Christian Living

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And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The focus of the new, post-modern church is purpose. However, purpose, without consecration, empties the Cross of its power and gives no glory to God.

God's true purpose is not our works, but His work in us. Thus, His true purpose is consecration, that sets us apart from the world and conforms us to His Son's image, so we may glorify Him. Without consecration, all of our efforts to serve Him effectively are meaningless.

Roman 8:29 says, "Those He foreknew, He predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son." In other words, before time, He preordained that we should become Christ-like in our walk with God.

God desires to fashion or shape us into Christ's image, so we might serve Him in Spirit and truth; walking not after our own pleasures, but seeking to please Him, through a consecrated life. Thus, becoming living sacrifices to God, through consecration and glorifying Him in our daily walk is God's true purpose for our lives.
Consecration is something our Protestant Forefathers wrote a great deal about. Yet, somehow, we have forgotten this idea. Today, I see Christians claiming God's love, while making excuses for their sins. They see no connection between knowing God and living a consecrated life. They genuinely believe they can live like the world and retain God's favor, without turning from their wicked ways. Of course, this can never be.

So how do we begin to live a consecrated life? A consecrated life begins with a mind-set change. Paul writes, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6). True consecration begins by knowing we are dead to sin. Without this understanding, we will continue to remain in bondage to our sins.

Moreover, by faith we are to know that our death released us from sin's power over us (Rom. 6:7). Thus, sin no longer rules our lives. But you say, I still sin. And so do I. Anyone who says he does not sin is a liar. And while we may never have a life that is entirely free from sin, we can live our lives free from sin's enslavement. Yes, by faith, we can experience a mind-set change that moves us from thinking we can never experience freedom, to knowing we are free already.

Once we know God crucified the old man on the Cross, we should then count it as fact (Rom. 6:11). Yes, by faith, we know we are dead to sin. And by this same faith, we are to reckon ourselves dead to it. Once our mind understands our death as fact, a change takes place in our hearts that leads to a consecrated life. As all this begins to unfold within us, sin loses its grip on our lives.

For years, as a Christian, I battled sin. Frustrated, over my inability to experience freedom, I tried to convince God that He should accept my sin, since it appeared He could not free me from it. Thankfully, God did not accept it, but continued to show me the wickedness of my sin.

One day, while reading a biography on the life of Watchman Nee, I came across Roman 6:6. The biography told how this verse changed Watchman Nee's life. Once he realized he died with Christ and understood the Lord freed him from sin, his life changed forever.

That night, I pulled out my Bible and began reading Romans Chapter 6. As I read the words, joy began to spring within me. Knowing that I died to sin became real to me. Once this truth gained a foothold in my heart, I experienced the victory that was already in me, through Christ Jesus my Lord.

If you are struggling with sin and have resigned yourself to it, you must realize the victory is already in you. To experience your victory, you must know you are dead to sin and reckon or count it as fact. In addition, you must understand that you are no longer a slave to sin. When you identify with these, you will experience true victory through the power of the Cross, which crucifies the flesh and all its desires.

Yes, without carrying out His purpose (consecration that leads to glorifying God) you will never experience your true calling. For purpose without consecration is no purpose at all.

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