Hot off the presses! