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? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ~ Romans 6:1-4

According to the Holy Spirit, we are not to continue in sin so that grace may abound. God forbids such thinking, believing, and living. The Holy Spirit’s question to me is this: How shall I (put your name here) whom He has caused to be dead to sin through faith in Jesus, live any longer in sin?

The Holy Spirit wants me to know (to understand and grasp) that all who are baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death.

The Holy Spirit wants me to know (understand and grasp) the power of the death of Jesus and how Christ’s death should affect how I live. Thus the work of Christ at the cross and the work of the Holy Spirit in my heart and life are inseparable. If I don’t live according to this rule (this truth, this principle), I am not being guided by the Spirit but by my own carnality. Christ died for my sins so that the Spirit may dwell in my heart and my life glorify God through Christ Jesus.

According to the Holy Spirit, I (my old man, the power of sin that once controlled me) is buried with Christ by baptism into death and just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, I am to walk in the newness of life. This is what the Holy Spirit is in my life to empower to happen.

I recently began an exercise that has helped me settle my mind in some of the struggles I have. The scriptures are inspired by God, and the truth in scripture as it pertains to our relationship with God is the voice of God’s Holy Spirit. In Acts, Peter says, “the Holy Spirit said through the mouth of David” in reference to what is written and says something similar about the message of the prophets.

This has been especially beneficial to me as I read texts like Romans 6, where I can say with confidence that the Holy Spirit says I am dead with Christ, and I am baptized into Christ’s death, and that I am a servant of righteousness, and alive to God through Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit, and not man, says those things to me. He says them also to you. It is a very encouraging exercise and has helped me tremendously. I hope you will find the same encouragement as well. 

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ… ~ 2 Peter 1:1

I want you to notice Peter’s tone regarding his apostleship. It is secondary to his being a servant of Jesus Christ. Peter places himself on the same level (as a servant) with those to whom he is writing, saying to his audience that they had obtained like precious faith as he and the other believers in Christ had obtained.

As an apostle of Christ, Peter viewed those to whom he was writing as his fellow servants of Christ, and not to subjects spiritually beneath him. Peter had been equipped by Jesus as a witness of authentic ministry of Jesus. As an apostle of Christ, his calling included being an example of servanthood among Christ’s servants to help their devotion to Christ.

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul declares we don’t have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:24. Other translations render this as “helpers for your joy.” The ministry of the New Testament apostles included that of helping Christ’s servants continue in the joy of their service to Christ, even in difficult times of struggle and persecution.

The Apostles in the New Testament were helpers in Christ’s Kingdom in the service of Jesus Christ, the King. There are far too many in our day who like to call themselves apostles, and they do so because they want to have the preeminence and spiritual authority over the faith of others. This is completely contrary to the ministry of the first century apostles.

These modern day self promoting apostles, and that’s what many of them are, know very little if any, about the true calling of an apostle. The true calling of apostleship is to authenticate Christ’s ministry where Christ has not been preached, and to establish disciples for Christ who will continue in Christ’s service.

This will be very short and to the point.

There is a saying that is often repeated from pulpits. I am sure I have even said it myself in the past, but it is wrong and there is absolutely no truth in it. It is the idea that we can do things that will usher in the second coming of Jesus.

Oftentimes this idea is advanced as a way to get people involved in a certain line of thinking and action, because by doing so they will supposedly be aiding the ushering in of the coming of the Lord, but the reality is there simply is no such concept taught in the New Testament. If there were, the apostles who gave us the New Testament would have accomplished it.

The idea that we can do things that will usher in the coming of the Lord is false and it gives fertile ground to other false teachings. According to the scriptures we are called to live godly and holy lives because the time of the Lord’s coming is to always be viewed as at hand.

We are instructed over and over again in the New Testament to live in a manner that will be pleasing to the Lord when he returns. Throughout the centuries many saints have done just that. This alone refutes the notion that anyone can do anything to usher in the coming of the Lord.

Jesus is coming in the Father’s timing, which he has reserved to himself.