Dead Men Tell No Lies

Ken_Steve BosleyI attended a breakfast meeting this morning and was introduced for the first time as the new Co-Chair of LEAP. The Larimer Energy Action Project. ThisĀ  bipartisan partnership of community leaders and concerned citizens works on informing the public about the importance of domestic energy resources. Northern Colorado has one of the largest oil and gas reserves in the country and this is an important and vital resource that is being tapped through safe and efficient technologies know as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.

Later today I made my way to the fitness center and signed up for some sessions with my trainer. With some of the gains I have made, I believe this will be the next step to help me move to full mobility. After working out today, I believe I could actually feel some muscle mass, which has not been the case for the past two years.

This morning I had the opportunity to visit with my friend Steve Bosley. Steve is a CU Regent and the founder of the famed Bolder Boulder 10K Race. Steve is in his 70’s and he shared about his plans for the future. He told me, “I’m not planning on sitting around with shawl over my shoulders.”Ā What an inspiration to live life fully and to continually make a contribution. (above is a picture of me with Steve Bosley from a paste event)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… We died to our old sinful lives, so how can we continue living with sin? Anyone who has died is made free from sinā€™s control.”Ā  Romans 6:2,7 NCV

The one thing about death is you don’t need to worry about doing anything wrong! But through Christ we are saved from the “slavery to sin” without having to die. That is good news and gives hope for all people.

As Paul discusses sin and forgiveness and the law and grace, he uses baptism as a picture of the spiritual dynamic that takes place when we come to faith in Christ. Baptism is a picture of death and resurrection. Death to sin and self and being raised to a new life to live a new life as “slaves to goodness” not sin. (Romans 6:18 NCV)

Paul’s argument is that grace does not give us license to sin, but is the motivation to live a new life in Christ. The new life we live is the “Christ-resurrected life.”

“…when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin one timeā€”enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God. In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:10,11 NCV)

I recall meeting one of the early converts of David Wilkerson in New York City. He was talking about some of the old gang members being together on a trip with David Wilkerson and their talk and behavior was not reflective of their new life in Christ and David, immediately corrected them and told them in no uncertain words that they were now living a new life. That is what Paul was telling the Romans, see yourself as living a new life, not obligated or stuck in the past.

Paul’s teaching in Romans 6 is reflective of his words to the Corinthians when he said, “…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17 NLT)

Although our existence in this life will have temptations and struggles, we don’t need to be defined by those actions or deeds or be “slaves” to them. In Christ there is freedom and hope. Paul reminds us…

This brings you a life that is only for God, and this gives you life forever.Ā The payment for sin is death. But God gives us the free gift of life forever in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:22,23 NCV)

Sin pays….but the payment is death. Christ gives life as a gift! View yourself as Christ does and live free and victorious in Him.