Sorry, I missed that post.
Christians surely are dead to Christ but ALIVE in the spirit...And as being dead as the verses explain, we are freed from sin...
There is a very very big 'if' that goes along with that. Being dead is not a permanent never-changing state when it comes to matters of the spirit. As Paul points out in the next chapter, there is a war that wages inside of him. When he is successful at putting to death self, then he is able to avoid sin. But when self rules, sin comes with it.
When we ask Christ to come into our lives, it does not spell the end of sin in our lives. Instead, it marks the beginning of a process where we can begin to root out the source of sin in our lives. And 100% of the time, the root to sin is fear.
There's no 'if' to it...And yes, being dead is permanent...
As Paul points out in the next chapter, there is a war that wages inside of him. When he is successful at putting to death self, then he is able to avoid sin. But when self rules, sin comes with it.
Absolutely...It's like those occasional goofy comedy spoofs where a guy sits with an angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other...That's a pretty good picture of where we are at...
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
When we ask Christ to come into our lives, it does not spell the end of sin in our lives. Instead, it marks the beginning of a process where we can begin to root out the source of sin in our lives. And 100% of the time, the root to sin is fear.
That's true but what it does is end the penalty for sin...
2Co_5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Rom_4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Rom_5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law
. Rom_6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Rom_6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom_6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom_7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Now here are what appear to be 2 conflicting statements by the apostle John...
1Jn_1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn_3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
We are born again Christians who sin all to much but yet we do not and can not commit sin...How is that???
Even tho we sin, it is not counted in the final tally...
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
This and the rest of chapter six explains how we work this out...