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The
Primitive Church A Triumphant Church
OVER SIN AND DEATH
In the early morning o f
Christianity the church of God enjoyed perfect freedom
from sin and victory over it. "They sung a new song,
saying, . . . thou west slain, and hast redeemed us to God
by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people,
and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and
priests." Rev. 5:9, 10. "Unto him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath
made us kings and priests unto God and his Father."
Rev. 1: 5, 6.
For four thousand years the world
was held under the power and dominion of sin. As a result,
"death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
" Paul said that " death reigned " and that
" sin hath reigned unto death. " The gloomy pall
of sin and death hung over all—spiritual death, which
comes as a result of sin. But Christ came mighty to save,
and through his death and resurrection conquered death.
Yes, " abolished death and brought light and
immortality to life through the gospel"; and "he
that hath the Son hath life. " " God hath given
unto us his eternal life, and this life is in his
Son." So the really saved "are passed from death
unto life." In this divine spiritual life is granted
perfect deliverance from all sin. "Being then made
free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
" Rom. 6: 18. " The blood of Jesus Christ, his
Son, cleanseth us from all sin"; and this happy
condition is not the state of the saints of God merely in
heaven, "but now being made free from sin and become
servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the
end everlasting life" (Rom. 6: 22). "Sin shall
not have dominion over you; for ye are under grace."
Rom. 6.14. Thus by being redeemed, washed in the blood of
Christ, the early Christians were made kings, and reigned
in life over sin and death. Not only did they obtain a
perfect deliverance from sin, but through the abundant
grace of God which was granted them, they were enabled to
serve God in holiness and righteousness before him all the
days of their life (Luke 1:75); yes, to live soberly,
righteously, and godly in the present world (Tit. 2: 11,
12). That blessed reign of righteousness through Christ,
as we shall hereafter see, is restored to us in this
evening time.
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