Category Archives: Scripture

Bible, Death, Eternity, Freedom, Salvation, Scripture, Sin

TRUE FREEDOM

ROMANS 6:7

“for the one who has died is freed from sin.”

Why do we, as followers of Christ, get so sad and upset at the passing of another believer? Yes, there are emotions involved. Yes, we will miss that family member or friend. But if we stop and think about it, that fellow believer is now in the presence of our Savior and is truly free from sin. Wow! That is really something to celebrate. I don’t want my family and friends to grieve when I’m gone. Have a party! Celebrate my homegoing. I will not want to return here, I promise. Neither would you.

Paul states very clearly and unequivocably the truth of our salvation. There’s not a hidden truth here. It’s right there in plain sight. Paul isn’t talking about our physical death. He’s referring to our spiritual death to sin. Our old master no longer has power over us. We who were slaves to sin are now free. Hallelujah! Praise Jesus! The shackles have fallen off.

APPLICATION

In 2000 Mary Mary recorded a song entitled “Shackles (Praise You). I love the chorus of this song which says:

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You (what’cha wanna do?)
I just wanna praise You (yeah, yeah)
You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands (uh, feel me?)
And I’m gonna praise You (what’cha gon’ do?)
I’m gonna praise You

When we become freed from the sins that so easily entangle us, we do want to dance. Am I right? The power of sin is gone. Sure, we are still in its presence. We see that every day. But the control it had on our lives is finished. 1 Peter 4:1 comes to mind. “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,” Isn’t that awesome?

What is holding you down right now spiritually? Cast it aside in Jesus’ name. Claim victory right now over the temptations that bombard you. It may be greed, gluttony, immorality, anger… You know your poison, don’t you? Do not let it have mastery over you anymore. You are indeed free because you have died with Christ and were buried with Him. But don’t forget that you were also resurrected through Him to walk in newness of life. Now, go do that.

Father God, I praise You for breaking the shackles of sin in my life and allowing me to walk in victory!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Power, Powerless, Scripture, Sin, Victors

DONE AWAY WITH

ROMANS 6:6

“knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;”

When I was growing up, my dad had an old step-side Chevrolet pickup with three-on-the-tree. Do you know what that is? That’s a 3 speed manual transmission that you shift on the side of the steering column. I loved that old truck. I learned to drive in that truck. The only thing wrong with that truck was occasionally the second gear would hang up when we tried to shift from first to second. When that happened, the truck would be in neutral or in between gears which made it powerless.  We would have to coast to the side of the road, raise the hood and jiggle the shifter loose. Those were the good old days, lol.

Paul uses a word in today’s verse that gives that same picture. The phrase “done away with” is the Greek word katargéō, and it  means “to make completely inoperative or to put out of use.” (TDNT) Paul is telling us here that because we have been crucified with Christ sin no longer has power over us. Our old sinful body is essentially thrown into neutral. We are freed from the bonds of sin.

APPLICATION

This word is used 27 times in the New Testament, all but two by Paul. In Hebrews 2:14, the writer says that Christ through His death “might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Christ threw the devil into neutral regarding his power over us in regard to sin. Because of Christ’s victory over death, the devil is powerless to exercise his control over us. Hallelujah!

The other time this word is used other than by Paul is in Luke 13:7 when Jesus was telling the parable about the unproductive fig tree. He said, “‘Why does it even use up the ground?’” The tree was making the soil unproductive or powerless. I want us to zero in on this thought. We have been given the promise of power over sin, but just like I did when I jumped out of my dad’s truck to throw that truck back into gear, we have the choice to throw sin back into our lives, giving it power over us. This robs the good soil from producing fruit in our lives.

I’ve known many people who came to Christ and gained victory over sin and then turned back to it. Drug addicts have a tendency to do that. They get clean, get saved and then make the terrible choice to sin again. Those drugs have no power over them unless they choose to give it. You need to choose today what you will do when you face that temptation. Will you throw sin back into gear and give it power over you or will you refuse to yield to it, making it powerless? The choice is yours. Choose wisely.

