Good morning,
When Saul, the hater of believers in Christ, received Christ, his life was completely changed, including his name to Paul. Everywhere he went he was telling them about Jesus Christ.
In the letter to the Colossians Paul encourages them to follow Christ. Paul tells them that they are risen with Christ, forgiven and why, challenges them to seek Christ, and contrasts the old man and the new man.
We will look at each of these areas during this week’s devotions.
Risen with Christ (Colossians 2:12)
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
When we, by faith, trusted Christ to be our Lord and Savior, we died, were buried, and then raised from the dead.
Romans 6:3-7 explains what happened.
“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.”
Through faith in Christ we have a new life, we identify with and live our lives for Jesus Christ. Since the “old man” has been crucified, we no longer serve sin. Sin has no dominion over us. (Romans 6:9)
What a liberating thought. “For he that is dead is freed from sin.” We no longer have to serve sin. We choose to sin. Just like Adam and Eve. One command from God. They could choose to obey or reject God’s command. Same for us today. We will be tempted, but we are the only one who can obey or disobey God’s commands.
Choose wisely!
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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