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Posts Tagged ‘Romans’

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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Posted in Devotional

 

Free From Condemnation – Romans 8:1

25 Jan

(Romans 8:1Romans 8:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
8 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  

WP-Bible plugin)  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The burden of condemnation is a heavy weight.  Condemnation results in imprisonment.  Condemnation results in guilt.  Condemnation results in doubt.  God declares our righteousness and forgiveness for past offenses through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 4:24-25Romans 4:24-25
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.  

WP-Bible plugin).  Yet many of us still suffer under the unbearable load of condemnation every day.

We look at our daily lives and it just doesn’t seem to be what we think it should.  This is especially true as we are now a few weeks past a new year when resolutions were made and plans were laid down to become a better person.  Your plans to lose weight, stop smoking, or eat better have fallen through.  Maybe you had a plan to be a more consistent Christian.  You promised yourself that you would go to church more, pray more, read more, witness more.  But all the things you promised yourself or God haven’t worked out…and you feel condemned for failing to be who you ought to be and who you wanted to be.

Christian, take heart!  This passage was written to encourage us and lift us up!  I travel occasionally on business and have to go through Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C.  Every time I travel there, I miss the road signs guiding me out of the airport.  I get lost and have to backtrack to where I started.  It’s discouraging.  Just like my frustrating travel adventures, many of us miss the road signs guiding us out of one subject in the book of Romans into another.  We have to backtrack to get an idea of where we are.  The context in this section is about our practical walk in the Christian life.  The condemnation in this passage describes our relationship to the Law.  Our relationship to the penalty of sin was dealt with in Romans chapters 1-5.  In this passage, we see our position and the practical side of our identity in Christ.  We are not under a system of performance.  We are not condemned by our failures to live up to the plans, programs and performance-based systems set down in our own minds or by those around us!  We are given principles and promises as those “in Christ Jesus.”  But just like salvation, the answer to deal with the condemnation is not in our righteousness or our own ability to measure up.  We are delivered today again and again and again by the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 7:24-25Romans 7:24-25
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? the body...: or, this body of death 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  

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Renewed Thought – We condemn ourselves because we don’t believe God.  We feel condemned by the Law because we don’t believe God.  The cross is God’s answer to self-condemnation.  Grace is God’s answer to the bondage of the law.

 
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Posted in Devotional

 

Freedom Without The Schoolmaster – Galatians 3:25

23 Apr

(Galatians 3:25Galatians 3:25
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  

WP-Bible plugin)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

In Greek society, a “schoolmaster” (paidagōgos) was a guardian or guide.  The schoolmaster was far more than a teacher.  Thayer tells us, “Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class.”  In Paul’s time, the schoolmaster governed the behavior, regulated the friendships, and provided punishment when necessary.  Here, the “schoolmaster” was the Law of Moses (Galatians 3:24Galatians 3:24
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  

WP-Bible plugin).  The Law governed the behavior (“thou shalt…thou shalt not”).  The Law regulated friendships (e.g. Leviticus 18:24Leviticus 18:24
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:  

WP-Bible plugin).  The Law provided punishment (Leviticus 26:14-39Leviticus 26:14-39
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: 16 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. over: Heb. upon 17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you. 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. 21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. contrary...: or, at all adventures with me 22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate. 23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me; 24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied. 27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat. 30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you. 31 And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours. 32 And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. 36 And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. shaken: Heb. driven 37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.  

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“But” is a great word celebrating a change in the relationship between God and man!  God no longer deals with man on the basis of the “schoolmaster.”  Although the Law still points out sin, we do not live under a performance based system for blessing and cursing.  Grace is the operative system God uses today to regulate our behavior.  Grace working in us points us to friendships.  The Holy Spirit working in combination with the doctrine of grace convicts us when we do wrong.

We are not escorted from place to place, as school children, with a careful eye ensuring we perform up to the standard.  As children of God in Christ, we are free to choose a life without the pressure of the Law.  Some may see this as a license to live according to the flesh.  How short-sighted and insulting to all that God accomplished for us!  No, we are free to live a life governed not by the Law system, but by God’s grace.  The power and motivation of grace rests not in the letter of commandment.  The power and motivation rests in something more costly and precious than we could ever conceive:  The Cross.

Renewed Thought – The motivation of God’s grace comes through the cross working in my daily life.

 
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Posted in Devotional, Theology