Redemption Calvary Podcast

Unfortunately, many people don’t realize the immense implications of trusting in Jesus. There are some who claim to follow Jesus, but then live their lives in unrepentant sin. Others will turn to Christ, but then try to live out the Christian life in their flesh. As Pastor Cody explains today, truly following Jesus is not just about trusting in Him for salvation– it’s also about trusting in Him for sanctification. In other words, Jesus’ power saves us from future judgment, but also strengthens us today to live in righteousness.

Sin always results in death. This was the case in the Garden of Eden, and it’s true now. And Pastor Cody explains today that we are all either serving Christ or serving sin. While sin may appear to be life-giving, it never actually is. If sin is at the root of your life, the result will always be the fruit of death. In contrast, if Jesus and His righteousness define your roots, life will be the fruit that comes up as a result. So we all have a choice between death and life, between sin and Christ. There is no middle ground.

While it is an uncomfortable truth to many of us, the Bible plainly states that we are all slaves – either slaves to Christ or slaves to sin. Today, Pastor Cody shares that this is a reality we need to accept; otherwise, we are living in delusion. And while being a slave of Christ may sound harsh, it’s actually an amazing thing! Being a slave of Jesus means we’re no longer under the captivity of sin – we are free! Although sin in this world can be enticing, it always leads to death, whereas our slavery to righteousness leads to life.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is a picture of God’s grace to humanity. Pastor Cody reminds us today that Jesus took on the punishment for our sins so that we can be forgiven if we follow Jesus as our Lord. But, as Pastor Cody points out, this creates a bit of a dilemma – does this mean we can just go on sinning, living in rebellion with God because our sins are already forgiven? While this question comes naturally, it misses the point: those who walk with Jesus have the power and will to pursue Christ instead of sin.

To experience redemption in Christ is to die to the old self, and to be born again in Christ. But Pastor Cody argues today that many Christians get lost somewhere between death and the new life. They aren’t willing to completely cut ties with their old self, and they keep living with their old, sinful mentalities. But Pastor Cody reminds us that there is so much life when we experience God’s resurrecting power! And if we don’t let go of the old, we miss out on the new life and power of fellowship with God.

Pastor Cody reminds us today of the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. When Jesus rose from the dead, He proved that He defeated death. He showed us that He has life-giving power that overcomes death. And He has given this power to those who believe; that all people are dead in sin, but when we trust in Christ we are given true life. And this new life redefines our existence – no longer are we under the slavery of sin. But instead, we are actually considered dead to sin and are a new creation in Christ.

As Pastor Cody teaches from the book of Romans today, he highlights an argument that Paul makes against a logical fallacy in his day. God’s immense grace covers all the sins of those who believe, and this gives God glory. But some suggested that, if our sin makes God look good, then we ought to sin more. As Pastor Cody points out, Paul makes it clear that this argument is absolute nonsense. He shows that it’s unreasonable to do evil so that good will come out of it – this is just an excuse to call what is evil “good.”

We don’t choose the circumstances we are born into. None of us chose to live in a broken world, cursed by sin. But, today Pastor Cody reminds us that there is a choice we can make: we can choose the path of Adam or the path of Jesus. Whereas Adam chose to pursue sin, which led to death, Jesus lived a perfect life and died in our place so that we can have eternal life. If we choose to trust in Jesus, He provides us with a new way to walk in. And through Him, we can experience the abundant goodness of God.

The Bible makes clear that all of us have sinned. And today, Pastor Cody explains that the nature of sin is to disobey God and choose our own way. He shows that this was the case when the first humans sinned against God in the Garden of Eden – they did the one thing that God forbade them to do. And this attitude continues to the present age, as we are all born with an innate desire to do the things we know to be wrong. But Jesus offers to break us free from the curse of sin if we will choose to trust in Him.

Today, Pastor Cody reminds us of the reality of this world as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve. Their sin has been passed down to all of us in a way, and that sin leads to death. And it’s important for us to acknowledge this reality – otherwise, we have no basis for understanding the evil, decay, and death that we experience in our broken world. By recognizing this reality, we see that there is a reason for these things. And that sets us up for the truth of Jesus, who offers life amidst a dying world.