Rev. Dustin ParkerTime to walk.. with God
Time for a Walk!
Romans 6:1-11
† IN JESUS NAME †
May the grace, the incredible mercy and peace of God our Father poured out on you as He cleansed you of your sins in baptism – and uniting to Jesus’ death and resurrection – may that grace, the very glory of God be reflected off of you – to the world around us.
Walking along Ossipee’s shore….
It seems like it has been forever; the memories have faded with time. Where I could remember the view of the lake from every step along the shore road; now it is just a few places. The view at the first curve, where the road ended and the beach began. Another down ½ mile, in front of the sheriff’s cottage, and then beauty of the view from the point, where the simple road ended by the old abandoned hotel.
It’s been thirty one years since a teenager walked that road with his dad – both dealing with struggles of their own, one not fitting in or understanding those around him, one struggling with the collapse of his business. Yet as they walked that shoreline, as they had many times before, there was peace. The problems of the world seemed distant, and able to be overcome. It was the shared journey which made them seem that way, the company and assurance of a love that goes beyond - the love of a dad and his son. It is a shoreline I dearly miss.. Especially when life isn’t simple, or peaceful.
The year seems to have had a rough start for a lot of people. Two more people with cancer added to the list, others struggling with their businesses, getting notified of the loss of their jobs. Other pastors I know are struggling to be there for so many people – one had four funerals to plan in the first three days of the year, four families to comfort.
There are times when I wish that I could just transport back to Ossipee, to that beautiful shore and the mountains that seemed like a fortress around the lake. To take a quiet walk… with good company, even without a word, but just enjoying the peace.
It is no coincidence that this week, as we truly have begun a new year – that our epistle tells us that we are walking, in the newness of life. Walking through this life, clean, innocent, unburdened by sin, walking indeed with our Father in heaven who adopted us, and inseparably united us with our co-heir, Jesus Christ, walking with our Counselor, our Mentor, the one who will always sustain us, the Holy Spirit.
Walking as one with God, because we were united with Christ in our baptism, stripped of all sin, and we walk – dead to that sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Its what we need to know, to be grateful for..
Watching a people struggling with sin
As Paul starts chapter 6, having discussed the fact that we’ve been declared righteous in chapter five, he asks the question that strikes close to home. If we have been freed from sin, why do we remain sinners? I used to think he was talking about those who seem to think being forgiven means they can just go crazy in their sinning – knowing God would forgive them.
It’s a bit harsher than just nailing those people – it’s talking about daily, normal sin, the failing to withstand the temptations around us. The thought of anger, or of desire and covetousness, the harsh words we say, that cut into the hearts of others, the gossip, or anything we do that destroys our peace, or the peace of those around us. Simply when we fail to trust God, or we treat people less than we expect to be treated.
Why do we continue in this – do we just expect God to keep forgiving?
Paul wasn’t immune to these battles we undergo either – in the very next chapter he will claim he is a wretch of a man – because he cannot do what he knows he should, and he struggles to not do those things that he knows will disappoint and even anger God. What a wretch of a man I am – Paul declares – and there are days I know this all to well. Will anyone rescue us from this body of sin and death?
Romans 8 returns us to this chapter, and what is declared here and in chapter 5 – there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We have been rescued from this body of sin and death – for it was crucified, when it was united with Christ’s death. Don’t forget, we’ve been united with His being raised form the dead – and it is in that state that we walk….. with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
The Power of Baptism
One of the best definitions of being dedicated or committed is found in the idea of the farm animals discussing breakfast. The chicken says she contributes a lot – and therefore she shares in the care of the farmer and his family. The pig looks, and while recognizing that the chicken “contributes”, realizes that for him, the idea of being committed to caring for the farmer by providing breakfast must be a different level of dedication.
Perhaps it is because we realize better than anyone, that Baptism is God’s work, we neglect our role in the work. Somehow we see ourselves as just passive observers, who will make an offering now and then – and consider that our dedication to God’s work is completed. We’ll pray that we are forgiven, that we will be led from temptation and delivered from evil. But do those words mean more that just being… words? Do we realize what God does to us, the incredible act of taking hearts of sinful dead stone, and replacing them with hearts of loving flesh? That is how God had Ezekiel describe it in the prophecy of Ezekiel 36? How we are, as Paul describes here in Romans - united – a word that describes a intertwining, like a Celtic knot – where you cannot distinguish where Christ ends and Tom, or Al, or Nancy or Helli or Gloria begins?
