Good morning,
Romans 8 takes us from the cradle to the grave. It begins declaring “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,”, salvation and ends declaring “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”, everlasting life. In-between Paul addresses the battle between the Spirit and the flesh, promises to the believer, the Holy Spirit’s ministry, and the four things God has done for us.
Romans 8:1-13 tell us about our new life in Christ.
1. No Condemnation to those in Christ Jesus (8:1-4)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.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: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. Spirit-led or Carnally minded (8:5-13)
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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Jesus’ payment for our sin debt “…hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Our salvation was purchased by Jesus blood on the cross and His resurrection from the grave.
However, we must then make a choice whom to follow, the flesh or the Spirit of God. The flesh does not please God and results in death. The Spirit filled life results in life and peace.
What should our choice be?
Tomorrow we will look at promises God declares to us.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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