DCLM Higher Everyday 3 March 2023 — Impunity in iniquity
DCLM Higher Everyday 3 March 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Impunity in iniquity
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TOPIC: IMPUNITY IN INIQUITY
TEXT: Romans 6:1-5
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore 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.
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Key Verse: “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” (Romans 6:1-2)
MESSAGE:
Impunity is an abuse of privilege or power, living with a mindset of being free from the consequences of your actions.
At the end of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln saw the slaves he had liberated by the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 as his army set them free.
He told them, “My poor friends, you are free – free as air. You can cast off the name of slave and trample upon it. Liberty is your birth right.” But Abraham Lincoln also cautioned them not to misuse their freedom. “Let the world see that you merit your freedom,” Lincoln added, “Don’t let your joy carry you into excesses. Learn the laws and obey them.” You see, God gives us liberty by grace, not a license to live as we please.
We are saved through grace, so indulging in sinful acts because we believe His grace is sufficient, is even more dangerous. As God’s children, we should desire to live in perfect obedience to Him. In addition, grace is more than sufficient for the sinner who chooses to be saved and turn away from iniquity.
QUOTE: God gives us liberty by grace
CHALLENGE: Desire to live in perfect obedience to God.
PRAYER: Oh Lord, help me not to take Your grace for granted.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
