Knowledge and New Life

In the Law of Moses, God demonstrated the knowledge a person has is a determining factor in consequences for transgression.  Exodus 21:28-29 says, "If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. ²⁹ But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death."  If the owner was made aware and knew of the propensity of his ox towards violence, he was responsible to restrain it in a appropriate manner.  Should the owner of the ox neglect this duty and the ox kill a person, his life would also be required.

In the book of Romans, Paul makes a strong emphasis on what born again Christians can know since we know Jesus by faith in Him, and this ought to directly impact our actions.  Romans 6 strings together many things a believer in Jesus Christ ought to know (bold emphasis mine):

• Romans 6:3:  "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?"
• Romans 6:6:  "...knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."
• Romans 6:9:  "...knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him."
• Romans 6:16:  "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"

Paul explained what happens spiritually when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ:  we died to sin and are raised to a new life with Christ.  Paul urged born again believers to reckon (to consider) this our new, immutable paradigm and reality.  Knowing we are dead to sin means we are no longer under the dominion of sin or the Law of Moses.  This knowledge ought to govern our decisions like knowing we are deathly allergic to peanuts makes us vigilant to avoid eating them.  If we own a car that uses petrol we never fill our tanks with diesel--even if it is bit cheaper at the pump.  If we quit one job and started another one, this knowledge direct us to wisely drive to the correct office to do our work and attend an important meeting on time.  God has graciously given us His word and the Holy Spirit so we can know God personally and helps us to do His will, for we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.

Believers know our body of sin was crucified with Jesus so we are no longer slaves of sin, the resurrection of Jesus shows death has no dominion over us, and that we ought to present ourselves as slaves of Jesus in obedience to Him.  The Law tells us what is right and wrong but gives us no power to follow it.  By the Law comes the knowledge of sin, and leads us to Jesus who has ushered in a new and living way to righteousness by faith in Him.  Man no longer can hide behind ignorance, for God commands all people everywhere to repent and believe on Jesus Christ Who will judge the world in righteousness with entire, perfect knowledge (Acts 17:30-31).  Know Jesus and know abundant life!  He is awesome beyond words.