Lord God, I only want Your power in my life, not the ugly power of sin.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Jesus, Likeness, Resurrection, Scripture, Unity

LOOK ALIKES

ROMANS 6:5

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,”

My little grandson looks like both of his parents. One day he looks more like his dad and other days like his mom. It will be interesting to watch him grow and develop to see who he really looks like. His little sister will be here shortly, and we will see who she resembles. We already know from the ultrasounds that she has a head full of hair unlike her big brother whose hair is just now getting full.

But Paul isn’t talking about physical resemblances. The word he uses here for “likeness” is homoióma which “expresses the idea of something that corresponds to, represents, or resembles another reality.” (Topical Lexicon) Four of the six times the word is used in the New Testament are in Romans. We’ve already seen two of those (Romans 1:23 and 5:14). Paul uses it again in Romans 8:3 in a negative way when he writes, “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh…”

APPLICATION

I referenced Philippians 2:7 in an earlier blog where this word is used again. There it describes Jesus “being made in the likeness of men.” I want you to stop and think about this for a second. Christ came in the likeness of mankind in order to pay the ultimate price for OUR sin, not His. Even though He was 100% man, He was also 100% God. He was the God Man sent from the Father to redeem us. Praise the Lord!

Are you walking in His likeness today? When people see you out in the public, or better yet, driving down the highway, do they see Jesus? We have been raised to walk in newness of life because of His resurrection and are supposed to be looking like Him. I have to admit that sometimes I am not the least bit looking like Jesus. I allow the worries of this life weigh me down. Jesus never worried, so neither should I.

When you look in the mirror today to brush or comb your hair, ask yourself if you look like Jesus. Of course, I don’t mean your physical appearance. I mean do you reflect His manner of living here on this earth. He lived a sinless life and commands us to live holy lives also. Choose today whose likeness you will bear – your own sinful self or Jesus’ likeness.

Lord God, continue to make me look more and more like Jesus in how I talk and act.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Christ, Life, New, Renewed, Scripture, Walking

WALKING IN NEWNESS

ROMANS 6:4

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”

I have shared many times in this blog that I am a walker. Most mornings I get up early before sunrise and walk about three miles in my neighborhood. Every morning is a fresh walk, brand new to me. I may walk the same path every day, but I see different stars or planets in the early morning sky. I may see different cars in our neighborhood and even a new “For Sale” sign in front of one of the houses. My walks never get old. They are new every morning.

Paul uses a word for “newness” that is only used one other time in the New Testament. We’ll see that later in the next chapter of Romans. The word is kainotés. The Topical Lexicon says this about the use of this word here. “Kainotēs here describes a life sourced in resurrection power, characterized by freedom from sin’s dominion.” Our newness is directly tied to Christ’s resurrection power in our lives which gives us that victory over sin’s power. Hallelujah!

APPLICATION

This verse reminds me of Lamentations 3:22-23 which read, “22 The LORD’S acts of mercy indeed do not end, for His compassions do not fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Isn’t that a great promise from the Lord? God’s compassions do not fail. They are brand new every morning. Now, technically God’s compassions have been around for a long time and will continue into the future. But the particular compassion or mercy He gives you today is new to you and is designed just for you.

So, when the Lord tells us in today’s verse that we are to walk in newness of life, He means just that. Embrace the newness of your life in Christ. Enjoy the freshness of it. Each day when I step out my front door to begin my walk, I look up into the night sky to see the newness that greets me. I should also approach my walk with Christ each day. Instead of worrying about my future, I should step out in the newness of it, knowing that Christ has my back.

Look back at our verse. The first part tells us that we have been buried with Him through baptism into death. We have died to our old self and have been resurrected anew in Christ. The old things have passed away, right? If the old is gone, that leaves us the new. Today, walk in it. Walk in Him knowing all things are new in Christ. Amen?

God, I thank You for the newness I have in Christ that allows me to walk each day with fresh, spiritual eyes.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Baptism, Bible, Christ, Death, Eternity, Jesus, Salvation, Scripture

BAPTIZED

ROMANS 6:3

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?”

