Imagine” that seems to be their international anthem? It’s a Utopia. Everybody loves everybody, nobody needs anything. No wars, no religion, no possessions, nothing to kill or die for. Notice all the negatives? Those are absolutes. Until or unless all of those things are completely true, not only do we still have work to do, but the system that has not provided it must be declared evil.
As I told the man in my response to his post, I think that perspective is myopic, but don’t we do the same things in our lives? I thought by now, I’d be much farther along than I am, does that mean I’m a failure? If you listen to me, it tends to mean just that. Now, the fact that you’re not where you think you should be, that just means you have an unrealistic idea about where you’re supposed to be. You’re fine, just relax and let God work.
But we have been set free from the law of sin and death. Our identity is that we’re free and cautioned not to let ourselves be caught up in slavery again. So what does it mean to be free, if we don’t see that freedom perfected in our lives? Rather than meaning we will not fail, it means that when we fail, we can go to God without fear that this is the time when God will say, “That’s it! I quit!”
Before we were saved, we weren’t free to go to God. We were only free to continue to do the things that were killing us. We don’t get Utopia or Heaven on Earth, but we do get the ability to go to God.
As I look at today’s verse, though, I hear his words echoing. How can I be free from the law of sin and death when I still sin? People like the man I mentioned point out that the Church is full of hypocrites. There’s a real sense in which they’re correct, but I find myself wondering what these people think the hypocrisy is. I suspect that they are idealistic, and believe that for Christianity to be true, the split second that someone becomes a Christian, there is zero sin in their life from that time until the end of forever.
Have you listened to what those promoting Socialism say? Have you listened to the words to the song “Imagine” that seems to be their international anthem? It’s a Utopia. Everybody loves everybody, nobody needs anything. No wars, no religion, no possessions, nothing to kill or die for. Notice all the negatives? Those are absolutes. Until or unless all of those things are completely true, not only do we still have work to do, but the system that has not provided it must be declared evil.
As I told the man in my response to his post, I think that perspective is myopic, but don’t we do the same things in our lives? I thought by now, I’d be much farther along than I am, does that mean I’m a failure? If you listen to me, it tends to mean just that. Now, the fact that you’re not where you think you should be, that just means you have an unrealistic idea about where you’re supposed to be. You’re fine, just relax and let God work.
But we have been set free from the law of sin and death. Our identity is that we’re free and cautioned not to let ourselves be caught up in slavery again. So what does it mean to be free, if we don’t see that freedom perfected in our lives? Rather than meaning we will not fail, it means that when we fail, we can go to God without fear that this is the time when God will say, “That’s it! I quit!”
Before we were saved, we weren’t free to go to God. We were only free to continue to do the things that were killing us. We don’t get Utopia or Heaven on Earth, but we do get the ability to go to God.
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