We receive forgiveness of sins by the first death. We receive freedom from sinful practices by the second death. We receive the fullness of fruitfulness and dominion by the third death.

The sixth chapter of Romans teaches us that our first death, represented in water baptism, is a complete separation from the world. Our "old man," our first personality, is crucified with Christ. This is the end of the world for us. We pour the world out of our cup when we are baptized in water. In exchange, Christ's resurrection is poured into our cup. We die to the world but we come alive in Christ.

Because we no longer are "alive in the world" the law of Moses no longer has dominion over us. We are free to be married to Christ. Our marriage to Christ brings forth "fruit unto God." The fruit is Christ in us and the righteous behavior that results from our having Christ in us.

We are free from all guilt—absolutely without condemnation—because of the blood of Christ that has been applied to us through our death with Him on the cross.

Now we are dead to the world—crucified, as far as the world is concerned. Christ, the fruit, is born in us and grows in us.

We receive freedom from the control of sin by the second death. The second death is described in Romans 8:13:

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The first death is accomplished by our association with Christ on the cross of Calvary. The second death (not referring to the "second death" of Revelation 20:6) is accomplished by our cooperation with the Holy Spirit as He brings to us the wisdom and strength necessary for total victory over the sins we keep on practicing.

The first death is instantaneous. The second death requires a period of time—at least during the present working of Christ in the Church. The Spirit of God does not break every bondage in us at once. Little by little the bondages are dealt with, and little by little the fruit of Christ takes their places.

The Spirit points out our envying of others. We confess the envying and then, by the help of the Spirit, resist the tendency to envy others who appear to be more successful than we. In place of the envy comes the contentment of Christ.

The Spirit reveals that we are stealing, or lying, or hating, or using profanity. We confess the sinful practice, receive the cleansing of the atoning blood of Christ, and then, through the Spirit of God, resist such sins in the future.

The second death requires a long period of time—perhaps our whole lifetime. As much as possible we are to maintain our joy, peace and poise while the Spirit is dealing with the sins of our flesh; but the process is a war, a definite, specific overcoming of the sins to which we are prone.

The bondages of sin are poured out of our cup. In their places is formed the freedom from sinful practices that always is true of the Nature of Christ. Christ destroys the works of the devil. The Divine Seed does not sin (I John, Chapter Three).

To be continued.