I was baptized at the age of 8, and it didn’t mean a thing spiritually. Let me explain. I did not know Christ then. I knew about Christ. I had grown up in church. So, when my older sister went down one Sunday to talk to the preacher, I went too. That’s just what kids did, right? Then at the age of 16, I truly gave my life to Christ and was rebaptized as a believer. I will never forget that day. I truly knew Christ then. Was I sinless? Far from it, but I had a hunger to know Christ and His fullness.

Paul continues to use the Aorist tense in today’s verse to explain our baptism into Christ and His death. That means it happened back at a certain point (when we surrender to His will and became a follower of Christ). Paul is not talking about the physical act of baptism with water, even though it is the perfect picture of our salvation. Paul is referring to the spiritual realm and what happens at salvation. We enter into Christ’s family and are free from the sin that had us in its grip.

APPLICATION

But let’s think about baptism for a minute. I love baptizing people. I usually say when I dunk someone and bring them out of the water. “I baptize you, my brother (or sister) in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Buried with Him and His death, raised to walk in newness of life.” There’s nothing magical about those words. It just gives a context to the physical act.

If you are believer, you should be baptized. There’s literally no reason why you shouldn’t be. I’ve heard all kinds of excuses like I am afraid of water or I’m too shy to do that in front of people. Listen, nothing should stop you. The late Dr. Charles Stanley said once, “You don’t have to be baptized to get to heaven, but you’ll get there as a disobedient one.” That’s kind of harsh, but you get the picture. It’s an obedience thing.

If you have been baptized into Christ and His death, make that known by the way you live. Every act should represent Christ in your life. Sin should flee from you as you submit daily to the Holy Spirit’s leading. He will never direct you toward sin, but instead always away. So, if you feel you are being tempted in some way, know that has nothing to do with Christ but has everything to do with your flesh. Die to that and live in Christ.

Lord, I am so glad my life is buried under the blood of Christ and I am now alive in Him.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Death, Bible, Scripture, Life, Eternal Life, Grave

WE ARE DEAD!

ROMANS 6:2

“Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Death is final or is it? For a believer we believe that death is simply a portal from this life on earth to eternal life with Christ. For the unbeliever, their physical death also leads to an eternity of their choosing, one of eternal separation from God and His light. Their end is not as precious as the believers. But we all will die one day unless the Lord returns in our lifetime. That would be fine with me.

Paul makes a great theological point in today’s verse when he writes “we who died.” This verb is in the Aorist tense which means it happened in the past. In regard to this verse and this verb, Lightfoot writes, “that they are not, and cannot be, their former selves—and that it is a contradiction of their very being to sin any more. It is the definiteness, the absoluteness of this change, considered as an historical crisis, which forms the central idea of St. Paul’s teaching, and which the aorist marks.” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers). That’s a powerful statement.

APPLICATION

Let’s think about this for a second. When you die, the affairs of this life cease for you. You will no longer have to worry about money, work or even losing weight. All those things are dead to you. You died a physical death which released you from all earthly concerns. The same is true for us in regard to sin. Once we surrender our life to Christ, we are dead (a one-time event) to sin. So why do we struggle with it every day?

Barnes says, “All Christians are thus in fact dead to sin. They do not live to sin; nor has sin dominion over them.” That is the key. Sin no longer rules our life. We have power over it through Christ. We simply yield to His commands daily and sin is avoided. We see sin clearly and we steer ourselves away. That’s being dead to sin.

Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” If we are hidden with Christ in God, sin has to penetrate Christ to get to us. That’s just not possible. Why? Because He defeated sin and the grave at Calvary. We are standing on shouting ground, believer. Rejoice and claim your authority over sin today.

O God, I am so thankful that sin no longer rules over me. I have the power through Christ to defeat sin in my life.


If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Continue, Grace, Persistence, Scripture, Sin

WHAT SHALL WE SAY??

