Life or Death - We Choose

When Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he broke relationship with God. This is the sin that affects our relationship with God. As long as man is under the breach of relationship with God, he will sin. That is the nature of a man separated from God.

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Rom 6:22-23 KJV)

Once a man receives the free gift of grace, placing his trust in Jesus, believing in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confesses this with his mouth, he passes from death to life (he is born again). He has a new nature, the nature of Jesus the Christ that lives inside him.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (Rom 10:8-10 KJV)

We get to make the choice - do we want life or death? By one man, all men became sinners and were separated from God. Likewise, by one man (Jesus) all men who receive his free gift are free from sin. There is no law that a righteous man is subject to and where there is no law, there is no transgressing of law. Sin is not imputed to a righteous man, and when we are born again, we are righteous.

In what way are we righteous? These bodies are never righteous in this life. These bodies will die and go back to the dirt they came from. Our souls (our emotions, intellect, and personality), will never be righteous in this life. As we renew our minds by God’s Word, we will see the promises of God flow through our lives. It is our spirits that are born again. They are wholly righteous, just as righteous as Jesus, for His Spirit takes up residence inside of us. Our spirits cannot sin, for they are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:  (Deu 30:19 KJV)

When we are born again, our forgiveness has nothing to do with a list of sins. The only sin that concerns salvation is relational. Do we believe in our hearts that Jesus came and died for our salvation and that God raised Him from the dead? And we must confess this with our mouth. If we do this, we are born again. At this point, sin is not imputed to us ever again.

If we yield our bodies as instruments of sin, that sin has no impact on our relationship with God. However, we are servants to whom we serve.

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?  (Rom 6:16 KJV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  (1Jn 1:9 KJV)

We can commit sins in our bodies and that makes us slaves of sin, and the end result is that if we don’t repent, it can lead to satan killing us. However, sin does not change our status as righteous before God.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  (Joh 10:10 KJV)

There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or love us less. God is always for us and not against us. The modern church often exchanges offering of sacrifices of the Old Covenant, to doing religious deeds (tithing, church attendance, praying, reading the Bible; anything done with the attitude of earning anything from God), depending on our attitude, these things are living under the law.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (Gal 1:6 KJV)

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.  (Gal 5:4 KJV)

Note: This does not mean you have lost your salvation, rather that you are trusting in your own righteousness instead of the righteousness that comes only through faith in Jesus. Therefore, you are open prey for the one that seeks someone to devoir.

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  (Gal 3:1-3 KJV)

The book of Galatians was written as a rebuke to those who try to live under the law after being saved by God’s grace. Romans and Hebrews teach us about the grace of God. If we do not enter the kingdom of God as small children (who know nothing about a dept owed for what is given them), then we cannot enter at all.

Mrk_10:15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

So, we get to choose; life or death, blessing or cursing, living under the law, or living under grace. God tells us to choose life, Jesus is life.

Resources: AWMI/Charis Bible College has a 24/7 prayer line (less a few holidays). If you want someone to pray with you for salvation, baptism in the Holy Spirit, or healing; they are an excellent resource. Call 719-635-1111