The Past is more than History

Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. This very popular quote came to my mind today. You may wonder why the Church spends so much time remembering the past. Some may think it is because we honor those who came before us. That is only history. The past is something more. The past is a lesson.

Brethren, if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Then as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all men. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 5:17-21; 6:1-2

In today’s reading from Romans, Saint Paul is teaching. He isn’t just remembering. We are being taught that since Jesus died, we are brought to righteousness. That is the remembering part. The lesson part comes at the end. “How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

It isn’t enough just to remember that Christ died and now we can be saved. We must learn from history. If we remain in our sins, we are spiting on the one who released us from prison. Since we have been set free from sin we must run away and never look back.

If we forget what really took place when Christ died on the Cross and was raised from the dead and then ascended into heaven, we are doomed to repeat our sin and remain slaves. Just something to inspire you to repentance.