“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. 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 8:1-8 ESV)
Please read the Scriptures in their context! So many people are taking Scriptures out of context and are making them to say what they do not say if read in context. Too many people are reading this first sentence only, and they are making their doctrine of salvation out of that. But we have to keep reading to get the complete picture here, for we need to understand what it means to be “in Christ.” For we are not “in Christ” just because we make a profession of him as Lord and as Savior of our lives.
For far too many people who are calling Jesus “Lord” do not make him Lord (Owner-Master) of their lives and themselves his servants (his possession) to be ruled by him. And far too many people who call him “Savior,” indicating that he has saved them from their sins, are still walking in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord, and not in walks of holiness and righteousness in obedience to our Lord. But Jesus died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, not so that we can continue in deliberate sin (1 Peter 2:24).
So, what’s it say here? It says that God the Father, by sending his own Son (Jesus) in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, 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. What Jesus did for us on that cross in putting our sins to death with him was for the purpose that we would die with him to sin (see Romans 6:1-23) and that we would now walk no longer according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
If we are to be made right with God, to be forgiven of our sins, and to have the hope of eternal life with God, it requires that we die with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily (see Luke 9:23-26), and that we walk in holiness and in righteousness in walks of obedience to our Lord and to his commands. For if we live according to the flesh, it leads to death. But if we live according to the Spirit, that ends in eternal life with God (see Galatians 5:16-21). So, we need to know what the Scriptures teach, in context.
So, those who are “in Christ” are those who have died with Christ to sin, who are dying to sin daily, by the Spirit, and who are walking in obedience to the Lord and to his commands. They are not those who just make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and assume all their sins are forgiven and that they are on their way to heaven (see Matthew 7:21-23). For we can claim to be in fellowship and to know him, but if we make sin our practice and not obedience to our Lord, we are liars (see 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6).
For what we set our minds on is what we do, i.e. what we produce. So if our minds are set on what is of the flesh, and so we live to fulfill the desires of the flesh, then we are not in relationship with Jesus Christ (God), but we are hostile to him, for we are not submitting ourselves to God’s commands. For we can’t if our minds are set on the flesh and not on the Spirit, and not on walks of obedience to our Lord. Thus, those who are still living in the flesh cannot please God, because they are not living to please the Lord Jesus.
“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)
You see? It says it right here. If we live according to the flesh, we will die. And living according to the flesh means we live to please the flesh and not to please God. And things such as lying, cheating, stealing, gossiping, slander, maliciousness, sexual immorality, deception, worldliness and unfaithfulness are what we practice. And honesty, integrity, moral purity, uprightness, godliness, faithfulness, kindness, and self-control are not what we practice. And according to the Scriptures, we will not inherit eternal life with God.
But, if by the Spirit, we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh (dying daily to sin and to self), then we will live with Christ for eternity, providing that we continue in these walks of faith and in obedience to our Lord unto the very end. For it is not all who profess faith in Jesus Christ who are the children of God, but it is all who are being led by the Spirit and who are walking according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh, who are the legitimate children of God and heirs to his heavenly kingdom.
[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
The Debt We Owe
An Original Work / July 2, 2011
I adore You, Lord, my Master.
I worship and praise You, King.
You are such an awesome God who
Loves us so much, grace You bring.
You died to save us from our sin
So that we could be set free.
I adore You, Lord, my Master.
I worship and praise You, King.
Lord, You are our Great Redeemer.
You paid the debt that we owe,
So that we might be forgiven,
And our God we’d come to know;
Be transformed to be like Jesus,
Who conquered, in death, our foe.
Lord, You are our Great Redeemer.
You paid the debt that we owe.
Jesus our Messiah, Savior,
Lord and Master, King of kings,
You provided our redemption,
So we’d live in victory.
From our sin and self You ransomed
Us for all eternity.
Jesus our Messiah, Savior,
Lord and Master, King of kings.
https://vimeo.com/127354829
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