Dying to Live Again

If there’s anything I need to be encouraged about from other men on a regular basis, it’s reckoning myself dead to sin.

But teaching that sin is a stumbling block toward the goal of inheriting the very best God has to offer isn’t considered to be a good tool for building congregational membership.

However, membership isn’t always a Biblical construct.

On the other hand, developing the courage and skill to challenge the popular norms of young college students in a forum of open public debate is. If Charlie Kirk were still around, he could confirm that truth is a mechanism often inflicting the necessary shame needed to bring about reform.

And he wasn’t alone.

Jesus Christ’s other faithful followers are busy teaching the tenets of discipleship to men who are hungry for solid food. They’ve somehow discovered that the Bible is packed with insight and encouragement for all those who have ears to hear!

In his letter to all who [were] beloved of God in Rome, called as saints, the apostle Paul wrote:

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united (with Him) in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be (in the likeness) of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified (with Him), in order that our body of sin might be rendered ineffective, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin, for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” [Rom. 6:4-8] [my emphasis]

Imagine that.

Paul regarded baptism as more of a commitment rather than a symbolic gesture.

I shouldn’t be so naive to think that, just because I’ve been rescued from the slave market of sin, I’m not capable of wandering back into it. I need to be encouraged and motivated away from presenting any members of my body as instruments for unrighteous conduct. [Rom. 6:12-13]

This topic would seem to be essential to understanding what Jesus Christ and the Biblical authors actually taught, but then, highly unlikely to pack the pews on Sunday mornings, because the cup of conviction swallows a lot harder than grape juice.

Another reason to thank God for the Charlie Kirks of this world.

So would it be reasonable to assume that the subject of dying to sin would warrant weekly discussion, study and application techniques among our relevant peers?

Absolutely.

Because this is Biblical meat and potatoes, and only a few are weaned.