What we have learned from Romans 6 and 7 is that when we trusted
in Christ as our Savior and Lord (as our Treasure!), we were united
to Christ (Romans 6:5; 7:4). In this union with Christ we died
(Romans 6:8; Colossians 2:20; 3:3) and rose again (Romans 6:4;
Colossians 2:12; Ephesians 2:6). Therefore a decisive and
irrevocable new creation came into being (2 Corinthians 5:17), and
a decisive and irrevocable liberation happened (Romans 6:14, 18).
We passed from death to (eternal!) life. Our decisive judgment is
behind us - at Golgotha (John 5:24). We have moved from the
dominion of darkness into the kingdom of God's Son (Colossians
1:13).

But we also learned that our liberation from sin is not yet
final and perfect. Decisive and irrevocable, Yes! But final and
perfect, No! Sin still dwells within us (Romans 7:17, 20). Evil is
present in us (Romans 7:21). The "flesh" is a daily troubler of our
souls (Romans 7:25). We are not yet perfect nor have we already
obtained our crown and prize (Philippians 3:12). We are liars if we
say we have no sin (1 John 1:8, 10).

How then does the apostle Paul teach us to live? Will he say:
"You are decisively and irrevocably new, so you can coast through
life with no fight to become new"? Or will he say: "You are not
decisively and irrevocably new and must fight to get to that place
in Christ"? No, neither of these. He will say: "By faith, embrace
all that God is for your good in Christ and all you are for his
glory in Christ. Believe that. And now, with that confidence, fight
to take possession of the territory that Christ has conquered for
you. Fight to become in practice what you are in Christ." Eight
illustrations of this truth:

1. Statement of newness: Romans 6:14, "Sin shall not be master
over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Command to
become new: Romans 6:12, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal
body."

2. Statement of newness: Romans 6:18, "Having been freed from
sin, you became slaves of righteousness." Command to become new:
Romans 6:19, "Present your members as slaves to righteousness."

3. Statement of newness: Romans 6:6, "Our old self was crucified
with Him." Command to become new: Romans 6:11, "Consider yourselves
to be dead to sin."

4. Statement of newness: Colossians 3:9, "You laid aside the old
self with its evil practices." Command to become new: Ephesians
4:22, "Lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in
accordance with the lusts of deceit."

5. Statement of newness: Colossians 3:10, "You have put on the
new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the
image of the One who created him." Command to become new: Ephesians
4:24, "Put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been
created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

6. Statement of newness: Galatians 3:27, "All of you who were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Command
to become new: Romans 13:14, "But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ."

7. Statement of newness: Galatians 5:24, "Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires." Command to become new: Romans 13:14b, "Make no provision
for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

8. Command to become new: 1 Corinthians 5:7a, "Clean out the old
leaven so that you may be a new lump [of dough]." Statement of
newness: 1 Corinthians 5:7b, ". . . just as you are in fact
unleavened."

Fixed in newness and fighting to become new - with you,

Pastor John