For we live, completely separated from that body of sin and death. It is killed off, we live. Paul’s words are so powerful here – verses 6 and 7 – so simple yet so life changing:
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin
That in this being infused into Jesus at His death, we have also been raised with Him. That our bodies of sin have been brought to nothing – they have been made inconsequential, completely without relevance to the reality that we are in Christ! Such is the power that God works on us, whether young or old, no matter what language we speak, or what our worst sin was…or is.
Even more incredible – the idea that we have been freed – the Greek is even more powerful – we have been declared innocent – not just acquitted, not just pardoned – we’ve been declared righteous by the judge of the very universe – because we are found – not in sin, but in Christ!
Because as verse 8 states so clearly – if we have died with Him, we can entrust ourselves to living with Him – and … well here is the test… Alleluia – His is Risen! (He is risen Indeed – Alleluia! ) That’s right – if we shall live with Him when He lives – we are alive now – walking in Christ – walking in a life that is new, and freed from the burden, from the bondage of sin, and its restrictions on us.
Like me and my dad – walking along the shore, we walk with God through this life, incredible company for a journey that would overwhelm us otherwise!
Paul’s real question – why do we walk in sin?
Which returns us to the question of the day – should we remain in sin, indeed why do we continue to struggle with it – haven’t we been cleansed of it, and of all the unrighteousness in the world?
Yeah – we have – we need to realize it – and realize that God has redeemed us, and that as we do walk in this newness of life, as we spend time intertwined with Him, depending on Him, that which tempts us loses it desirability, and even when we do sin, He can use it even as He uses the times where we doubt, or struggle.
We need realize more that we walk with Him, that in that walk there is peace – even as the road bumps here and there, or we stumble on a root or trip because of a pothole. The clutz I am – I know I did those things walking with my dad – but I don’t remember them – I remember walking with him. So too – we need to realize the Triune God walks with us, and we reflect His glory to the world around us, so that they too can walk – declared righteous, separated from our sin.
Walking in peace – with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! AMEN!
Romans 6:1-11
† IN JESUS NAME †
May the grace, the incredible mercy and peace of God our Father poured out on you as He cleansed you of your sins in baptism – and uniting to Jesus’ death and resurrection – may that grace, the very glory of God be reflected off of you – to the world around us.
Walking along Ossipee’s shore….
It seems like it has been forever; the memories have faded with time. Where I could remember the view of the lake from every step along the shore road; now it is just a few places. The view at the first curve, where the road ended and the beach began. Another down ½ mile, in front of the sheriff’s cottage, and then beauty of the view from the point, where the simple road ended by the old abandoned hotel.
It’s been thirty one years since a teenager walked that road with his dad – both dealing with struggles of their own, one not fitting in or understanding those around him, one struggling with the collapse of his business. Yet as they walked that shoreline, as they had many times before, there was peace. The problems of the world seemed distant, and able to be overcome. It was the shared journey which made them seem that way, the company and assurance of a love that goes beyond - the love of a dad and his son. It is a shoreline I dearly miss.. Especially when life isn’t simple, or peaceful.
The year seems to have had a rough start for a lot of people. Two more people with cancer added to the list, others struggling with their businesses, getting notified of the loss of their jobs. Other pastors I know are struggling to be there for so many people – one had four funerals to plan in the first three days of the year, four families to comfort.
There are times when I wish that I could just transport back to Ossipee, to that beautiful shore and the mountains that seemed like a fortress around the lake. To take a quiet walk… with good company, even without a word, but just enjoying the peace.
It is no coincidence that this week, as we truly have begun a new year – that our epistle tells us that we are walking, in the newness of life. Walking through this life, clean, innocent, unburdened by sin, walking indeed with our Father in heaven who adopted us, and inseparably united us with our co-heir, Jesus Christ, walking with our Counselor, our Mentor, the one who will always sustain us, the Holy Spirit.
Walking as one with God, because we were united with Christ in our baptism, stripped of all sin, and we walk – dead to that sin, and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Its what we need to know, to be grateful for..
