From Legalism to Life in Christ
ICS Daily Devotions
Romans 6:18 (NKJV) And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Romans chapter 6 talks about a believer’s crossover into a new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul says that we are slaves of righteousness because we have been set free from sin. In other words, we can be instruments of righteousness and act righteously because of the new man in Christ.
Galatians 6:15 (NKJV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
We are a new creation—it is who we are and how God sees us. Therefore, we don’t need to be circumcised, because circumcision is of the heart when we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. God expects us to live in the new creation, or the new man, but we have a responsibility to keep the old man buried and put on the new man.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
The new creation is found in our hearts when we are born again. Our physical bodies still look the same, and our minds still hold the same values and principles, but we need to renew our minds with the Word of God so we can start to live as the new man, because the new man should have the mind of Christ when we understand who we are in Christ.
Ephesians 4:23-24 (NKJV) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
The new man is seen as righteous and holy before God. The new man can act righteously and live in holiness if we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, who teaches us how to live out the new life.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV) as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Because the new creation has the nature of God, we can be slaves of righteousness. We are to live from the inside out because the inner man is new and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Instead of living by the law or trying to use our own strength to gain God’s love and acceptance, we should make conscious decisions to live from the inside out so that we will not grow tired and weary. Our Christian walk should be easy and light because we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. There is power to live in godliness because of the divine power given to us through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
Reflection: Have you ever struggled to please God through your actions, and what were the results? How might the truth that you are a slave of righteousness transform the way you live your Christian life?
Sermon Series – Legalism or Life in Christ
