269. Deliverance From Death

“But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Gal. 3:22.

Now that everything has been confined under sin, it remains for us to find the way out of it. Even our finest deeds are permeated by sin, and when the day finally comes where these become sinful to us, then we lose faith in ourselves. Nevertheless, year after year can pass us by before our eyes become enlightened to see the depth of our corruption. When we try our best to do good, we feel that we have done some good; but upon closer examination we find that sin clings to our deeds. Through this process our eyes are opened to the fact that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells. Such self-acknowledgement is true, and it is well-pleasing in God’s eyes; and from this dark realization we flee to Christ Jesus, praying fervently for His help. He hears our prayers and makes His dwelling place in our heart, and thus these words are fulfilled: “I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.” Song 1:5. Kedar’s tents were actually made of black haircloth. From that moment on, Jesus Christ becomes our life. He must increase, and we must decrease. Life then becomes simple and straightforward, and the great yoke of bondage is thrown off. The pressures and constraints of the law are then replaced by the liberty of Christ, because the law then becomes our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. We are now a part of the body of Christ, and we follow its laws because we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. This act of crucifixion results in sufferings—the sufferings of Christ which free us from the sufferings of condemnation. Thus in the midst of the sufferings of crucifixion we have liberty and joy. What was promised to me, namely, Jesus Christ, frees me from the power of sin and the law of sin and death. In Him I rule over sin, and although sin is in me, it cannot get my mind to agree with its desires. This is what it means to be crucified. We have been transferred to the kingdom of the Son of His love, where the new creation will be nourished and grow up to the maturity of manhood. We carry this life within us. No other life has any value to us. Everything else is confined under sin. For this reason we need to guard this precious treasure because this is the life that we will live for all eternity. If we belong to Christ, we are the seed of Abraham and heirs according to the promise.

The Scriptures have confined everything under sin; but we can become liberated from sin by faith and the obedience of faith. If we believe in sin’s power, we will be subject to it; this is unbelief. But if we believe in God’s power in Christ Jesus, we will be freed from all bonds and placed on resurrection ground. By faith Jesus walked on the water. By faith the walls of Jericho fell. By faith Joshua and Caleb survived their peers and entered into the Promised Land, despite the enemy’s great numbers and strength. The Jews did not believe in the promised Messiah, and as a result, they were exiled from their land for centuries. But those who believed on Him inherited the heavenly Jerusalem.

Because of unbelief the whole world lies in darkness, bowed down by unemployment, war, strife, greed, parties, divorce, fornication, and all kinds of wretchedness.

People could overcome all of this by faith. Employment and blessings would once again come over the nations. But now they reject Christ and thus reject their own deliverance.