Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: August 31st

Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.- Romans 6:11.

There is a death IN sin which we are all naturally under. There is a death FOR sin; this our dear Saviour (we can never think of it too much, nor mention it too often) suffered for on the tree. And there is a death UNTO sin, which every believing member of Jesus partakes of, by virtue of union to him. For when Jesus died for sin on the cross, all his members were mystically considered in him, and dying in him, as their covenant head and representative, unto sin. And, by communion with Jesus, the same Spirit which raised up Jesus the head, dwells in the mortal bodies of his believing members, quickening them to newness of life. From hence the apostle would have such reckon, infer, or conclude themselves "to be dead indeed unto sin." And on the same account, and for the same reason, "alive unto God, through Jesus Christ."

Now, believer, how dost thou reckon, reason, and conclude of thy spiritual estate? because thou dost not find all sin dead in thee, but feelest the motions of sin stirring and raging for the mastery over thee, dost thou from hence judge of thy state, and conclude thou hast not the faith of God’s elect? Alas! this will distress thy soul, weaken thy confidence of faith, administer life and vigour to thy sins and lusts, and bring death upon thy spiritual life of comfort, love, and holiness. The word of God is the only rule of our faith; by that we are to determine of our state. Though sin be alive in thee, yet thou art to reckon thyself dead to that, so as to have nothing to do with it. Though thou groanest under "a body of death," yet thou art to conclude thyself "alive unto God through Jesus Christ." Reckon thyself dead to that sin of sins: UNBELIEF. This is the life of all other sins. Be deaf to its reasonings, dead to its pleas. Both dishonor thy Lord, and rob thy soul of its comfort.

Here is the mystery of faith. This is to be held in a pure conscience. There is a freedom from sin; of access to God with boldness. Here is the victory of saints. Here is the triumph of truth against all our enemies, to the death of sin and the life of holiness. Hence, through the Spirit of truth springs our daily comfort, continued growth in grace, in the knowledge of Jesus, and in personal holiness of life and conversation.

Do we not know that solemn word,

That we are bury’d with the Lord,

Baptiz’d into his death, and then

Put off the body of our sin?

Our souls receive diviner breath,

Rais’d from corruption guilt and death;

So from the grave did Christ arise.

And lives to God above the skies.

No more let sin and Satan reign

Over our mortal flesh again;

The various lusts we serv’d before,

Shall have dominion now no more.

These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. Luke 24:44.

Christ’s work was to fulfil all Scripture. It is ours to believe, that the Scriptures are all fulfilled in Christ. Hence we are filled with all joy and peace in believing. (Romans 15:13.) We complain of the weakness of faith. We neglect the means by which it is strengthened. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. By it faith is strengthened. That which comes not from the word, and is not supported by the word, is not faith, but phantom. It will soon evaporate. Our Saviour was now risen. His work was finished. He appeals to the understanding of his disciples. He refers them to what he had spoken to them, before he died for them. Understanding the word in the heart, is like the stomach receiving, and digesting the food for the whole body. All parts of it are nourished from it. O let the word of Christ dwell richly in you. Treasure it up in your memories. Exercise your understanding upon it. Digest it in your heart. So you will surely be nourished, edified, and comforted by it. Your faith will grow exceedingly. In what? Why, in what Christ hath fulfilled for you. Are you ready to say, how do I know, that he hath fulfilled all things for me? This is stumbling at the threshold, instead of entering in at the door. This is questioning, instead of believing. Our Lord gives one general answer to this. “According to your faith, be it unto you.” (Matthew 9:29.) Believe Christ’s words. Believe his work. So shall you enjoy the comforts of his love and salvation; and be animated to obey his will. See, (1st.) O Christian, you have not followed a cunningly devised fable. Your faith in Christ is agreeable to what is written in the law, in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning him. (2d.) Hence, rejoice. Is the law fulfilled for you by Christ? Then are you righteous in the sight of God, even as Christ is righteous. Study the purity and perfection of the law of God. Fall down in humility as a condemned sinner by it. Glory in Jesus, as your law-fulfiller, in whom you have everlasting righteousness. (3d.) Study the prophets and the psalms. You will always find somewhat concerning Jesus in them. Know, all that concerns him, is your highest concern upon earth. The more knowledge you have of him, and the more faith in him, so much the more will you love him, and answer the end of your new creation in him, even to glorify him in your holy life and obedient walk. “This is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.