Scripture

What benefit did you then derive from the things which you are now ashamed?

~Romans 6:21, Williams

Quote

Of all miseries, sin is the greatest.

~Thomas Goodwin

Charles Bray Williams was a professor at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. We have several alumni in our area from this great university. I think one of Ken Blackwood’s daughters graduated from Union. Williams spent 20 years working on a translation that people could understand and it was first published in 1937 by a New York City publisher. It never made a splash like the LIVING BIBLE but Dr. Williams daughter and son-in-law republished it again in latter years. You can actually order a Williams NT from Union University today. I heard about it some 25 or 30 years ago as I listened to a Ron Dunn sermon on tape. Dunn was high on the work so I ordered one several years ago and read it. My copy was second hand and worn, but I noticed a brand new copy in the Associational Office last fall, and I asked Ken if I could have it. I am loving it. The second read is much better.

I was in Romans 6-7 yesterday and I have always struggled with Romans six. I have read a dozen books including Watchman Nee’s classic, THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE, and I have heard lots of illustrations but I just couldn’t get it clear in my mind.  I am not ready to be dogmatic at this time, but I think I saw the light yesterday. Let me run this by you and you can decide for yourself.

Think of two plantations, two masters and we are the slaves. A slave is a slave until he or she is redeemed. Slaves were born under certain masters. In other words, they were serving a master they did not choose and possibly one that they hated. The first master is SIN. We were born under sin and it was naturally our master. We may not have wanted to serve sin but we actually had no choice because we are no match for sin. Sin is greater in magnitude than we are and we can’t possibly overpower or overcome sin. GRACE is the second master or to be more specific, Jesus. He bought us for a price and redeemed us from the slavery of sin. So technically, we have a new and different master. Although we have a new Master we still have the tendency to sin. We are still influenced by our roots but the big difference is that we do not have to serve SIN any longer. Sin has no right to us. He can hollow across the fence and tempt us but we are under no obligation to serve sin.

I digressed from my topic. Sin pays wages and those wages end in death but sin has no benefits.

Extra

All we have is electric heat and our power bill was over $700. My book keeper almost rent her pajamas. This warmer weather could help more ways than one. Keep praying for the sick and for our president. Pray for the president everyday. He has Caiaphas on the ropes. They will not take this laying down. This bunch is used to getting their way. He must have the LORD’s protection.

Have a great day and thanks for reading the blog.