Because of our sinful nature, sometimes we feel an irresistible pull toward making poor

choices. Yet our minds are committed to Christ. But even so, we occasionally feel the

temptation to yield. Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck's Wendall reminds us that we don't

have to give in. His assertion comes from Romans 6 where Paul wrote these liberating

words. Paul said, we're no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ, we were

set free from the power of sin. Chuck titled today's message, needed changes when living

by grace.

Once we are converted, once we have come to the cross and trusted in the Lord Jesus,

we have been given a new nature that lives alongside the older nature. The old one isn't

taken away. It isn't eradicated, but it now has a new nature in there that is able to

silence and control and restrain the old nature. Roman 6 talks about how to do that. First,

what are we to know? Well, two things. Look for yourself, verse 6. We know, number one,

our old, sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in

our lives. Before I was born again, sin got its way every time. Glad no restraining power

within me. Now it's different. Sin no longer has its way. I've got a new power and that

empowerment allows me to live free from the slavery to sin. See, the end of verse 6 were

no longer slaves to sin. I have a power that I didn't have before and it isn't work

within me. Verse 8, since we died with Christ, we know he says it again. We know we also

live with him. So the second thing we know is that just as Christ was raised victoriously

with a new life, so we are enabled to live a new life like Christ lives. I'm not simply

a fan of Jesus. I'm a follower. The life that he lived qualified him for the death that

he died and the death that he died qualifies us for the life he lived. You know that in your

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