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Posts Tagged ‘flesh’

Shutting Out the Spiritual Debt Collector – Romans 8:12

29 Mar

(Romans 8:12Romans 8:12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  

WP-Bible plugin)  “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.”

What did the flesh ever do for you?  What benefits did you ever get from the flesh?  What do you owe the flesh?  Just like Lot’s wife, we often look back over our shoulder at the life we left behind as if there was some benefit to the old thinking and the old ways before Christ.  We left that “city” behind for a better life but our thinking is still dominated from time to time with traces and patterns from a lifetime of living in that way.  Just like the lie we accepted before Christ that we could live spiritually independent from the life of God, the flesh will impress on us once again that we have benefited and can benefit from independence from godly thinking.  And so we are left feeling guilty, in debt, and obligated to regain some sense of who we were in our old identity.

A debt is “that which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay or perform to another;”  In this case, there is no official note or instrument of debt.  Debt in this verse is the sense of obligation in the mind of the one who feels they owe. Debt places power in the hands of the one who is owed.  The person who owes is powerless, weak, and in no position to exercise their full rights and liberties.  The spiritual “debt collector” may be knocking at your door today.  It will lie to you.  It will deceive you. It will whisper from the other side calling you back to cravings and appetites wiped away by your new life in Christ.  It will threaten – telling you that you will be alone, regretful, and poor unless you go back to the old sinful life.  It will condemn – telling you that you won’t please God or live a holy life unless you go back to the old religious life.  Don’t let your thinking go there!  This is not who you are in Christ.

The flesh never provided anything for you except temporary pleasure, a false sense of identity, and ultimately a pathway to death.  Your debt is erased.  Your obligations are fulfilled.  Your spiritual account is full.  Keep the door shut on the spiritual “debt collector.”

Renewed Thought – God didn’t save us to live as spiritual paupers constantly answering the knock of the “debt collector.”  We are joint-heirs with the King, the Lord of Glory.

 
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How I Think Is How I Act – Romans 8:5

08 Feb

(Rom 8:5Rom 8:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  

WP-Bible plugin)  “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

There is a verse in the book of Proverbs that starts out, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:…” (Pro 23:7Pro 23:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.  

WP-Bible plugin).  This takes away any excuse of randomness in my actions.  In other words, the things that I do are the direct result of a process that begins in my mind.  The word “are” in Romans 8:5Romans 8:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  

WP-Bible plugin refers to my walk, my lifestyle, my ways.  It is in the Present tense so it points to the life I am living right now.  I am living the way I am living as a result of the way I am thinking.  If I pursue the “things of the flesh” (Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: – Gal 5:20-21Gal 5:20-21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  

WP-Bible plugin) it is because my mind is absorbed with thoughts that are centered in the flesh.  If I pursue the “things of the Spirit” (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: – Gal 5:22-23Gal 5:22-23
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  

WP-Bible plugin) it is because my mind is centered on Christ and He is my source.

I have to constantly re-evaluate what I value.  I have to continually check my priorities.  I have to live in the awareness of what I am pursuing.  The world tries to lull us to sleep so that we live a life in a semi-conscious state only to wake up one day in realization that we wasted time and disregarded the opportunities of the Spirit.  This spiritual battle of a conscious pursuit of God is the struggle between flesh and spirit.  The stakes are life and death:  will my Christian life resemble spiritual life or death?

I have to constantly be aware of the environment and those who I pursue in fellowship.  If my environment is characterized by the works of the flesh or those surrounding me are living according to the flesh, I have to re-prioritize and evaluate whether I need to change my environment.  Many churches believe they are only centered in Christ and only preach the Word of God, but when you get inside the door, there is only strife, wrath and division.  This is not healthy.  This is not the mind of the Spirit.  Where there is no peace, longsuffering, gentleness, or meekness, there is not a true work of the Spirit.  Again, the stakes are life and death:  will I live a resurrection-powered life or will I live a life that mirrors who I was before I came to Christ?

Renewed Thought – Lord, give me the strength and focus to re-evaluate my values and priorities today.  Root out those things that are not centered on You.  Root out those relationships that draw my mind away from You.  Be the Source of my strength and every thought.

 
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Sin Has No Right – Romans 8:3

01 Feb

(Romans 8:3Romans 8:3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: for sin: or, by a sacrifice for sin  

WP-Bible plugin)  “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”

The Law could forbid me.  The Law could scold my conscience.  The Law could correct me.  But what could the Law not do?  It could not free me from the law of sin and death! In my Christian walk, every time I try to live according to the letter of the law, I face condemnation.  I am not able to escape failure under the law.  I see my own inadequacies.  But when I come back to the source, the center of my identity, I realize once again that in Christ Jesus there is no condemnation.  My sinful flesh is weak and powerless to fulfill the law.  My sinful flesh is unable to meet the righteous requirements of God.

