LOOKING back at last week’s reading, I am thinking of the difficulty of taking our little book in weekly pieces as we have been doing -the difficulty that might come from taking things out of context. I hope this hasn’t been a problem. It is so important to keep in mind our authors definitions for our “Position” in Christ –that is, our Union with Christ and it’s far reaching implications regarding redemption accomplished. Further, we need to view our “Condition” in Christ in like manner as we view the reality of the blessings of Christ being worked out in our daily faith and practice, which will always be imperfect as opposed to our perfect Position in Christ which is complete and can never be improved upon by our efforts.
IN this I’m also thinking about terms and definitions. Having gone through so many career changes (How many is it now; four, five? I’m losing track), I’m sensitive to the fact that terms and definitions vary from one arena to another, and reorienting to different words that have synonymous meanings used in different command structures can be confusing. Ferreting out the similarities can be, and often are, just as important as determining the differences, especially in theological manners. So when our author uses the phrase “principle of sin” it brings to mind my old evangelical training that used the termed “old sin nature” and the phrase “Adamic nature” (and other variations), with the reminder that as long as we are in the flesh we will struggle with indwelling sin, that “no good thing” that Paul refers to in Romans 7.
IN lieu of this, and in review of last week’s consideration, our author wrote:
And it is only in that abiding place [in Christ] that our conscience can be clear with regard to indwelling sin. Our guilt cannot be relieved through removal of the sin within, because that principle will be present as long as we reside in our unredeemed body. Nor is there hope of relief through improvement of self, since in the flesh there dwells no good thing to improve. “… it is no longer I who do the deed, but the sin [principle] which is at home in me and has possession of me” (Rom. 7:15, 17 Amp.).
CONTINUING–
This chapter has to do with … the indwelling principle of sin. The next chapter will deal with the product of that principle, sins committed. First the cause, then the effect
It is essential to know how definitely and thoroughly God dealt with this principle of sin, especially since its presence within us is so burdensome. “…God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3). The principle of sin has not been forgiven, it has not been cleansed; neither has it been improved, nor removed. But, thanks be unto God it has been condemned by the crucifixion of the cross. In His flesh, our Lord Jesus condemned the sin in our flesh. Thus condemned, there can now be no condemnation for us.
SO, with this review we will close Chapter 7 with today’s consideration below, repeating the last paragraph from last week’s reading to that below.
ONE last thing before leaving off here; where the author says below “He took each potential believer as a sinner down into that death”, I would prefer it be said He took His own, the elect “down into that death” (Matt 1:21) to be more accurate. But I’m sure you would have understood that difference and distinction by now.
IN the joy of the Lord,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 25—Sin and Purged Conscience – Part 3, conclusion
It should not be difficult for us to make the correct choice between the consciousness of our condition, and the revelation of our position. If, because of feelings and lack of scriptural knowledge, we put more stock in our condition than our position, we will continue to labor under the intolerable burden of a defiled conscience. But if we agree with God concerning His condemnation of the old man, there is a perfectly peaceful conscience for us in the matter of indwelling sin.
At Calvary, when our Lord Jesus was made to be sin for us, He was crucified and thereby sin was condemned. At the same time, He took each potential believer as a sinner down into that death. Then He brought us up out of death, as new creations, in His resurrection life. Now and forever, the only position we have as believers is before our Father in His risen Son, cut off (sanctified) from our old relationship to indwelling sin by our death and resurrection in Him.
Once for all, the Lord Jesus has separated us in death and resurrection from both the guilt and the power of indwelling sin. “But now once at the consummation He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb 9:26, NASB). “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one…” (Heb. 2:11). Resting in this position not only purges our conscience from all guilt concerning the self-life, but also gives us increasing freedom from its domination.
Why not acknowledge and thank Him for this wonderful position, purchased at infinite price and so freely given? Anything we do short of resting in Him as our position, anything we attempt to do beyond that rest, is to slight the perfection of His life and work. “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3, NASB). “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14 italics mine).
