Alive in Christ (Romans 6:17-19 & 22 ESV)

 When God formed Adam out of the dust, Adam was still inert.  That is, until God

 "breathed into [Adam's] nostrils the breath of life and man became a living creature" (Genesis 2:7 ESV).

Before that breath of life entered into Adam's nostrils, he was body and soul and spirit.  Yet the spirit was not yet alive.  He only became "a living creature" when God's breath entered into his nostrils.

Mankind is body, soul and spirit.  This is different than the animal kingdom.  Our pets and safari beasts, birds of the air and the fish of the sea have body and soul.  Only mankind, whether male or female are body, soul and spirit.

But the instant Adam sinned, he died.  You may argue - no he didn't.  He lived to be 930 years old (see Genesis 5:5).  I tell you, it was not his body that died that day.  It was his spirit.

Ever since then any human baby in the womb and then born, has a dead spirit in their body and soul.  We all become 

"slaves of sin" (Romans 6:17).  

We cannot help ourselves.

No penance or atoning action on our part can ever make our spirit alive.  We can only be set free from sin and its consequences through our faith in the free gift of God He bought for us through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Jesua paid the penalty for our sin.  That sin that caused dead spirits within us.  And praise God, the instant we accept Jesus Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us. The slave chains of sin are broken and fallen off and be become new creatures in Christ.

The Holy Spirit breathes into us the "breath of life" and we become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).  Our spirits become alive once again.  No longer are we slaves to sin but 

"have become slaves of God" (see Romans 6:22).

We can now

 "present our members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification"           (Romans 6:19).  

This is because we are now united with Jesus and spiritually reborn - a new creation                    (2 Cor. 5:17).

We have been set free from sin.  We are new in Christ.  Our spirits are alive.  Now we must show the fruit of this, living sanctified lives.  The Holy Spirit and God's Word providing the guidance as our souls (the mind, will and emotions) choose to do what's right in God's eyes.

                                                 ~  ERC  April 2026  ~

Based on Romans 6:17-19 and 22 ESV).

Sing, Alive In Christ, along with Reawaken.

True Power (Romans 5:6-11 ESV)

 Power is often shown off in plays that attempt to boost the ego and of the one displaying their body built bodies, or the beauty on their faces and the like.  People vainly try to show how strong they are and they dont' need anyone's help.   They get rather defensive to preserve the illusion.

We don't like others to see our weaknesses and limitations.  Some people's are more obvious, like a person on crutches or sitting in a wheelchair.  I mean NO offense to anyone in such situations.

I'm just saying, even supposedly "able bodied" folks desparately want to cover any flaws.  But we are all human beings and therefore we are weak.  We have been weak since Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden.

Once we can acknowledge our weaknesses, flaws, and sinfulness, that's exactly when we can get the help we so desparately need. Did you know it?

"For while we were still weak (or without strength [KJV]), at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6 ESV)

Did you get that?

" ... while we were still weak ..."

This is when Christ scooped in and fulfilled His act of being able to justify us, to die for our sin, weaknesses and limitations.  He did so to give us His strength and righteousness.  He is our true 'power source,' if you will.

We were sinners and ungodly and without strength. 

 "But God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 ESV).

If you read through the whole chapter 5 of Romans, you'll see short phrases that read, "much more," or "much more than" and even the single word, "abounded."

"Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (see v. 20).

These superlatives acknowledge we are weak but that our Almighty God who is always strong, sent us the One, His only begotten Son, Jesus, to give us His strength.  When through faith in Christ and His death, we accept this gift, we then become empowered through His Holy Spirit who then indwells us.

He gives us His strength to lean on.  We don't have to go it alone.

"Much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God" (v. 9).

"...much more, now that we are reconciled, shall wbe saved by His life" (V. 10).

"...much more than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ ..."        (v. 11).

Let's be glad and rejoice "much more" that we, by God's grace, can be made strong.  This is true power and it is measureless and never gets exhausted.

All glory be to God.

                                                 ~  ERC  April 2026  ~

Based on Romans 5:6-11 ESV.

Sing, Lord, My Rock, My Redeemer, along with Sovereign Grace Music.