Dead to sin, alive to God in Christ

The Bible teaches that sin is not only real, but also leads to death (1 Cor 15:22) and separates us from God. Sin directly insults and grieves our Creator. Today there are several popular opinions about sin and all are contrary to the Word of God. Some say that since "man is essentially good" he does not need to repent, but to constantly reform; Others use the pretext of widespread evil in the world - from which no human being can escape - to live depraved and uncontrolled. "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn 1.8)

God starts from a totally opposite criterion: we are all born sinners (Ro 5: 12-14) therefore sin is in the nature of the human being, so that he cannot get rid of it on his own account. Consequently, God has provided a heavenly solution so that sinful man can obtain forgiveness and salvation and be reconciled to Him.

Even so, a good part of the people do not really believe they are sinners. They claim that hell does not exist and is only a state of separation from God, that their good works and actions are so good, that the bad ones will not be a cause for God to take them into account and that the Eternal and Almighty is so good and merciful that everyone will achieve salvation and enjoy his presence in paradise. But God has never said that.

What about the believer and sin? Ah, you must know that because of the merits of Christ and the faith that you have put in Him, your old depraved and sinful nature was judged and condemned on the cross of Calvary (Rom 8.1-4). Sin no longer has power, unless you give it to it. Christians will have to continue fighting so that the flesh (the passions and desires of our humanity that are contrary to God's redemptive purpose) do not prevail over his divine will. We are spiritual because we are born again of the Spirit of God and we have the power (Ephesians 6: 13-17, the armor of God) to triumph over temptation and sin.

How to triumph over sin? First of all you must believe by faith that if you are in Christ, his Spirit is also and therefore you are dead to the power of sin. Second, and consequently, you can choose to walk in the Spirit and reject all work of the flesh. Paul defined this concept in the following way: “Now, the works of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, witchcraft, enmities, quarrels, jealousy, anger, rivalries, dissensions, heresies, envies , drunkenness, orgies and the like, against which I warn you, as I have told you before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God ”(Galatians 5.19-21).

In the face of sin, God's ear is attentive to confession and repentance. He will hear and restore the fellowship that was interrupted by your sin. His paternity will remain intact. His sin will not take away his filial (son) relationship with the Father. When the believer has Christ as Savior, his repentance and confession bring restoration. We were saved from the death that was produced by sin and by the Spirit of God, now we are alive for Christ.

Psalm 51 seems to be an instruction manual for the believer who has been overcome by sin. A David torn by bitterness and the weight of his sin (he caused the death of a faithful subject to take over his wife) recognizes his fault, humbly confesses his sin and requests God's mercies broken. "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean" (Ps 51.7). Hyssop hurts, tears skin, and can even become an instrument of torment, but David knows that living with unconfessed sin is worse. The pain will not stop until we seek God's face for forgiveness. Our Lord is favorable to the humbled hearts and the broken spirit by the conscience of the offense committed against Him. There is no joy, nor peace until the offender declares his guilt and David pours out his soul before God knowing that he will not despise him.

So we, children of the Most High, like David, turn to God and his son Jesus in the face of failure. His mercy reaches us, the blood of Christ reconciles us with the Father and with ourselves. Only then do we feel again the joy of salvation (Ps 51.12), the renewed spirit (Ps 51.10) and forgiveness from the cross. Only then do we feel alive to honor the one who did not spare our rebellions to work with his death an undeserved forgiveness, the fruit of the incomparable grace that sustains us.

God bless you!

Suggested Reading: Psalm 51