Philippians 3:8c-9 says “that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” Over the last four weeks, We have discussed the subject of faith righteousness. For this fifth and final part, I would like to answer the question, “Why then should we live holy?”.

Romans 6:1-2 “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?” The first reason we live holy lives is because we are dead to sin. The old man, the man of sin, died with Christ (Gal 2:20). No matter how much you try to tempt a dead man, he will not sin (Rom 6:7).

So we as Christians are to recon ourselves dead to sin, and alive unto God (vs.11). We are brand new creatures in Christ; created righteous and truly holy (2Cor 5:17, Eph 4:24). It is not our nature to sin anymore. However, because we have yielded to the flesh all of our life, we think sin has dominion over us even after we’re born again. It does not.

“Sin shall not have dominion over you”, Romans 6:14 clearly says. As a Christian, if you are living in sin, it’s because your yielding to it. Paul said, “Let not sin reign in your mortal body” and “Don’t yield your body as an instrument of unrighteousness” (Rom 6:12-13). If you did not have control over sin, why did Paul say these things? You are a master over sin, because Jesus defeated Satan, took all of your sin on the cross, and paid for it in full. It doesn’t dominate you; you dominate it. Christians need to meditate on Romans 6, and get the proper attitude towards sin. We are not victims of sin; we are the righteousness of God in Christ!

The second reason we don’t sin, is because Satan is not our master anymore (Rom 6:16-18). He has no power over us, except what we give him. Unfortunately, Christians give him a lot. While most Christians would never say “Satan is lord”; they live their life as if he was! They go around acting like victims that barely trudge through life, wish’n and a hoping that maybe one day they get the victory in the sweet by and by; But in this life, Satan and sin are going to mop the floor with them. That’s a sorry attitude. I thought Jesus Christ was the Lord of Glory! I thought greater is He that lives in us, than he that’s in the world! I thought we were more than conquerors! I thought we have been delivered from this present evil world, not just in the future!

Imagine a slave who is beaten and mistreated mercilessly. Then one day a new master purchases him from this evil master. This new master is kind, gentle, and loving. In fact, he doesn’t even require the slave to stay with him, unless he wants to. He would now be considered a son, and receive all the blessings of a son. Now imagine this ex-slave going back and living with the evil master again, just because he wants to. It sounds unthinkable. Yet, how many Christians actually do this very thing? Jesus brought you out of the kingdom of darkness, and poured out His love, compassion, mercy, grace, blessing, favor, righteousness, acceptance, forgiveness, salvation, healing, etc., upon you; and then you go back and live for the evil taskmaster! You desire to be in bondage again to sin!? To go back to Egypt!?

Don’t be like the dog, that licks up it’s own vomit; or the hog, that wallows and snorts in it’s own excrement (2Pt 2:18-22). That’s how Peter describes the Christian that wants to live in sin. Don’t twist The Scriptures to your own destruction (2Pt 3:15-18). Don’t use your freedom in Christ, as an excuse to satisfy the sinful lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:13, 1Pt 2:16). You see, the grace of God actually teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust (Titus 2:11-13); not to indulge in them. We’ve been called unto holiness (1Thess 4:7). We are to live out in our body and soul, the salvation that has happened in our spirit. We are God’s children, and faith righteousness empowers us to live free from sin; not to sin. I pray this series has been a blessing to you, and until next time, rejoice in the Lord (Phip 4:4)!