"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
In today's quote, Paul, in essence, asked; is a saved person free to do as they please after having believed in Jesus Christ, with no fear of punishment? The answer is a profound and absolute NO! The children of God are to live by the two "great" commandments that Jesus gave us; "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40 in part)
Also in today's lesson, Paul again emphasizes that when a soul is baptized (Permanently immersed by faith) into Christ (not water), that soul instantly becomes dead to sin. Once a lost soul dies with Christ through faith, that soul can no longer be charged with sin unto death. Once saved, a once condemned soul becomes as Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden where there was no sin except the partaking of the forbidden fruit. Jesus removed that fruit from our garden.
Although a person, after salvation, can still sin in the flesh, there is no sin in the spirit that can again lead to eternal damnation.
What is the punishment for those of us who sin in the flesh after salvation? We will ALL sit to be judged before Jesus Christ where we will be either be punished for the bad things we've done or rewarded for the good. Evert knee will bow and every tongue will confess.
We'll learn more about that as these lessons continue. ~
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