“⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him.

¹⁰ For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He lives, He lives unto God.

¹¹ Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:9-11

Upon our conversion into the Body of Christ, the Believer is baptized into Jesus’ death (Romans 6:3-4).  Because of our faith in the redeeming work of Jesus, we are now dead to our sin nature (which we are all born with due to Adam’s fall) and alive unto God.  The Holy Spirit is able to discharge what God the Father has commissioned Him to do, free us from the law of sin and death, when our faith is properly placed solely and exclusively on the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

It is here, at this point of decision, that our faith touches the hem of Jesus’ garment and His virtue flows from the throne room of God.  We remain free from the dominion of our sin nature when we maintain our faith in Jesus and HIS finished work, not ours.

However, be not deceived, religion will present various methods to seduce the Believer with worldly methods to draw others to the church…not God.  The Word of God says if Jesus be lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him (John 12:32).  The Gospel of Jesus Christ can and will do exactly what it says when the name of Jesus is lifted up to the masses and they will WANT to come to church.

As for me, when I accepted the Lord as Savior, I was sitting on the sofa one Sunday morning, a sinner who was lost and undone, when the Holy Spirit pricked my heart. I began attending a small Pentecostal church regularly and the Holy Spirit began convicting me.  Soon and very soon, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  They did not change my oil, work in my yard or attend to any of my worldly needs. They attended to my spiritual needs and presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ to me and the Holy Spirit did His work in my heart.  Mind you, the Word of God says

“³ Honor widows that are widows indeed.

⁴ But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.” 1 Timothy 5:3-4

Most don’t recognize the difference in these good “civic” works offered by many seeker sensitive churches to fill the pews and the spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fill the empty vessels with the Spirit of the Living God.  The church is to take care of their own widows who do not have someone to take care of them.  Those who are “widows indeed”.

“But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

The sad fact is most of the modern church does not believe the Scripture.  In reality they do not believe that God will supply all of our needs when we are obedient to His Word. They instead try to perform the work and duties of the Holy Spirit themselves.  None of this requires faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work but faith in the church.  The hook is set and the seduction complete.  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is completely disregarded and they are no longer dead to sin.  Self righteousness and a religious spirit has dominion in their lives.  Make no mistake, this is the same religious spirit that rests upon the world and their moral authority according to the vanities of their own minds.

As the Believer maintains their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, not their church or their good works, the Holy Spirit isolates our sin nature.  Sin no longer has dominion over us.  We are dead to sin and alive unto God.  Until we are born again, we are spiritually dead and unable to willingly yield unto God.

“¹⁶ Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

¹⁷ But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” Romans 6:16-17.

Until we, God’s Children, believe that Jesus Christ broke the power of sin in our lives on Calvary’s Cross and reckon ourselves dead unto sin and submit our will to His Will, sin will continue to reign in our hearts.

“³ According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue:

⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4.

We partake in God’s Divine Nature by stepping out in faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, Who broke the power of sin in the Believer’s life and enabling us to live…live unto God through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

-Donna Clark Warren