8)
Now if we be dead with
Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9)
Knowing that Christ being
raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no
more dominion over him.
10)
For in that he died, he
died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11)
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive
unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12)
Let not sin therefore
reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13)
Neither yield
ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield
yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as
instruments of righteousness unto God.
14)
For sin shall not have
dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
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rom
the very beginning of man’s (our) existence, men have tried to cover up their
own misdeeds. When Adam and Eve … in response to their futile attempt to cover
themselves, God instituted the only means by which one’s sins could be
covered—the shedding of blood. Before He presented Adam and Eve their first
clothing of animal skins to cover their “nakedness,” the blood of an animal was
shed to provide that skin. From that point forward, every instrument to be used
for God’s purpose would require the sacrificial shedding of blood to hallow it.
God
gave explicit directions to Moses for the building of the tabernacle in the
wilderness. From the golden candlesticks to the selecting of the Levites to
serve in the tabernacle, God’s instructions were clear. He gave detailed
instructions were clear. He gave detailed instructions regarding the manner of
dress by the Levites and stated that only the High Priest could enter into the
Holy of Holies, where he would make atonement each year for the sins of the
people. Though God, Himself, gave the directions for these things and the many
other specific aspects of the tabernacle, He instructed Moses to take it one
step further—the lamb. The blood of the slain lamb had to be used to consecrate
every instrument in the tabernacle, including the priests. Therefore, they were
solely for God’s use and worship for Him That brings
us to this: Nothing consecrated for use in the tabernacle could be used for any
other purpose.
Tabernacle
worship has not changed. Yes, we have gone from a tent to a building, but
“dwelling” in a building, is not necessarily what God had in mind. Man,
himself, would be the
Before
salvation we could not be anything but unrighteous and displeasing to God. But
now because of the Holy Lamb slain and the application of His blood to our
lives by baptism, we are the new priesthood, even a royal priesthood. We are
robed in righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus
was the ultimate instrument of power. He is our example and we must recognize
that we have the same ability to offer ourselves as sacrifices unto God no
matter what comes our way.
Proverbs
tells us that there is a way that seemeth right unto
man. In the sight of the man, whatever he deems as right is right. Notice the
scripture says “a way.” Man may do all sorts of evil, yet it leads to one
destination—that is destruction. God tells us that man’s righteousness is as
filthy rags which definitely does not measure up. Any
righteousness outside of God’s is unrighteousness.
We
must remain in righteousness unto God. Too often, however, we do not
spiritually discern situations, and complain because of the lack of trust in
the One Who has broken the shackles of sin in our
lives. We cannot use the instruments of God (ourselves) for unrighteousness.
If
we follow our “own righteousness,” we will be destroyed. It’s as if we are
walking back through the blood of Jesus proclaiming that it is no greater
than the situation facing us. We must know that we have what we need to face
any situation. We must learn not to take any situation personally and to magnify
God—regardless. Realize this … God will not bring you through the fire to
through you into the river. Every test is an opportunity to show forth the
righteousness of God. We have been consecrated for His use only, and should
“show forth praises to Him that has called us out of darkness into His marvelous
light.”