Death Warrant

3/21/2020

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ.”

“The imperative need spiritually is to sign the death warrant of the disposition of sin. To turn all emotional impressions and intellectual beliefs into a moral verdict against the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself.” Oswald Chambers

Die to sin and self. When I am crucified with Christ, I give up my claim to myself. Chambers again is very direct here, and so is Paul in his writing. All of Galatians 2:20 reads, “I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” It is a very straightforward declaration, but not very easy to do. Can I say that I have died totally to sin and to self? Sadly I cannot, although it is the deepest prayer of my heart.

Chambers uses the term “disposition of sin.” The definition of disposition: a person’s inherent qualities of mind and character. Sin is a deep internal quality and a destructor that is in us all, but when we are born again in Christ, we align ourselves with His character. From that point on, I should submit every area of my life fully to Jesus. If I focus on Him and ask for an indwelling of the Holy Spirit in me, then all that I do will be checked by the Spirit, and it is. I know when I am sinning, and do not do it blindly or innocently. I always get that “Spirit tap”, but sometimes ignore it, or reason it away, or pledge to do better next time. This response clearly shows I have not signed sin’s death warrant.

Jesus suffered and died for my sin and the sin of the whole world. How, then, can I be so cavalier with my attitude toward it? God please forgive me.

Is this current destroyer in our world the result of the sin and the evil we dismiss or ignore? It is a question we must all ask ourselves.  As always, I will continue to praying for our world, and add the following verse on which to meditate.

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”

May God have mercy on us all.