ROMANS 6:1

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” 

Continuing down a one-way street the wrong way will not get you where you want to go. In fact, it will probably land you in jail or at least with a hefty fine. We can’t claim ignorance when all the signs say “Wrong Way” or “One-Way Street.” You not only endanger your own life but also the lives of others who are trying to drive in the correct direction on the street.

I love how Paul prepares this verse and the next one. If he had been speaking directly to the people, he probably would have asked for a verbal response. I do that sometimes when I preach. I will say, “Can I get an Amen?” Or I may ask them, “Are you with me? Are you listening?” Paul asks these two questions while knowing the answer. He is trying to get the readers to answer these questions themselves. This letter may have been read aloud to an audience. I can just hear them replying, “No, Paul. You’ve taught us better than that.”

APPLICATION

The key word in this verse is the verb “to continue.” Paul never considered the fact that we could be sinless. As long as we have breath we will sin. Paul even called himself the chief of sinners. Sin happens. But this verb is epiménō which comes “(from epí, ‘on, fitting,’ which intensifies ménō, ‘remain, persist’) – properly, continue on with persistence that suits the objective.” (HELPS Word-studies) The point Paul is making is that we should never continue in our sin. Sin for a Christian should be an accident, not a premeditated event.

The same word is used in Acts 12:16 to describe Peter’s actions when he had been released from jail by the angel and was at the door of Mary’s (the mother of John Mark) house. It says, “But Peter continued knocking;…” He wasn’t about to stop until someone opened that door. Persistence. That was good then. Not so much in our verse. We should never have persistent sin.

Paul uses the word in Colossians 1:23 when he writes, “if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast…” Again, this is a positive use of the word. Bottom line – be persistent in your godly lifestyle. Be persistent if your faith. Do NOT be persistent in your sin. God doesn’t want you to sin so He can give you more grace. We’ll see more on that in the next verse.

Father, I praise You that You have given me the ability to continue choosing the right and not the wrong. Help my persistence in this.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Eternity, Grace, Righteousness, Scripture, Sin

GRACE WOULD REIGN

ROMANS 5:21

“so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

If you have ever seen two skilled lawyers argue their cases against each other in court, it is really a sight to behold. Both are convinced their side is the right side. Both are fighting for their clients, whether that be the defendant or the government. Jabs are thrown at each other. Objections are raised at the other’s comments or questions. But in the end, there is only one truth.

Paul has been showing both sides of mankind’s situation. One side is arguing for death. Our sins demand it. Satan demands it. Evil wants to keep us in its grip. But Jesus came to loose that grip and give us live. In today’s verse, Paul says it well when he writes, “so also grace would reign.” He goes on to tell us how grace will reign, “through righteousness.” And then he tells us why grace will reign, “to eternal life through Jesus Christ.” You see, there’s a purpose behind the reign of grace.

APPLICATION

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary explains this reign of grace so well. “and of Grace, the grace which originated the scheme of salvation, the grace which ‘sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world,’ the grace which ‘made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin,’ the grace which ‘makes us to be the righteousness of God in Him,’ so that ‘we who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness do reign in life by One, Jesus Christ!’” That’s quite a synopsis of what Paul has been saying.

Can I get technical for just a second? The verb “would reign” is in the Aorist Subjunctive Active. This is not something that just might happen. This verb is described as conveying a simple, discrete action that has not happened yet but is seen as a single, completed event. Did I lose you? What this means is our eternal life with Christ has not happened yet, but it will and it will be the result of the reign of grace that defeated death once and for all at the cross of Jesus and that empty tomb. You should be shouting about now!

As we end chapter five today, let me encourage you to go back and reread all my blogs on 5:1-21 in one sitting. See the flow of thought that is in Paul’s words, not mine. We are about to start one of the most central chapters in the whole Bible. Paul had to set this up by laying out the battlefield between sin and grace, between death and life. Get ready for Romans 6!

