Romans 8:3-4 ESV
“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.”
Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, and by God-given
faith in Jesus Christ, we are delivered from our slavery to sin, we are given
new lives in Christ Jesus to be lived for him, and we are empowered of the
Spirit of God to walk according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh.
This is the power of the cross! This is what it means to be
free in Christ Jesus, our Lord! This is what it means to be being saved, for we
are not just saved from the punishment of sin, but we are saved from our
addiction to sin, and from the control of sin and Satan over our lives.
Jesus didn’t die on that cross just to forgive us our sins,
but to transform our lives, to turn us from darkness to light and from the
power of Satan to God, that we might receive forgiveness of sins and a place
among those sanctified (made holy) by God-given faith in Jesus Christ (Act 26:18;
Eph 4:17-24).
So, if we want to be free from condemnation, and if we want
to be free in Christ and to have our sins forgiven, then we need to understand
that our salvation is a lifestyle, not a status, and not just our identity. It
is us walking (living, conducting our lives) in agreement and in cooperation
with the Spirit of God and no longer in agreement and in cooperation with our
flesh.
Romans 8:5-8 ESV
“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.”
So, what does it mean to live according to the flesh? It is
to set our minds on the flesh. And, for us to set our minds in a particular
direction, it has to do with the determination of our minds to go (to live)
that way. Our minds are fixed (resolute) in this direction, thus our actions
follow suit.
A lot of this has to do with what we choose to take into our
minds every day, too. For, if we are filling our minds with the junk of this
world, and with what is immoral and wicked, then that is the direction our
minds and our actions are going to go. So, garbage in, garbage out, basically.
And, the same applies regarding having our minds set on the
Spirit. This is a choice of our wills to choose the Spirit over the flesh. It
is a choice to set our minds towards God or towards the flesh. And, to set our
minds on the things of the Spirit means not only that we are determined to go
this direction, but we choose to take into our minds what is of God and not of
this sinful world.
So, instead of spending our free time surfing the internet,
browsing through social media looking for fun and entertainment, or willfully
going to what is immoral and wicked, we spend that time in the Word of God, in
prayer, or in some activity that is wholesome and that does not distract us
from our faith.
We intentionally fill our minds with what is of the Spirit
of God, and which is of the Word of God, and then we intentionally share with
other believers what we are learning for their encouragement, and so that they
will also be intentional about their walks of faith and regarding where their
minds are going.
And, we must understand here that for the true believer in
Jesus Christ this is not optional. For to set our minds on the flesh is death.
To live according to the flesh is death. The only way we are going to have life
in Christ everlasting is if our minds are set (fixed) on the Spirit of God and
if our lifestyles follow suit.
If our minds are fixed on the flesh, and on doing what our
flesh desires, then we are living in hostility to God, for we do not submit to
God’s law, indeed we cannot, because we are still in the flesh and not in the
Spirit. So, if our minds are set on the flesh, we cannot please God. We are not
acceptable to God. We don’t know God and he doesn’t know us (1 Jn 2:3-6; Rom
6:1-23).
Romans 8:12-14 ESV
“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.”
Many people are teaching today that we don’t owe God
anything. They say that because his grace is free, and our salvation is a free
gift of God’s grace, that it means we owe God nothing. They say we don’t have
to repent of sin, walk in obedience to Christ, or honor him as Lord of our
lives.
But they aren’t understanding what the free gift is or why
it is free. For “free” doesn’t mean we can now live however we want and still
be saved from our sin and still be bound for heaven. “Free” means that we are
now free of the control of sin and Satan over our lives, that we are free from
our slavery to sin, and now we are free to be slaves of Christ’s righteousness.
For, as followers of Jesus, we are debtors to God to no
longer live according to our flesh, but to now live according to the Spirit,
and by the Spirit to be putting to death the misdeeds of the flesh. If we do that,
we will live. If we keep living according to the flesh, we will die.
For, it is all who are led by the Spirit who are the
children of God. It is all who are listening to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit,
and who are following the Lord in obedience to his word, and to his
instructions to us under the New Covenant, who are God’s children, and who have
eternal life with God.
Enough for My God
By G. M. Eldridge
In God is the light, the brightest day.
He taught me to walk the narrow way,
Yet still I chose the path that was broad:
O, how could I be enough for my God?
With mercy so sweet, He led me along.
He held my hand, and gave me a song,
Yet still I sinned, a shameful fraud:
O, how could I be enough for my God?
I never had dreamed the day I’d see
the Son of God, who died for me,
Yet here by His side, I stand in awe:
Washed by His blood, enough for my God.
And who could forgive all the sins and the flaws?
O, how could I be enough for my God?
But gently He’ll lead by staff and by rod,
And help me to be enough for my God.
I just want to be Enough for You, God!
*Caution: This link may contain ads
*Used by Permission
No comments:
Post a Comment