Day 5: Sinning
Illustration
The Israelites were set free from slavery through the death of the Passover Lamb, but then they immediately came to the Red Sea. As God performed a miracle and parted the sea for them, they walked through on dry ground, a wall of water on the left and the right.
Notice what the Israelites passing through the Red Sea is called in the New Testament:
"For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 (NIV)
Yes, baptism! The fact that the Israelites were "baptized" as they passed through the Red sea meant, for them, that they died to their old life of slavery. And when they rose out of the waters on the other side, they entered into a new life of freedom. They died to their old identity, their old life, their entire past. Not only did the Passover Lamb die for them, they, themselves, "died" and "rose" again. They would no longer see themselves as slaves but as God's children. They would no longer have a harsh taskmaster over them; they were free!
At the cross, you died to your old life of slavery and rose with Jesus to a new life of freedom. See yourself dead to sin and your past life, dear friend, for that is where the freedom is. Now, see yourselves alive to God, responsive to Him, walking with Him daily.
"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin — because anyone who has died has been set free from sin." Romans 6:6-7 (NIV)