FREEDOM!!!

I took a break from studying Ephesians in order to study Romans 6-8. I just finished chapter 6. It is so good!! :0)

Romans 6 is just full of "simple statements of fact". That's what the indicative mood means, which is used quite a bit! And these are no measly statements of fact . . . these are HUGE!!

• dead to sin
• baptized into Christ
• buried and raised up with Him
• old man crucified
• sin has no dominion
• you became the servants of righteousness

Verses 11-13 hold the commands that are key to experiencing these facts, these truths in our lives.

• Reckon, or believe, that you are dead to sin and alive to God.
• Don't let sin rule, that you listen and obey it.
• Don't stand near, or present yourself to sin, but to God.
• Yield yourself servants to righteousness.

The first one is the key, I believe. It is interesting to note that when it talks about how we were made free from sin, in verses 18 and 22, they are passive. We did not set ourselves free! It's not by our effort! The Truth, the Son, and "the law of the Spirit of life" set us free in Christ Jesus. :0)

I like this word for "free". It is Strongs Greek #1659, and it means "to make free, liberate from the power and punishment of sin." That's pretty powerful, but I like the picture I get from G1658, from which this word is derived - "capable of movement, the free one . . . unconstrained, unfettered, independent."

The chains are gone!! We just need to live like it. :0)

For freedom Christ has set us free;

stand firm therefore,

and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1