Lord, I thank You that grace reigns and one day I will be with You in Glory!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Grace, Jesus, Law, Salvation, Scripture, Sin

BAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS

ROMANS 5:20

“The Law came in so that the offense would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,”

Have you gone into an old house that has been closed up for a while and turned on the lights in the kitchen? What is that scurrying all around on the counters and floors? It’s none other than those nasty cockroaches that can survive forever and wherever. The light exposes them, and they run for cover. They were there all the time, but you couldn’t see them until the light was turned on.

Paul describes a similar situation today in our verse when he says, “The Law came in so that the offense would increase;…” This does not mean that the law caused sin to become more. It means the law showed us our sinful state. We were already sinning before the law (just like the cockroaches were already in that kitchen). It just showed our filthiness and ungodliness. Light exposes things.

APPLICATION

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges says this about today’s verse. The phrase “[that the offence might abound] Q. d., ‘that the disease might be brought to the surface.’” That’s exactly what our sin is – a disease. It has been passed down to every generation from Adam and Eve. There is no cure besides Jesus and His shed blood on Calvary. All other attempts (religions) fall short of giving us freedom from these sins.

But… Don’t you just love that word in Scripture? Paul goes on to write in today’s verse, “but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” Look at what Albert Barnes says about this. “Did much more abound – Superabounded. The word is used nowhere else in the New Testament, except in 2 Corinthians 7:4. It means that the pardoning mercy of the gospel greatly triumphed over sin, even over the sins of the Jews, though those sins were greatly aggravated by the light which they enjoyed under the advantages of divine revelation.”

Isn’t that great news? In 2 Corinthians 7:4 Paul uses this same word to say, “…I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.” Shouldn’t that be the same for us? Because of the good news of the abundance of grace in our lives, we should be overflowing with joy even if our life circumstances say different. Choose the good news today, not the bad. Sin is still present in this world, and we must deal with it. But grace is bigger and better.

Father God, I praise You for the gift of grace that superabounds over sin.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Disobedience, Obedience, Righteousness, Scripture, Self-righteousness, Sin, Unrighteousness

DISOBEDIENCE VS OBEDIENCE

ROMANS 5:19

“For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.”

I think I was a pretty obedient child until… In my preteen and teenage years, I became pretty disobedient. I don’t need to elaborate on my disobedience. You can probably figure it out. I was a teen in the 70’s when things were getting pretty crazy on the drug scene. I knew the right thing to do. I just chose not to do it. I wanted to do what I wanted to do and didn’t think too much about the consequences. That’s just plain sin. Thankfully, all that is under the blood.

In today’s verse Paul uses two different Greek words to describe disobedience and obedience. They are both built on the same Greek word akoúō but have different prefixes which drastically changes their meanings. Let’s take a look at these two words and as we do, think how you are responding to what you have heard the Master say.

APPLICATION

The first word used by Paul is parakoḗ. It is “(from pará, ‘contrary by close comparison’ and akoúō, ‘hear’) – properly, contrary-hearing, i.e. disobedience which springs from a negative (opposing) attitude, i.e. the refusal to listen properly.” (HELPS Word-studies) This word has the idea of just plain refusing to listen and refusing to comply. This implies a bad attitude that does not want to obey.

It’s only found two other times in the New Testament. In Hebrews 2:2 we read, “For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment,…” Then over in 2 Corinthians 10:6 it is used when it says, “and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”

Then we come to the word Paul uses for obedience. It is hypakoḗ “(from hypó, ‘beneath’ and akoúō, ‘to hear’) i.e. obedience – literally, ‘submission to what is heard’, i.e. obedience as the response to someone speaking. This refers both to an earthly voice and the Lord’s voice.” (HELPS Word-studies) It is used 15 times in the New Testament (7 in Romans) 1 Pet 1:2 uses this word. “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.”

Isn’t that the bottom line – obedience to Christ? Nothing else really matters. We can obey others but not be obedient to Christ. It’s been said you will serve a master in one way or the other. Do you choose to obey your own master or The Master? One brings death and the other brings righteousness (Romans 6:16). Choose wisely.

O Lord, I want to obey You and none other.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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