Virtue in Christ, 1

The reality that we have been transformed into the image of Christ does not negate our responsibility to make progress in our transformation. We may no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, are being renewed in the spirit of our minds, and have put off the old man and put on the new, but we must also act like it. It is here where the commands for holy living in the Scriptures come in. The commands to live a certain way are so prevalent in the New Testament that we can easily fall into a legalistic, rules-based mindset similar to that of Old Testament Judaism. But we can’t let the imperatives override the indicatives. The basis for giving up lying, avoiding sin in anger, no longer stealing, and speaking wholesome words (Eph 4:25-30), never depends solely on our strength or self-discipline. It is the grace of God, which has made us new, that empowers the realization of our transformation every day of our lives. Romans 6 gives a strong encouragement in this regard. After Paul affirms that those who believe in Christ died with Him and rose with Him, ending the power of sin in their lives, he commands the Romans to consider themselves dead to sin and to yield themselves not to sin, but to God for righteousness. Paul’s indicatives emphasize the grace that makes the imperatives possible. Considering oneself dead to sin is a practice in futility unless one is indeed dead to sin. Yielding oneself to God is something that only a believer can do. The tension between the indicative and the imperative is real, but it underscores the reality of God’s grace and the significance of our responsibility in becoming more like Jesus. As we read the commands and struggle to live up to the high standard that is Jesus Christ, we must not forget who we are and the grace of God in our lives. God considers you already justified (Rm 8:30), and He promised to complete the work He began in you (Php 1:6). That means it’s as good as done, so we need to live like it’s done. –Pastor Rory

Sunday at Liberty