“For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
Sin cannot be improved upon. It cannot be rehabilitated.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: 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. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:1-7.
We are all born with a sin nature because of Adam’s fall. It is only through our faith in Jesus, in Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross, that the Holy Spirit is commissioned to baptize us into Jesus’ death…that we are alive unto God because the Spirit of God dwells in us. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2.
Until we allow the Holy Spirit to baptize us into the death of Jesus through faith and faith alone, we are alive unto our sin nature and dead in sin and trespasses. We cannot do this through fasting (as Scriptural as fasting is, it was not given to overcome sin), through 40 days of purpose or any other scheme man has declared to overcome sin. None of these rituals or ceremonies will baptize one into the death of Jesus, whereby we are then planted together in the likeness of His Resurrection. The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to baptize us into the likeness of Jesus’ death, which is the only way we are freed from sin, when we have anything other than simple faith in Jesus and His finished work.
The Cross of Christ is the power of God to save man from death, hell and the grave…all others are perishing. “For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Sin is the problem in the world today and the modern church wants to rehabilitate sin. Jesus Christ defeated sin and made a mockery out of every demon in hell. When the church decides to follow Jesus Christ to the Cross, preach and proclaim His victory over sin through His death on the Cross…they will be raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.
“Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:4-6.
Oh ye dry bones, won’t you hear the word of the Lord? We can not rehabilitate sin. Faith in Jesus Christ and Him alone is the only way the Holy Spirit can free us from sin through the baptism into His death…”Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. His Spirit baptizing us into His death which can only be done through faith in His finished work…Jesus Christ – be determined to know nothing else among you.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 