Friday, December 23, 2016

Romans 8:3



Romans 8:3
"“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh,
God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

What the Law Could Not Do

1. Law was a tutor. Wikipedia states: “A tutor is an instructor who gives private lessons.” Galatians 3:24: “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”
2. Law was a shadow. Colossians 2:17: “things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” In New Living Translation word's, “For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.” Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The Old Testament law was like writing a check or using a credit card to pay for our sin. The payment would be made later. The check or credit card is a promise to pay later.
3. The law was weak. Romans 7:18 and following explains that the law does not change anything. Flesh still dominates when we try to live by the law. Hebrews 7:18 says the Old Testament commandments were weak and useless.

Jesus was the plan from long ago. Isaiah 53:5-8
Jesus became a man to pay our debt of sin for us, condemning sin in the flesh.
Hebrews 2:14-17

The law was never meant to bring righteousness. It was meant as a tutor to bring us to Christ. (Galatians 3:4) It never would work, as we see how the law tripped up Adam and Eve. It trips each of us because we are not made to keep rules directly.

The law shows us our need. Many reject Christianity because of the many rules they don't want to keep. Yet, because of this very problem, Jesus came. We are not to keep rules but live for Jesus. And living for Jesus will cause us to keep the rules by loving others and God!

People can't love, (with God's kind of love), without the new birth. It is the new birth and Christ in us that empowers us to love. Love supersedes the law because if we love we will obey the law. Love expresses itself in obedience. And it this obedience that the law is seeking for. Jesus takes our eyes off the problem and onto something else. We then become Christ centered rather than self-centered. We need to die to ourselves and live for Christ. Live as Christ centered, not as self-centered.

Romans 7 discusses the inability to live by keeping the rules. Paul mentioned himself a number of times in Romans 7. The end of the chapter states we are free from living under the curse of the law and we can now live in the law of the Spirit of Christ.

What was the law trying to do? It was trying to atone for the sin of the people. The sacrifices were only a type of what Christ was going to do.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Romans 8:2




“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Life in the Spirit: The law of the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and of death. Further passages in Romans 8 show that where we put our mind takes us either to life in the Spirit or to sin and death.

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” Galatians 5:13 “you were called to freedom.” Before, there was a struggle, but when the Spirit is introduced or utilized, there is no conflict. Romans 7 talks of the war within. As we live in the law of the Spirit, we are free.

Jesus says in John 6 that we need to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have life. He said this to the Pharisees to get them to stumble over His words. Jesus explains later, in verse 63, that the words He speaks are his flesh. We have life by meditating, pondering, considering and then doing the words of Jesus.

John 1:14 states “the word was made flesh and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the word (John 1:1) and he came to earth born of a virgin. When He was of age, He started His ministry.

John 5:24 When we believe what Jesus says, we are eating the words of Jesus. We are taking them into our life and letting them be part of us.

The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is how the Holy Spirit acts. The Holy Spirit is the giver of life. John. 6:63

A law is a regulation that happens every time. It is not something will happen at times and at other times it won't happen. The law of gravity works all the time. A law will work unless another law will supersede it. The law of aerodynamics will supersede the law of gravity. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus will supersede the law of sin and of death!

When we set our mind on the things above, we are operating in this law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. What are the things of the Spirit? It is the words of God. (John 6:63) The things of the Spirit is doing what the Word of God says to do. God's words to us are spirit and life. Putting our mind on these words brings life to our spirit. Putting our mind on the things of the Spirit brings life when we believe them and act on them.

What is the law of sin and of death? Taking the above definition and flipping it causes me to believe that if we set our mind on things contrary to God, we are trapped in sin. So, the battle of living in the spirit or the flesh is in our mind. Our mind is where our soul is. The decision of how to live is in our soul or our mind. Our spirit is reborn at salvation. This energizing force within gives us the desire to live for God. Deciding to reject the old way and live in the Spirit of God comes from putting our mind on the things of the Spirit of God.

Romans 7:14,23 talk of this trap of the law of sin. The law of the Spirit will supersede the law of sin and death when we use it. As we renew our mind, (Romans 12:1,2) we don't consider the temptation of Satan, but look to the promise of victory in Christ. Consider the law of gravity. It works every time. But when the law of aerodynamics is used, the law of gravity no longer works. We can fly in the Spirit above the law of sin and death. When we let up and coast, the law of sin and death comes back into play. When we put our mind on the things of the Spirit, the law of sin and death stops working. The next few verses on Romans 8 explain how to use the law of the Spirit.

8 Laws in Romans From Dake Bible notes
Law of Moses Rom 2:12; 3:19; 7:12
Law of nature Rom 2:14,15
Law of faith Rom 3:27; 4:3-5; 11:24
Law of the mind Rom 7:16,21,23
Law of sin 8:23,8:22
Law of righteousness 9:31
Law of God 7:22,25
Law of the Spirit of life, that is the Holy Spirit that works through the redemption of Christ to make free from and to cancel the law of sin and death in all who are in Christ (8:2)

Believe and Speak

Isaiah 51:16 “I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, to establish the heavens, to found the earth, and to say to Zion, Your are My people.”

