Living in the Spirit

June 24, 2023

Scripture Reading:

Romans 6:1b-11
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

I am reading the book The Genesis of Good and Evil: The Fall (Out) and Original Sin in the Bible by Mark S. Smith. I stumbled on to it while my Bible study group was studying Genesis.  We had a very interesting discussion of Adam and Eve being kicked out of Eden. We were all in agreement that that might have been a necessary step in the development of society in the world. At some point, we must always allow a child to make decisions and learn from their mistakes as much as we have tried to train them in doing the right ways. I was surprised when I discovered this book that it was considering that same issue.

I read the first part of the above scripture, and these recent reading experiences came to mind. Apparently, some of the people who chose to follow Christ thought that the more forgiveness they received, the more grace would abound. Paul assured them that was not the way faith works. Growing in grace enables them to spread more of God’s love in building the beloved community.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for gifting us with grace. Open our hearts in minds to find the best way to live in your grace. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.