Within you is flesh. Flesh is drawn to sin. It sees a sign that says “Wet Paint Do Not Touch” and immediately WANTS to touch it. It is defiant and rebellious and continually wants it’s own way – and the way of flesh is never the right way.
But did you know Jesus offers an end to this battle? That rebellious nature in you can die and the voice you hear within can change. You can go from inner turmoil to inner peace, from always messing things up to getting it right. The way has been made for you. Let me tell you about it.
3 chapters within your Bible tell of this battle and reveal the true solution. Romans 6, 7 and 8. Take 5 minutes today and read those 3 chapters for yourself. Let God’s word get into you and rewrite your narrative. When it does, something changes about you!
Sin has power in our lives. It chains us and holds us captive. We become a slave to sin, constantly doing things our flesh desires and then paying the price for it. But the chains of sin are broken in one thing … BAPTISM.
Baptism is so much bigger than we have made it to be. It’s not a ceremony or show. It’s not a ritual. It’s a breaking of chains and a changing of a life. Romans 6:4, “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
This is how we have a shot at a new life. A life no longer bound by sin. A life no longer stuck in doing the old things. We go down in the water and we come up free! Only Jesus can do that, and I’m telling you, he does!
I was born to a very young mommy and daddy who both had hard childhoods. My dad never knew love. He never knew family, although he was part of a very big one. Dad’s life had been nothing but poor choices and messes. But when I was born, my dad went to a church and said, “I have a baby girl now, I’ve got to get my life right.” And he was baptized. Let me tell you, he became the best dad a girl could ever ask for.
Sin no longer held him. He gave up alcohol, partying, other women and every bad habit. And he never went back. He was forever changed and I forever benefited from that choice. He lived a radically new life after dying to his sin. And let’s be clear, that’s what is available to every single one of us.
Romans 6: 6-7 says, “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Sin is our master until we let Jesus set us free. When Jesus sets us free, sin is NO LONGER YOUR MASTER. You live under the freedom of God’s grace, and God’s grace is what changes you. Not hating yourself. Not wallowing in regret and shame. God’s grace covers you and changes you.
Verse 16, “Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” Verse 18, “Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”
You see, something dramatic and life changing happens in the life of a believer. When you accept God’s grace and you’re baptized with Jesus, your inner voice changes. Your thoughts change. Your impulses change. Your desires change. You no longer want what you used to want. That happens because you’re dead to the pull of sin and you’re alive to the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Slavery is only broken by death. In biblical times, if you were owned by someone as their slave, you would be theirs until you died. It was your life sentence. God knows sin gets into your flesh and holds you as it’s slave.