There are a lot of people these days who are “cherry picking”
scriptures which support their lifestyle choices, while they often ignore the
context, as a whole, from which those scriptures are drawn.
This first verse here in Romans 8 is one of those
scriptures. For, these people assume they are “in Christ Jesus” merely because
they made a profession of faith in Christ, or merely because they made some
acknowledgment as to who he is as the Lord, the Christ, the Son of God. Or, perhaps
it was because they repeated some words after someone in a prayer where they
were then congratulated that they are now in God’s family.
But, is that all there is to it to be “in Christ”? Or, is
there more to it?
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4 ESV
So, what happens is they read verse 1 and they stop there,
they claim they are in Christ, and therefore they are no longer under
condemnation, no matter how they live their lives from that point forward; no
matter how much they willfully and knowingly deny Christ, disobey his commands,
and walk in sinful rebellion against Almighty God. So, they console themselves.
But, we have to keep reading. For, if we keep reading we
soon learn who those are who are “in Christ.” They are those who walk (in
practice) not according to (in agreement with) the flesh (sin nature) but
according to the Spirit of God and his holiness and righteousness. These people
are those who are not under condemnation, for they are the ones in whom the
righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled. They are the children of God.
For, you see, Jesus didn’t die on that cross that horrible
death just so we could be forgiven our sin and no longer be under condemnation.
He died that we might die with him to sin and live with him to righteousness.
He died that we might no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave his
life up for us. With his blood shed on a cross for our sins he bought us back
for God so that we would now be God’s possession, and so we would now glorify
God with our lives (1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Co. 5:15, 21; Tit. 2:14; 1 Co. 6:20).
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:5-8 ESV
So, what does it mean to live according to the flesh? It
means the flesh is still on the throne of our lives. The flesh is still in
control. Our minds and our hearts are set on pleasing the flesh, not on
pleasing God with our lives. Though we may profess faith in Jesus Christ, we
feel his grace gives us license to sin without guilt and without punishment. And,
so we habitually sin against God, committing the same (often premeditated) sins
over and over again, while lying about them and while making excuses for them.
This type of lifestyle will end in death, because it is opposed to God and his
law.
And, what does it look like to live according to the Spirit?
It means the Spirit is the one in control and Christ is on the throne of our
lives. It means we want to please God with our lives for Jesus delivered us
from our slavery to sin, and now the Holy Spirit lives within us empowering us
to live to his righteousness. It means we are developing a relationship with
Almighty God through genuine God-given faith in Jesus Christ, and so we are in
his Word daily learning what he requires of us, and then in his power we are
walking in obedience to what he shows us (Rom. 6:1-23; Eph. 4:17-24).
Nonetheless, it is possible for even those who have genuine
faith in Jesus Christ to still sin against God, because we live in flesh bodies
(1 Jn. 2:1-2). And, it is possible, too, for those who had been walking daily
by the Spirit of God to wander off for a time and to need to be brought back to
fellowship with the Lord via repentance (See Rev. 2-3).
But, God looks at our lives from beginning to end, and he
sees who has genuine faith, and who does not. And, he sets the standard for how
we must live. And he says if, in lifestyle, we habitually sin against God, as a
matter of course, as our consistent conduct, then we don’t have eternal life
with God. For, if we make sinning against God our regular practice, we don’t
really know God, we are just going through the motions. So, we need to get
this, for too many people have the idea that their conduct will not impact
their relationships with God or their eternal security.
“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:12-14 ESV
This makes it quite clear that our conduct does matter, and
how we live our lives on this earth, either for the flesh or for God, will
affect our eternity.
But, this is not works-based salvation. This is not us
trying to be good enough to earn or to deserve God’s grace. This is not about
our good deeds outweighing our bad deeds. For, not one of us can be saved by
good works. But, when Jesus Christ saves us from our sins, he saves us to good works
(Eph. 2:8-10).
So, this is the deal here. We can only be saved by God’s
grace through God-given and divine-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ, and only
because of what Jesus did for us in dying for our sins and in rising from the
dead victorious over sin and Satan. We are all totally dependent on Jesus
Christ to save us from our sins. I believe we can all agree on that (most of
us).
But, this is where it breaks down, and this is where a lot
of people have been deceived, and that is in thinking that some mere profession
of faith in Jesus or some mere acknowledgment of him is enough to secure them
eternal life with God. They think that some prayer they prayed at one time in
their life means they are saved from their sins, heaven is secured, and that is
all they need. But, is it? No! Not according to scripture.
So, let me try to put it in a nutshell for you. If we read
the New Testament from beginning to end, word by word and phrase by phrase, in
context, and if we interpret the scriptures in context, it will become clear
that some or all of what we were taught about our salvation may not be true.
For, it becomes clear that our salvation from sin is not past tense alone, but
it is present tense and future tense, and it won’t be complete until Jesus
returns.
And, then it begins to make sense when we read all these
many scriptures which state that it is those who walk (in practice) according
to the Spirit who have eternal life with God, and that we have to continue in
that walk until the very end, too. It doesn’t mean there won’t be blips in the
road, at times, but that our desire is for God to do his will and we are not
living to please our flesh or making excuses in order to keep on in sinful
addictions.
So, if you have this notion that your lifestyle or your
addictions will not impact your eternal security, then know what the scriptures
teach, for they say if we live according to the flesh, we will die, but if by
the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, then we will live.
For, we will all reap what we sow. If we sow to please the flesh, from the
flesh we will reap destruction. But, if we sow to please the Spirit, then from
the Spirit we will reap eternal life (Gal. 6:7-8). So, know the truth, and live
the truth.
The
Letters
An
Original Work / December 17, 2013
Based
off Revelation 2-3
To the angels of all the churches write:
These are the words of your Lord and your God.
I know all your deeds, and your witness, too,
And who holds to My words and tells what’s true.
I know all your hard work and your perseverance,
Yet I hold against you: you’ve forsaken Me.
Listen to what I say to you.
You have people there who deny My name,
And who put the cross of Christ up to shame.
They entice the people to Me, profane,
And their worship of Me is all in vain.
They are so adult’rous as they chase their idols,
And you put up with them easily enough.
Listen to what I say to you.
You give off an image of godliness,
But what you present is so fraudulent,
Or else you lack passion for Jesus Christ,
So you look to others to tell what’s right.
I say turn from your sin, or you will face judgment.
He who overcomes will have eternal life.
Listen to what I say to you.
I know your afflictions and poverty;
How you suffer for your Lord patiently.
Do not fear the devil and company.
You be faithful to your Lord endlessly.
I know all your weakness and your dedication.
You have kept My Word and not denied your Lord.
I will write on you My new name.
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