Romans 8:1-4
While listening to a sermon, have you ever gotten much more from the passage than you did from the actual spoken message? That was the case for me today. It wasn't necessarily due to the speaker, but just due to the way the text seemed to absorb me.
Romans 8:1-4, especially v. 1, is well-known among most evangelical Christians. Yet, today the text seemed to speak to me in a more personal way than ever before.
v. 1 - "There is now condemnation for those who live in Christ Jesus"
I've known this for many years, yet have I actively applied when talking with Jehovah's Witnesses, agnostics, Muslims, etc.? These people need to know there is no need to fear death if they are in Christ Jesus. They need to see this lack of fear in my life, and know why it's so important for them to believe the same.
v. 2 - "because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
Because of what Jesus did, I needn't be trapped in the endless cycle of giving in to any sin, regardless of how "minor" it may appear to be to others or my own worldview. Jesus' death took off the handcuffs and leg irons of sin and death, and I'm now free to live fully in the power of the Spirit of life. Thus, I shouldn't hesitate whatsoever to boldly proclaim Jesus as a result of this truth.
vv. 3-4 - "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirments of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
The Old Testament law has absolutely no power in helping me resist the flesh. The flesh made the law quite weak, and there is nothing man can do about it. However, God didn't want people to be stuck with the inability to live lives that are pleasing to Him. He wanted His children to live victorious lives that can overcome every sin the world, the flesh, and the devil throws at them! In order to do that, though, He had to spare His son Jesus. Only Jesus could be the kind of sin offering that would really makes things different for mankind. Only He could sufficiently condemn the sin that you and me face on a constant basis. Only He could help us live righteously through the power of the Holy Spirit! Thank you, Jesus, for making this possible through your holy, unselfish example. Help me to live a life so pleasing to you that every believer is inspired by it and every nonbeliever is transformed by what they see in me.
Romans 8:1-4, especially v. 1, is well-known among most evangelical Christians. Yet, today the text seemed to speak to me in a more personal way than ever before.
v. 1 - "There is now condemnation for those who live in Christ Jesus"
I've known this for many years, yet have I actively applied when talking with Jehovah's Witnesses, agnostics, Muslims, etc.? These people need to know there is no need to fear death if they are in Christ Jesus. They need to see this lack of fear in my life, and know why it's so important for them to believe the same.
v. 2 - "because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
Because of what Jesus did, I needn't be trapped in the endless cycle of giving in to any sin, regardless of how "minor" it may appear to be to others or my own worldview. Jesus' death took off the handcuffs and leg irons of sin and death, and I'm now free to live fully in the power of the Spirit of life. Thus, I shouldn't hesitate whatsoever to boldly proclaim Jesus as a result of this truth.
vv. 3-4 - "For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirments of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
The Old Testament law has absolutely no power in helping me resist the flesh. The flesh made the law quite weak, and there is nothing man can do about it. However, God didn't want people to be stuck with the inability to live lives that are pleasing to Him. He wanted His children to live victorious lives that can overcome every sin the world, the flesh, and the devil throws at them! In order to do that, though, He had to spare His son Jesus. Only Jesus could be the kind of sin offering that would really makes things different for mankind. Only He could sufficiently condemn the sin that you and me face on a constant basis. Only He could help us live righteously through the power of the Holy Spirit! Thank you, Jesus, for making this possible through your holy, unselfish example. Help me to live a life so pleasing to you that every believer is inspired by it and every nonbeliever is transformed by what they see in me.
posted by Tim at
10/24/2007 01:48:00 PM
3 Comments:
Great thoughts here, Tim!
Reading such words while over here in Oman is like a refreshing pitcher of water on an otherwise parched and dry day!
Hey Andy! Thanks for your note. I'm glad you found those words encouraging in your current environment.
Great meditation of powerful truth
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