Cinderella-style sanctification

I have yet to go one week without being enriched and encouraged by a lecture at BSF. Last night was no exception.

We've moved to Romans chapter 6 this week.

1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

~Nancye focused particularly on the first two verses this week, beginning with a question "Are you failing to live in the truth of who you really are?", "If you are saved, why are you still living in sin?". -The practical living out of faith always follows Christ.- Now that you are in Him, live for Him, and 'reckon yourself dead to sin'.
In verses 11-14, Paul seems to give 4 simple commands - two are positive & two are negative.

1. Do not let sin reign in your mortal body. Do not let it steer you.
2. Do not offer your body to sin.
3. Offer yourselves to God (Romans 12:1 - as a living sacrifice, give yourself to Him)
4. Offer that parts of your body as tools for Him.

How do we let sin reign? Through our preoccupation with sin, the world, our flesh, enslavements to sin and bad habits, looking for approval from man, serving of self, etc.
How can we offer ourselves to God? We have to believe that we are saved, and that we are dead to sin, giving ourselves to God. *Sin shall not be your master, for you are under God's grace. The devil has not made you do anything, how you use your body as a Christian is your choice. We are not forced to believe against our will - there are no victims in the new life in Christ. We are victors over sin through Christ, and it has no power over us.
Oh yes, and Cinderella. . . Nancye brought her up as an example for sanctification. Cinderella was the despised girl in her household, the maid, clothed in rags and neglected. Through a whimsical sort of 'grace', she was transformed, clothed in a splendid dress and favored by the prince. The 'Cinder' became 'Ella'. his was her new life, do you think she would go back to the fireplace?
I actually never really thought of this story like that - and I love fairy tales. . . We are taken from rags to riches and given a new name, a new heart, and a new mind. We are no longer slaves to a tyrannical sin, but now we serve a loving and faithful God, who delights in us.

I think of this hymn, that I love so dearly. . .

1. How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores.

2. While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry, with thankful tongues,
"Lord, why was I a guest?"

3. "Why was I made to hear Thy voice,
And enter while there's room,
When thousands make a wretched choice,
And rather starve than come?"

4. 'Twas the same love that spread the feast
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refused to taste,
And perished in our sin.

5. Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send Thy victorious Word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

6. We long to see Thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May, with one voice and heart and soul,
Sing Thy redeeming grace.

Especially in verse three - would I rather starve than come to the table? Would I rather go back to my sin and die in that misery than come to my Father where there is life?

Hardly, I want to be like Cinderella