Based on Romans 6 (New King James Version)
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This world gives the feeling of having many types of ways and options. With respect to trivial or temporary things, of course we have a choice. There are different colors and types of clothes. There are many types of shoes. There are many forms of transportation. A person can travel on a bicycle, a motorcycle, a car, a bus, a train, an airplane, etc. There are many types of foods (at least in developed and very fortunate countries). There are different people who you can be with. There are different churches. There are different types of religions. And well, the list is rather unlimited. But, in the grand scheme of things, do we really have a lot of options? The news is that everything is only an illusion, a deception.
In this life, there are not that many options for a human being, even though many think that there are many paths. The reality is that, according to the Bible, there are only two ways: following the Lord in obedience or follow sin and Satan. There is not much to choose from. Even though there are many religions, and supposedly, many gods; in the end, there is not much variety. According to the Bible, there is only one true God. For it is written: “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a god that cannot save. Tell and bring forth your case; yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:20-22. There is only one way of salvation to get to God; and that is only through Jesus Christ. For it is written: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6. And the Scriptures also say: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5.
What is necessary to understand as a human being is that we were beings created for service. We do not have another function, no matter how much people try to rebel, o desire to think that they are free. When something is created, it’s made with a purpose. The item (or person) does not have the capacity of changing its nature (even though they even try to change their sex). All creation has a use, or moreover, it was made with a utility in mind. Man was created by God to serve and worship Him. For it is written: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10. The only decision that a human has is: to serve God or something else. And, what is that something else?
When we are not submitted to God in obedience by not doing those things that agree with God Himself, then, since we are articles of service, we come to serve sin (and Satan). And this unfortunately can happen while even being within the saving grace of God. That is why it is critical to learn God’s counsel through the Scriptures, and apply them to our life, submitting everything we are to God’s service through Jesus Christ. The Lord made it possible to fulfill the law through us as we die to ourselves and live through Him. And this is the essence of the law: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. It’s necessary to submit everything we are to God. If we don’t obey God, then we are obeying the evil that still lives within us (sin). And by serving sin, we are serving Satan, and we then invite yet again sin into our life. We see this example in the following passage: “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” The Lord rebuked Peter because he was thinking carnally (with what is sinful); not because the enemy had possessed Peter at that moment.
So then, think carefully, who are you serving today? Lord bless! John