Exodus 33:22 “and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.”

Isaiah 49:2 “He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow.”

Some may say this is speaking of Jesus, it is not applicable to us. John 20:21 “... as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  It is God's purpose for us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.  Jesus  is the first born from the dead. Col 1:18 We also can live as Jesus leads us from His example  because, we are new creatures in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17

We can walk in the same anointing as Jesus had. It was after Jesus was baptised in water that the Holy Spirit came on Him. Matt 3:16 It was after the temptations in the wilderness that Jesus ministered in the Holy Spirit and power. Luke 4:14

Our baptism in the Holy Spirit allows the power of God in our ministry as we believe. Each trial brings us to perfection as we set our mind on the Spirit and not the flesh. James 1:2-4

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Romans 8:1



Romans 8:1 

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Therefore

The word “therefore” is there because Paul refers to himself in the previous chapter, Romans 7, fifty-three times in his futile attempts to live righteously. After much struggle, he comes to the revelation that the answer is Jesus. The rest of Romans 8 explains this.

Now

We live by faith in the now. The past is the past. The future is the future.  Now speaks of what is going on currently. Life is happening now. Faith happens now. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  We can't live on past faith. If you don't have faith now, you don't have faith. You can't rely on the faith of the past if it is not faith now.

Don't put off believing what you have learned from the Scriptures. Don't put off doing what God has directed you to do. If we don't act on the word we hear, it is susceptible to being lost. For example, in the parable of the Sower, the seeds sown on roadside soil were lost because the birds ate them. We lose God's input if we don't receive His words immediately. When we hear a teaching it is important to ponder what we have heard with thought and prayer so that we can incorporate it into our life.

The rushing to get to church and then when it is over rushing to get to the next thing is detrimental to spiritual growth. Instead, use church and devotions as preparation for your future. Because of this tendency to rush I think the preacher should give time for prayer after the sermon.

In the past (Old Testament times), there was condemnation. If one tried to live according to the Jewish law there was condemnation, because no one is justified by the law. Trusting in God by sacrifice was okay as long as one kept the sacrifice. Those who lived without law, such as Gentiles, were under condemnation because they did not even live according to the law that was in their mind. 

The prefix, con, means to know, learn or study. Science means knowledge. Everyone has a conscience (the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself). Our sin nature condemns us to be judged by the laws of the Old Testament or the law of our conscience. Either way, we could not live up to this expectation and were condemned by God to eternal punishment.

Now no condemnation

Because of Jesus and our life with Him, there is now no condemnation. We are free from condemnation because of the blood of Jesus. Now there is no condemnation because of the work of Christ on the cross. We are free from condemnation because of our new life in Jesus. We are new creatures in Christ. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor 5:17)  

Does your conscience bother you? Put your past under the blood of Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sin. State to your conscience and to our enemy that our past has been forgiven. We are free to live with a clear conscience without condemnation. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We can live free from condemnation and have a clear conscience before God and not be under worry from the past. Yes, if you commit sin there is a cost in this world. But we can continue to minister to others, for our life is hid in Christ. 

Are we making a mistake? There is no condemnation. Have we made a mistake in the past? There is no condemnation. Do we think we will make a mistake in the future?  There is no condemnation.

This does not mean there is not a cost to sin. If we sin there is a cost to pay in this world. Don't use your freedom for a license to sin. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal. 5:13) Use your freedom to serve God.

A note about the cost of sin. When we sin, our heart becomes hardened to the Scriptures. With this hardened heart we have difficulty in believing the teachings of Jesus. Sin will destroy our life if we let it. It will destroy our health, our finances, and our relationships.

Stay in the word and your tendency to sin will diminish greatly. 

Those who are in Christ Jesus

What does it mean to be in Christ? (2 Cor 5:17) Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creation. We are in Christ at salvation. It is salvation that puts us in Christ.

Thoughts on repentance:
As I was thinking of this repentance here in Isaiah I thought of my meditations on Romans 8. In Romans 7 & 8 is there nothing about repentance?

The absence of repentance in Romans 7 & 8 is deafening. Because of this the effort of repentance is best spent in just turning to Christ and not putting anymore effort into the repentance.

The effort of repentance is not asking forgiveness from God but turning from a mind on the flesh to a mind on the Spirit. Just a quick turning. Repentance is not saying I'm sorry, but following the dictates of the Spirit Romans 8:14 and being about the business you are led to do by the words of the Spirit.


Of course if you have hurt someone you should ask forgiveness and if you have sinned against God, apologize for the wrong. But God is not after a prayer of forgiveness but a life turned to doing what He is asking us to do So the best repentance is to obey fully.  