God’s plan is not for me to receive constant condemnation.  God’s plan is not for me to bear a continual burden in my soul as a reminder of my past.  God’s plan was to turn the tables on sin and the flesh.  Instead of condemning my spirit, “sin in the flesh” received the condemnation.

When the Lord Jesus died on the cross, sin in my flesh was condemned.  When I placed my faith in Him, God rewrote my history so that Christ became my Adam.  My past link to the first Adam was removed and my life is now eternally linked to the second Adam, Who is Christ.

(1 Corinthians 15:451 Corinthians 15:45
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.  

WP-Bible plugin)  “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

Because sin stands condemned, it has no right to operate in me.  Sin is a convict without a home.  When I choose to sin, I am choosing to allow something without spiritual rights and privileges to have power over me.  Therefore, sin operates illegally when it has free reign to work through me.

Renewed Thought – Thank you Lord that my history is defined by Christ alone.  Sin has no legal right over me today.  I choose to be a servant of You and I choose to be defined by You in all that I am.

 
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Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself – Galatians 5:14

25 Jun

(Galatians 5:14Galatians 5:14
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  

WP-Bible plugin)  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

The capacity for love in the flesh is hinged on performance.  It is bound by outward manifestation.  It is measured by what we see.  This type of love seeks to give love based on love received.  This is how the flesh attempts to fulfill the law.  If I am to love my neighbor as myself, I need a greater love.  I need a love that transcends the need for receiving before it can give.

The problem is, in my flesh I do not even know how to love myself.  The natural man perceives self based on performance.  The fleshly self-image is based on job promotions, sports statistics, bank account balances, car model driven, relationships, number of followers, political power, and intelligence.  This gives the flesh self-esteem.  But self-esteem is not love.  This is a mistake and deception.  Even if I have everything my flesh wants, I still don’t have the capacity to truly love myself. I need a love that transcends my self-esteem.

God’s love is unconditional – it gives without asking anything in return.  This is the defining characteristic of grace.  God’s love values others more than it values self.  This is agape.  In Christ, I have the love of God – this is what allows me to love myself as God loves me!

(Romans 5:5Romans 5:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  

WP-Bible plugin)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Once I have the capacity to love as God loves, I can love my neighbor as I love myself – not with my love but with God’s love.  This capacity for fulfilling the inward aspect of the law is now possible!  The righteousness of God makes it possible as I pursue walking in the Spirit.

(Romans 8:4Romans 8:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  

WP-Bible plugin)  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

This is a love that uses freedom to exercise self-control.  This is a love that prays for those who injure.  This is a love that doesn’t seek retribution.  This is a love willing to sacrifice self for the sake of others.  This is the love of Christ abiding within.

Renewed Thought – The world sees the reality of Christ in our love for others.

 
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Waiting For The Hope – Galatians 5:5

12 Jun

(Galatians 5:5Galatians 5:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  

WP-Bible plugin)  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Once again Paul is going back to the exhortation in Galatians 5:1Galatians 5:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.  

WP-Bible plugin to “stand fast” and “be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”  These are phrases that point to the daily Christian walk.  He is showing the Galatians the contrast between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit.  This is the difference between walking under grace and walking under the law.  The flesh believes its behavior according to a system of rules can attain righteousness.  By depending on self, there is a basic assumption that a God-pleasing, consistent Christian life is possible through actions performed by self right now.  Self-righteousness assumes there is no need for external righteousness.  The flesh is consumed with self-sufficiency that blocks out the need or desire for a greater righteousness.  The flesh leads us to believe we can live righteously to the point where the flesh itself is perfected.  The flesh impatiently demands more of itself than is humanly possible.

Contrast the walk in the flesh with the spiritual mind.  We depend on the patience produced by the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of God leads us to live in dependency on a righteousness that is not ours.  We depend on the righteousness produced by Christ in us.  It is in this alone that the Spirit leads us to live a life of obedience to God.  God is not making demands on our flesh to conform.  He is shaping, molding, and guiding us in a transformation.  This takes time.  We serve a God Who makes change permanent.  The change conforming us to Christ is an everlasting change.  We are led closer and closer each day we walk in the Spirit towards living according to the true identity we have in Christ.  Looking in the mirror, we don’t see this change.  Our mortal bodies still bear the marks of sin – age, disease, imperfection.  But once again, the Holy Spirit produces patience in us to look forward in hope.  The righteousness God is producing inside of us will one day be manifest in our immortal bodies as our physical bodies are eternally transformed to match our identity in Christ.  Until then, the Holy Spirit produces patience as we wait for that day “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13Titus 2:13
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; glorious...: Gr. the appearance of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ  

WP-Bible plugin)

Renewed Thought -

“My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary.” – Norman J. Clayton

 
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