What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Rom 6:1-2)
Powerful questions. Relevant questions. Convicting questions.
How can we who died to sexual immorality still lower the gates of our hearts to pornography?
How can we who died to impurity continue to fill our minds with moral filth?
How can we who died to sensuality still allow the passions of our own flesh to trump what we know to be true and righteous and wise?
How can we who died to idolatry continue to put ourselves and our stuff before God?
How can we who died to enmity still allow the root of bitterness to choke our affections?
How can we who died to strife continue to place our insignificant preferences before our brothers and sisters in Christ?
How can we who died to jealousy still allow our spirits to be fueled by the toxic fumes of envy and greed?
How can we who died to fits of anger continue to give full vent to self-centered frustrations?
How can we who died to rivalries still attach self-worth to self-advancement?
How can we who died to divisions continue to engage in quarreling and foolish flame-throwing?
How can we who died to drunkenness still participate in drinking parties?
How can we who died to malice continue to harbor an intense desire for revenge?
How can we who died to slander still recklessly share things that simply are not true?
How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psa 1:1-2)
The paths you walk will determine where you eventually stand. The place you stand will determine where you sooner or later sit. The seat you take will determine where you inevitably “live.”
How can we who died to sin still live in it?
No, we were created to walk in the light. We’ve been forgiven that we might experience deeper, purer, more infinitely satisfying delights. We’ve been raised to walk in newness of life.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Rom 6:12-14)