Let us read Romans 8:1-9
¹Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
³For 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, ⁴so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
⁵For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
You may now and then, when you did wrong, experience a punishment from the Lord. When that comes to you, it is never easy, but you will have to go through it, to learn a lesson. However, you should never doubt your Father because of it. Instead consider these to be loving corrections from your Father, Who wants to bring you back on the right track.
Yes, believers may be chastened by the Lord, but as long as you stay in the Christ, you will not be condemned with the world, for as we read: ¹there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
By your union with the Christ, through faith, you are secured. ²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin, and of death. (Romans 8:2)
What is the principle of your walk in life?
▪︎ The flesh or the Spirit?
▪︎ The old, or the new nature?
▪︎ Corruption or grace?
For which of these do you make provision?
By which of these are you governed?
The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully.
³For 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, ⁴so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience.
God showed His abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, so that you might be pardoned and justified. In this way satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and was the way of salvation opened for you.
⁵For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, ⁷because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, ⁸and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
It is by the Spirit, that the law of love is written upon the heart of all true believers, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, this righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Which answers completely the intention of the law.
The favor of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are all things of the Spirit, which those, that are after the Spirit do mind.
▪︎ Which way do your thoughts move with most pleasure?
▪︎ Which way do your plans and contrivances go?
▪︎ Are you most interested in the world, or for your soul?
The Bible says that those who live in pleasure are dead!
1 Timothy 5:6
But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.
A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace.
The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but it is enmity itself.
The carnal MAN may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal MIND never can; that must be broken and driven out.
We may know our real state and character, by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not.
⁹However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. (Romans 8:9)
Having the Spirit of the Christ, means that you have made a change of mind, and that your mindset has moved from the world, towards the mindset that was in Christ Jesus, and this will show, in living a life, and using a way of conversation, that is suitable to His precepts and example.
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P.S. 1 : Are you interested to read more of these kind of messages? Then join my group “The Worldwide Ekklesia” or follow me on Twitter: @schoemakerharry
P.S. 2 : Because of an other visit to the hospital I will probably not be able to write a devotional on Wednesday November 20 and following days. Thursday 21st they want to do the operation, and I don’t know yet when I will go home. All is in His hands! Keep following your Lord!
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