Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Where do you go if you want to understand the work of God's Spirit in a believers life? Many would say John chapters 14 and 16. Still others would say it has to be Ephesians 5: 18-20. Many would point to Galatians chapter 5:16 -26 as the definitive statement on the work of God's Spirit. All these are, in many ways, the correct answer, however the chapter on the work of God's Spirit in a believers life is in Romans 8, and so often it is left out of the equation. The word 'spirit' appears 21 times and 19 of those has to do with the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 8 is one of the foremost chapters on God's Spirit in the entire Scriptures. Please read this chapter very carefully. We live in the age of God's grace shown to us in Christ Jesus, through the power of His Spirit. For review it would be good to remember that chapters did not appear in the original manuscripts. We have been talking about the struggle of sin in a believers life in Romans chapter 7. Paul asked the question, "who can deliver us from this body of sin?" and the answer was Jesus Christ. Now Paul begins to explain the reason why Jesus can deliver us. It is the power of His Spirit that sets us free from the law of sin and death. It is in the here and now that we all have hope that life can be different and by that I mean we can really become like Jesus Christ. Our resources do not work. We have to depend on God's work in us through his Spirit. The condition, as you can see in verse 4, is that we live according to the Spirit. Are you living a Spirit filled life? Well? In many cases that is the only question that matters for a believer. Ponder this question and maybe go over some of the other great chapters and verses on the Holy Spirit's work in the believers life. Have a great week in the Lord Jesus through the power of His Spirit.
Every time we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we mean that we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.
J. B. Phillips (1906–1982)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Romans 7:21-25 (NIV)
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
These verses are very revealing for those interested in the context of the subject Paul is addressing. In verse 22 Paul says, " For in my inner being I delight in God's law." It is a verse like this that I believe that lets us know that Paul is writing these verses in the context of his being a Christian. The word "law" is important in these verses for it is not being used as in the 10 commandments, but in that as a principle is at work in Paul's spirit. Paul also acknowledges that another principle is at work in his body and that law is pulling him toward sin and slavery. The question of all questions is when he asks, "...Who will rescue me from this body of death?" The question is not what can, but who can save me from this body of death. He answers the question in verse 25 where gushes forth with, "Thanks be to Go--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul goes on to explain the victory that is ours right now. The hope we have in Jesus Christ is not only for our future, but also for the here and now. In chapter 8 Paul begins his conclusion on the matter of life in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Read these verses carefully and very prayerfully. Ask God to show you all the richness of the truth that is laid out before us.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law;
23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.
24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
These verses are very revealing for those interested in the context of the subject Paul is addressing. In verse 22 Paul says, " For in my inner being I delight in God's law." It is a verse like this that I believe that lets us know that Paul is writing these verses in the context of his being a Christian. The word "law" is important in these verses for it is not being used as in the 10 commandments, but in that as a principle is at work in Paul's spirit. Paul also acknowledges that another principle is at work in his body and that law is pulling him toward sin and slavery. The question of all questions is when he asks, "...Who will rescue me from this body of death?" The question is not what can, but who can save me from this body of death. He answers the question in verse 25 where gushes forth with, "Thanks be to Go--through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Paul goes on to explain the victory that is ours right now. The hope we have in Jesus Christ is not only for our future, but also for the here and now. In chapter 8 Paul begins his conclusion on the matter of life in the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Read these verses carefully and very prayerfully. Ask God to show you all the richness of the truth that is laid out before us.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Romans 7:14-20
I hope this finds you and your family well. I hope you are looking forward to a great weekend in Christ and working in His fields.
Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Paul has said a mouthful here in just seven verses! This is the Paul that wrote chapter six and told us we are free from sin by the grace of God. Now he comes back and talks about the wrestling match that he has experienced with sin. When you read this, yes read it again, is this the picture of what a Christian faces all their life or is a picture of a Christian who has not discovered the life in the Spirit? Well, what is it? Go to Romans 7 and look at the first four verses and then answer the question. It is my interpretation that Romans 7 is about a person who is trying to live the life of Christ on their own resources. I do not believe that this is a picture of a person without Christ trying to live up to the law because even Paul says 'none is righteous no not one, that none even seek after God'. Either way, it is not about the Christians life until we get to heaven. I do believe some people think when reading chapter 7, "Well, their you go, even Paul tried to do good and still got it wrong so what am I to do?" They forget about chapters 6 and 8. We talk about taking verses out of context and forget that we can take whole chapters out of context. We are free in Christ!!
Christianity promises to make men free; it never promises to make them independent.
William Ralph Inge (1860–1954)
Romans 7:14-20 (NIV)
14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.
17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Paul has said a mouthful here in just seven verses! This is the Paul that wrote chapter six and told us we are free from sin by the grace of God. Now he comes back and talks about the wrestling match that he has experienced with sin. When you read this, yes read it again, is this the picture of what a Christian faces all their life or is a picture of a Christian who has not discovered the life in the Spirit? Well, what is it? Go to Romans 7 and look at the first four verses and then answer the question. It is my interpretation that Romans 7 is about a person who is trying to live the life of Christ on their own resources. I do not believe that this is a picture of a person without Christ trying to live up to the law because even Paul says 'none is righteous no not one, that none even seek after God'. Either way, it is not about the Christians life until we get to heaven. I do believe some people think when reading chapter 7, "Well, their you go, even Paul tried to do good and still got it wrong so what am I to do?" They forget about chapters 6 and 8. We talk about taking verses out of context and forget that we can take whole chapters out of context. We are free in Christ!!
Christianity promises to make men free; it never promises to make them independent.
William Ralph Inge (1860–1954)
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