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moral necessity · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaptistInCrisis

Charles, I try and avoid terminology such as, "apply this scripture by faith." It is not a matter of applying scripture, it is the reality of the new birth and the fact we are new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). Romans 6 is a perfect chapter to teach that we are to consider ourselves dead to sin (Rom. 6:11), just as we were once dead to righteousness (Eph. 2:1). It is a daily commitment, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to live righteously and godly in this present age (Tit 2:12). But here's the problem, it does no good just to tell people what they should or should not do. Consider what Paul used as an illustration in Romans 6 in order to give the Romans help in denying sin:

Quote:

Romans 6:3-9 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 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, 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; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

Paul used baptism (by the Spirit) and the resurrection in order to teach the why and how of denying sin. He didn't just say, "Don't sin!"; he actually said, 'Don't give into sin; here's the reason why and some things you can do to keep from sinning."

I don't like that terminology either, that of "applying scripture by faith". I agree with you, that it is not a matter of us applying scripture, but is a matter of the new birth. Are you saying that Romans 6 refers to being dead to sin's power of influence over us, instead of a deadness to it's condemning power over us?