In Christ - prt 9

Col 2:11 IN WHOM also ye are CIRCUMCISED with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off THE BODY OF THE SINS of the flesh by THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST:

How much power have the Believer in Christ over sin?

Oh if the Believer in Christ would understand the tremendous power he or she have over sin. Sin should no longer be an issue or a thing to struggle with for the Believer; if it still is, it is as a result of lack of knowledge or understanding.

Christ on the cross took upon Himself the sins of the world and by so doing He died.

He died spiritually first(separation from The Father), then He died physically second(separation of His Spirit from His physical body). Something to note however is that His spiritual and physical death is symbolic to the Believer.

The physical death of Christ was termed by the above text as "The Circumcision of Christ". The word Circumcision was translated from the Greek word "Peritome" which has roots from the word "Peritemno", meaning "To cut around".

This implies that in His physical death His flesh was circumcised(cut off or cut around) from His Spirit, and this flesh was termed from the same text above as "The Body of Sins". This by IDENTIFICATION means that, Humanity's sinful nature which Christ took upon Himself was cut off from Him on the cross, meaning that the One who accepts Christ have put off of his or her body the body of sin(sinful nature) and is now a totally new creature in Christ.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our OLD MAN is crucified WITH HIM, that THE BODY OF SIN might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The old man in this passage was the dead spirit of the man or woman in Christ and the spirit of the man without Christ which for the Believer was dead in time past in sin and trespasses before he or she became born again(Col 2:13; Eph 2:1).

The former sin loving nature in the man or woman was circumcised together with the body of Christ; and as Christ picked up His Body again, this time a glorified one, so also is the man or woman in Christ(i.e, they that would receive Him as Lord and Savior) now a new creation. It is as if his or her former self never existed; consequently it never did in the Mind of the Father God.

Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; DEATH HATH NO MORE DOMINION OVER HIM.

10 For in that he died, HE DIED UNTO SIN ONCE: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye[consider] also yourselves to be DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but ALIVE UNTO GOD through JESUS CHRIST our Lord.

In Christ - prt 8

Rom 8:2 For the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.

There is an higher law in operation in the life of the Believer in Christ. It is the "law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus".

The Old Covenant Law is referred to as the "law of sin and death" in the above passage of the bible. Does this mean that the law given to Moses by angels (Heb 2:2; Gal 3:19; Acts 7:53) in the old covenant was evil? Absolutely not!

Galatians 3:21,

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness SHOULD HAVE been by the law.

The law was in itself righteous and good if it could be kept by man one hundred percent. But this was impossible for all men until Christ came who was righteous in the Spirit but also proved righteous by the law because He did not sin even once though tempted (Heb 4:15).The law was righteous but it could not make men righteous, in this it was weak through the flesh, and consequently could not give man dominion and victory over sin (Rom 8:3); it could not impart Life.

Galatians 3:19,

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was ADDED because of TRANSGRESSIONS, TILL the SEED[Jesus] should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained BY ANGELS in the hand of a MEDIATOR[Moses].

It was never in the plan of God to give man a set of rules that He knew they lack the capacity to keep.

The law was added; like a detour, to beam it's righteous light on sin that was in man(his nature) so that mankind could see the inevitable need for a Savior and Deliverer. You see man was self deluded thinking there were righteous, comparing themselves with one another, not knowing that God's standard or righteousness was way higher. So the law came to bring man from this deception.

It was added to be a school master to the people till Jesus the promised seed of Abraham should come. Galatians 3:24-27,

In Christ - prt 7

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to THEM which are IN CHRIST JESUS, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.(NET)

The clause "who walk not after the flesh," in the king James version, was not in the earliest text but was later added by Scribes. Later on the text "but after the Spirit" was also added.

The scribes were evidently motivated to add such qualifications (interpolated from v.4) to insulate Paul’s gospel from charges that it was characterized too much by grace.

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.(NET)

There is no more condemnation for the believer in Christ! The word translated "Condemnation" in Romans 8:1, is the Greek word "Katakrima" which means, "an adverse sentence (the verdict)". It speaks with reference to the Divine judgment against sin.

There is no judgment for the Believer against sin. Jesus Christ took it all upon Himself.

Sin cannot be punished twice; it will be injustice - God is Just. Christ already satisfied the claims of justice against man once and for all by His great sacrifice, on the cross.

God purnished sin on Christ His Son, once. We are made free, justified, by the life of Christ(Rom 4:25).