Lesson 2816

(Lesson 2816)(09-09-19) Romans 6:8-23
    “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. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.”

    Today’s commentary concerns the same quote from which yesterday’s lesson was taken in that it concerns what is, and what is not, sin.
    Sadly, the vast majority of today’s so-called Christians, consider sin to be whatever someone else might do that they don’t, or can’t do. They are many of those who fill the same pews every time the church doors open and never appear guilty of the commonly accepted sins like drinking, cursing etc etc. Yet, in their everyday lives and in thier business practices, they take advantage of everyone, including their neighbors at every opportunity. Those are the types Jesus despised the most. Jesus hung out with those common sinners, the ones who had the audacity to stretch the laws to reasonably sustain themselves.
    To clarify what is sin in God’s eyes, we must refer to what the bible teaches. We know from Adam’s experience that any direct disobedience to the commandment of God is indeed sin. Adam was given only one commandment and he disobeyed that commandment condemning himself and all mankind to a spiritual death.
    Since Jesus lived perfection and died to fulfill all the requirements of the laws that were handed down before His coming, that is for all who believe, we, the saved, are subject to ONLY those commandments that were given us by Jesus Himself. Those commandments are, as was quoted in yesterday’s lesson, are; to love God with all that we are, and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. If we obey those two “great” commandments, we have, in effect, obeyed ALL the laws that God ever imposed upon the Jews or Gentiles.
    So long as we have believed in the life, death, burial, resurrection of Jesus, love God with our entire being and treat our neighbors as we expect to be treated, we are sinless. No matter what else we may do.~