WHY SIN IS UNREASONABLE

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2)

Devotion 9 of 23

SENSITIVE HEARTS

Let us get to the heart of the matter. Regeneration sensitizes the heart to God and sin. Sin hurts the believer at the point of temptation--the "fiery darts of the wicked one." This is the effect of "the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11-12). He removes the spiritually debilitating growth that sin brought over our hearts, stripping it away. The result is a tender heart, sensitive to the Lord and His will. Ezekiel referred to the circumcised heart as a "heart of flesh" (Ezek 11:19; 36:26). He contrasts it with a cold and insensitive "stony heart."

Peter's point is wonderful! Jesus suffered "for us in the flesh," allowing the bitterness of sin to come upon Him, that He might bear it away. Pilate did not cause Jesus to suffer. Sin did! Herod did not cause Jesus to suffer. Sin did! Caiaphas did not cause Jesus to suffer. Sin did! The ugliness of the cross did not cause Jesus to suffer. Sin did! He suffered at the hands of men, but sin is what made suffering what it was! He suffered on the cross, but sin was the cause of the suffering that led to our reconciliation!

Believers, because of their circumcised hearts, suffer because of sin. They fellowship with Christ in those sufferings. As it is written, " . . . if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him" (Rom 8:17). "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim 2:12). This form of fellowship involves divine intimacy. Paul saw it as a treasure to be gained at all cost. "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death" (Phil 3:10). At the point of association with Jesus in suffering, sin loses its power over us. Both Peter and Paul knew this, and therefore emphasized the high worth of suffering.

If, when we are called to suffer, we offer the sufferings up to God through Christ, the devil will be unable to lure us into the snare of sin and death. Suffering, refusing to become involved in personal sin or the sin of others, is reasonable. Sin, on the other hand, becomes totally unreasonable. Thus do we cease from sin, being able, through the Spirit and by faith, to abstain from even its appearance. When we resolve to suffer with Jesus, we will make a break with sin!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in Jesus' name, I thank You for the new heart received in regeneration. Its sensitivity to sin is a treasure I seek to maintain by Your grace.

-- TOMORROW: DEAD TO SIN --