Watching a people struggling with sin
As Paul starts chapter 6, having discussed the fact that we’ve been declared righteous in chapter five, he asks the question that strikes close to home. If we have been freed from sin, why do we remain sinners? I used to think he was talking about those who seem to think being forgiven means they can just go crazy in their sinning – knowing God would forgive them.
It’s a bit harsher than just nailing those people – it’s talking about daily, normal sin, the failing to withstand the temptations around us. The thought of anger, or of desire and covetousness, the harsh words we say, that cut into the hearts of others, the gossip, or anything we do that destroys our peace, or the peace of those around us. Simply when we fail to trust God, or we treat people less than we expect to be treated.
Why do we continue in this – do we just expect God to keep forgiving?
Paul wasn’t immune to these battles we undergo either – in the very next chapter he will claim he is a wretch of a man – because he cannot do what he knows he should, and he struggles to not do those things that he knows will disappoint and even anger God. What a wretch of a man I am – Paul declares – and there are days I know this all to well. Will anyone rescue us from this body of sin and death?
Romans 8 returns us to this chapter, and what is declared here and in chapter 5 – there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We have been rescued from this body of sin and death – for it was crucified, when it was united with Christ’s death. Don’t forget, we’ve been united with His being raised form the dead – and it is in that state that we walk….. with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…
The Power of Baptism
One of the best definitions of being dedicated or committed is found in the idea of the farm animals discussing breakfast. The chicken says she contributes a lot – and therefore she shares in the care of the farmer and his family. The pig looks, and while recognizing that the chicken “contributes”, realizes that for him, the idea of being committed to caring for the farmer by providing breakfast must be a different level of dedication.
Perhaps it is because we realize better than anyone, that Baptism is God’s work, we neglect our role in the work. Somehow we see ourselves as just passive observers, who will make an offering now and then – and consider that our dedication to God’s work is completed. We’ll pray that we are forgiven, that we will be led from temptation and delivered from evil. But do those words mean more that just being… words? Do we realize what God does to us, the incredible act of taking hearts of sinful dead stone, and replacing them with hearts of loving flesh? That is how God had Ezekiel describe it in the prophecy of Ezekiel 36? How we are, as Paul describes here in Romans - united – a word that describes a intertwining, like a Celtic knot – where you cannot distinguish where Christ ends and Tom, or Al, or Nancy or Helli or Gloria begins?
For we live, completely separated from that body of sin and death. It is killed off, we live. Paul’s words are so powerful here – verses 6 and 7 – so simple yet so life changing:
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin
That in this being infused into Jesus at His death, we have also been raised with Him. That our bodies of sin have been brought to nothing – they have been made inconsequential, completely without relevance to the reality that we are in Christ! Such is the power that God works on us, whether young or old, no matter what language we speak, or what our worst sin was…or is.
Even more incredible – the idea that we have been freed – the Greek is even more powerful – we have been declared innocent – not just acquitted, not just pardoned – we’ve been declared righteous by the judge of the very universe – because we are found – not in sin, but in Christ!
Because as verse 8 states so clearly – if we have died with Him, we can entrust ourselves to living with Him – and … well here is the test… Alleluia – His is Risen! (He is risen Indeed – Alleluia! ) That’s right – if we shall live with Him when He lives – we are alive now – walking in Christ – walking in a life that is new, and freed from the burden, from the bondage of sin, and its restrictions on us.
Like me and my dad – walking along the shore, we walk with God through this life, incredible company for a journey that would overwhelm us otherwise!
Paul’s real question – why do we walk in sin?
Which returns us to the question of the day – should we remain in sin, indeed why do we continue to struggle with it – haven’t we been cleansed of it, and of all the unrighteousness in the world?
Yeah – we have – we need to realize it – and realize that God has redeemed us, and that as we do walk in this newness of life, as we spend time intertwined with Him, depending on Him, that which tempts us loses it desirability, and even when we do sin, He can use it even as He uses the times where we doubt, or struggle.
We need realize more that we walk with Him, that in that walk there is peace – even as the road bumps here and there, or we stumble on a root or trip because of a pothole. The clutz I am – I know I did those things walking with my dad – but I don’t remember them – I remember walking with him. So too – we need to realize the Triune God walks with us, and we reflect His glory to the world around us, so that they too can walk – declared righteous, separated from our sin.
Walking in peace – with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! AMEN!
