"count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" - Romans 6:11
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Dead to Sin, alive in Christ
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Reflecting on my own Christian journey, as a former staunch Buddhist who hated the guts of Bible-toting Christians who knocked on my door to condemn me and my whole household to Hell, when I opened the door to see who was knocking vigorously on my door. I hated the condemning look in their unloving eyes when they saw the statues of idols in my living hall. And invariably shouted back at them to crawl back into Hell where they came from. If they still refused to budge from my doorway, I would tell my family to bring a broom to sweep these agents of Hell away from my doorsteps.
It was an entirely unique experience when the Holy Spirit impressed upon a long-lost acquaintance to call me when she saw me exercising in the courtyard of my public housing estate. I was in tears when we met in the garden where I was walking and explained that I was just discharged from the hospital after an acute right-brain stroke and was retraining my left leg to walk again. I also shared that my marriage was breaking apart and on the verge of a divorce. Now she started tearing up because she knew both me and my ex-wife, as we were in the same university together. Through her tears, she explained that she found peace in a guy called Jesus, after she invited Him into her life. She asked if I wanted to receive that gift too. I nodded my head as there were so many storms in my life then, that peace was the very thing I was seeking and nodded my head to signal yes, I desired that peace. I said the sinners' prayer by repeating after her.
My marriage eventually broke apart and I was angry with God for not saving my broken marriage and threatened to leave Him too. But God the Father was ever patient and allowed me to leave His side, while He stood like the Prodigal Father, looking into the distance for the silhouette of His prodigal son, i.e. me.
Fast forward, three years after my conversion experience, I joined my uncle and his family to worship in a loving Christian community. I was moved by the Holy Spirit to sign-up for Baptism. As our church was undergoing renovations, we rented an office space and even rented a plastic tub for baptism services. I recall the peals of laughter when a youth who was about to be dunked into the plastic tub, remarked: " the tub looks just like a tomb, which means I'm going to die with Jesus".
I will close my short sharing, with this declaration by St. Paul in Romans 6 verse 6: For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
The following beautiful hymn has so often brought a tear of gratitude to my eyes, whenever I ponder on God's Love through His Son, that I'm truly home with the Father in Heaven as His beloved child.
Father I Have Sinned
Verse 1
Father I have sinned,
help me find my way.
Remember not my sins,
Just let me hear you say:
Chorus
I forgive you, I love you
You are mine, take my hand.
Go in peace, sin no more,
Beloved one.
Verse 2
Father I have turned,
my back and walked away
Depended on my strength
and lived life my own way
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 3
Father I have closed,
My heart to those in need.
Thought only of myself,
A victim of my greed.
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 4
Father I have loved,
If love's the word to use.
I've played so many games,
They've left me so confused
(Repeat Chorus)
Ending
Father I've returned,
I'm home with you to stay.
Standing at your door,
knowing that you'll say
(Repeat Chorus)
Youtube: https://youtu.be/5AM0N9VS9JI?si=MXw1H4gcYLt2TCPj
Words & Music by Eugene O'Reilly
© 2001 CJM Music (UK & Irelan)
CCLI & OneLicense No. #646803
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