____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 10, 2006 ____________________________________________________ Contents: 1) Are We Killing the "Old Man"? (Robert F. Turner) 2) Starting Over (Phil Robertson) ____________________________________________________ -1- Are We Killing the "Old Man"? by Robert F. Turner The Roman letter has at least five propositions, affirmed and proven by the apostle Paul: (1) Man stands justly condemned for his sins; (2) Grace, not law, is the remedy; (3) This grace is expressed in the crucified Christ; (4) It is available on the condition of obedient faith in Christ; and (5) It is for all, Jew and Gentile alike. Although argued through the first eleven chapters, and referred to thereafter, these propositions have already been discussed, and a summation is drawn in the first five chapters. This means that chapter six, "What shall we say then?" introduces a question that either was actually propounded, or was thought to be possible in the light of the foregoing arguments. Note the question carefully, for the comments that follow are in answer to that question. "Shall we continue to sin, that grace may abound?" The question is from and for people who have been baptized into Christ, and this too must be remembered as we read further. Paul's immediate answer is "God forbid," literally, "may it not be." And when he adds, "We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?" he is still countering the same people, in answer to the same question. He is not saying "we who have been forgiven...." That would be to say we who have received the first benefits of grace -- a part of the question. He is saying "we who have determined, who have purposed, never to sin again." The death of sin, is in the intent of the saint, and precedes the burial soon to be mentioned. When he says we are baptized into His death, this "death" includes crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, as he shows (vv. 3-5). He is saying, when we are baptized into the death of Christ, we must participate in the whole thing -- the death to sin, the burial (by which guilt of past sins are forgiven, cleansed) and the resurrection to a new life. We must not "continue in sin," can not continue in sin and be consistent with the total figure of Christ's death. He adds strength to his argument in verse six: "...our old man was crucified with him." We have crucified, put to death, the "old man," our former way of life. Since death preceded burial, in the actual death of Christ and in the figure; this crucifixion is the rejection of the old way of life that must take place before we are buried and forgiven of past sins. It refers to genuine repentance, a turning of our back on the way we once lived. Crucifixion was a painful death, and its use here suggests a change in life that requires drastic action, a trauma, that only strong-hearted resolve can accomplish. We make a grievous mistake when we suggest "all he would have to do is be baptized" -- as if anyone could be crucified as a sort of casual thing. No, brethren. When we teach the truth about baptism we do more than say it is a burial, or simply mouth the words, "for remission of sins." We are asking our neighbor to make a drastic change of allegiance, to crucify the flesh. Perhaps we can see the rejection of some sins as a crucifixion. Drug addicts go through a literal torture in trying to throw the habit. Some who have tried to stop smoking have known hard days. Alcohol is not easily given up. But we err in thinking it is easy to overcome a temper; or to throw off the desire for power, or money. Covetousness is idolatry, and hard to kill. And perhaps hardest of all is pride or selfishness. Truly putting them to death can be the tortuous crucifixion Paul has in mind. Paul does not suggest that this "death" means it is no longer possible to sin, or even to be a slave to sin. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body...neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness" (vv. 12-13). He is urging us to reconsider our intent and purpose of heart as we entered the waters of baptism. With our back turned on sin, dead unto sin, we were ready to be forgiven, and then arise to a new life. He asks us to recall our early resolve, like asking a troubled couple to remember their wedding vows. Romans is not the only place figurative language makes this point. In Colossians 2:11 Paul reminds saints of Christ "in whom ye were also circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ" (emphasis mine, rt). Compare this with Romans 6:6: "that the body of sin might be done away." Circumcision is figurative here, as crucifixion is in Romans; and means a painful cutting off of the past life. It is here coupled with baptism. Or consider 1 Peter 4:1ff where the process is called "suffering." "Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh (literally, rt), arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." The footnotes put "unto" sin, rather than "from" sin; and obviously this is not referring to Christ, who had no sin. The "he" is one of "ye" who "no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God" (v. 2f). Back in Romans, we crucify the old man in genuine repentance, and then we are buried in baptism "for the remission of sins" or removal of the guilt of our past life. But this is not all, there is a very positive side. Christ's death (the whole picture) also included His resurrection. He was made king following the resurrection; He became our High Priest following the resurrection; He became our Advocate following the resurrection. Paul puts it plainly: "For the death that he died, he died unto sin once (for all, f.n.): but the (in that, f.n.) life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. " And Paul says, "Even so reckon (consider, rt) ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (vv. 11-12). Paul's argument would not be complete without the positive side. It is not enough simply to turn our back on sin, though very important; we must also "live unto God" a positive life of service. And, how can such an one entertain the question, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" God forbid, indeed! When I consider the marvelous lesson of Romans 6, and then look at many brethren who claim to have been "baptized into His death," I get the distinct feeling we are emphasizing the burial, and practically ignoring the preceding death, and the following resurrection. No wonder some folks say we are water salvationists. Brethren, these things ought not to be. Let us do all within our power to bury people who have crucified the past, and who are determined to "arise to walk in newness of life." -- Via Guardian of Truth XXX: 18, pp. 551, 567, September 18, 1986 ____________________________________________________ -2- Starting Over by Phil Robertson They were ambitious, antagonistic and angry. They probably didn't want it to come to this but they felt like they had no choice. For years they had been revered and praised by the people for their wisdom and insight into God's word. They were the Pharisees and the scribes. They had dedicated their lives to defending the word of God. But now people didn't seem to care and their popularity was waning. Like caged animals hoping for a crack in the gate, they leaped onto a desperate pitiful soul in hopes of reclaiming their prominence. She was indeed a pitiful creature who possibly had a reputation of giving in to sexual desires. However, on this day, she was more than just a tramp, she was bait. They needed her to help them catch the greatly admired Jesus in a moral and doctrinal trap. "Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst (of the crowd), they said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?'" (John 8:3-5). This woman was just a pawn in a despicable scheme. If Jesus said "stone her," the people would have questioned His compassion and mercy because many of His followers were the poor and the "sinners." But, if He didn't follow through with the stoning, His authority as a teacher of the Law would be questioned. Jesus chose not to say anything at first. He just scribbled in the sand with His finger. After a continuous barrage of questions from the accusers, He finally said, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone." It was of course a brilliant reply. Beginning with the oldest to the youngest, all the angry scribes and Pharisees dropped their rocks and walked away. Many have tried to use this story to prove Jesus offers grace and forgiveness regardless of the Law. That just isn't true. Eager to trap Jesus, the religious leaders failed to fulfill the requirements of the law to justify an execution. The Law required two to three witnesses (Deut. 19:15; 17:6) and that both adulterers, the woman and the man, be stoned (Deut 22:22). After all the accusers were gone, Jesus finally turned His attention to the woman who was probably standing in a puddle of tears. Knowing she had slipped by on a technicality, Jesus told her, "Go and sin no more." He never questioned her guilt and neither did she. Just a few moments earlier, she was on death row. Now, she is not only alive, she has been forgiven. Isn't that amazing? "Starting over" is a wonderful concept. Jesus calls it grace. And all of us must have it if we're going to escape our own judgment (Eph 2:8-10). But grace doesn't excuse sin. Jesus charged this woman to change her thoughts, motives, actions, and goals. Understanding how close she came to being executed, don't you think she did? Jesus knows all about us just like He knew those religious leaders and this woman (Hebrews 4:13). May we all accept Jesus' gracious acquittal (Mark 16:15-16). -- Via Hueytown church of Christ Bulletin ____________________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ____________________________________________________