Blessings of being In Christ 
Redemption 3:24 1 Cor 1:30
Freedom from condemnation 8:1,2,8,9,10,11. 
Spirit of Life Rom 8:2
Love of God 8:39; 1 Tim 1:14
Truth Rom 9:1
Unity  12:15; Gal 3:28
Faith Acts 24:24 1 Tim 3:13
Sanctification 1 Cor 1:2,30
Wisdom 1 cor 1:30 4
Righteousness 1 Cor 1:30
God is our Father 1 Cor 4:15
Hope 1 Cor 15:19
Security in death 1 Cor 15:18
Resurrection 1 Cor 15:1; 1 Thes 4
Joy 1 Cor 15:31
Establishment in God 2 Cor 1:21
Triumph 2 Cor 2:14
Pure Scripture  2 Cor 2:17 
Law abolished 2 Cor 3:6-15
New creation 2 Cor 5:17,18
Simplicity 2 Cor 11:3
Liberty Gal 2:4
All spiritual blessings Eph 1:3
Power Eph 1:20
Heavenly Places Eph 2:6
Nearness Of God Eph 2:13
Eternal Purpose Eph 3:11
Self Humbling Phil 2:5
High calling Phil 3:14
Perfection Col 1:28
Eternal life 2 Tim 2:10
Grace 2 Tim 2:1
Salvation 2 Tim 2:10
Preservation Jude 1
This list from the Dake Bible 

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Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Psalm 29 Worship, Hear and Obey


 

Ascribe to the Lord O sons of the mighty. Are we sons of God? Yes we are! Jesus called God His Father and the Pharisees thought it was blasphemy. They knew the Bible but they did not know God. 

Jesus said if they knew Moses they would follow the works of Moses and know that Jesus did the works of God. They rejected the works of Jesus. 

 There are 3 ascribes and one worship in the beginning of the psalm. Then in the Psalm there are 7 voices of God. When we worship God we will hear God. 

 Ascribe to the Lord O sons of the mighty. As we act on the fact we are sons. As we know we are sons. As we become confident we are sons. As we rely the true fact we are sons and act accordingly, we hear. 

 Ascribe to the Lord the glory and strength. As we state that God has glory and power to fulfil what He is leading us to do we hear God. When we hear God we are empowered. If we believe God, we will act on what we hear. Because God will do what He says if we believe.

 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due to His name. God deserves our praise. When something is due we owe it to Him. God has given, we have life. Responding to what God gives allows life to flow. To withhold, to block what God gives, stops the flow of ability. 

 Yes we can continue to live by not ascribing to God the glory due His name. But kingdom living responds to the gift in worship. 

 Worship the Lord in holy array. What is holy? It is what is used for God. What do we put on to use for God. The robe of righteousness. The armor of God. The armor of light. We worship standing ready to serve. 

 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters. What are the waters. It is God's people. God's voice goes forth to us. When we are with the people of God we hear the voice of God. 

 On the waters there is no building, trees or hills obstructing His voice. Put yourself in a place to hear God. God of glory thunders. There is power in hearing God. And be assured God is over many people and many tribes, nations and groups. 

 The voice of the Lord is powerful. What an understatement! And God said let there be light and there was light. And this command is continuing to expand the universe at the speed of light. And God said be fruitful and multiply and there are seven billion people living on earth today. What He says empowers. Respond to what He says and you will have His power working for you. 

 The voice of the Lord is majestic. Spurgeon – “As for the written Word of God, the majesty is apparent in its style, matter and power. Blessed be God, it is the majesty of mercy wielding a silver scepter. Our salvation is full to overflowing with this majesty.-” 

 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. There is nothing that can stand before God. The cedars are majestic, but this majesty is nothing when compared to the voice of the Lord. 

 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. There is revival in hearing God's voice. There is youthful vigor in hearing God's voice. There is vitality in hearing God's voice. Do you lack energy? Do you need strength? Do you need direction? Hear God and you will be energised. 

 The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire. God is a consuming fire. God baptises in the Holy Spirit and fire. God spoke to Moses from the fire of the bush. God purifies with fire. Lightening of God's voice changes everything. 

 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness. God causes what has been rejected, what has been ignored, what has been left for being useless to whirl and be stirred up. Has your life been useless and of no value? Hear the voice of God and everything will change. 

 The voice of the Lord makes the deer to calve. God brings to birth what has been barren. There will be no one barren who lives in God's kingdom. Ex 23:26 

 He strips the forests bare. There is no hiding from God. There is nothing hidden from God. God knows all and sees all. 

 And in His temple everything says, Glory! Come before God with praise. Come to Him in holy array. Come boldly before Him Hebrews 4:16 

 God is king and sat at the flood and continues to be king and sits on His throne today. 

 There will be strength and peace for  God”s people. Worship, hear and obey.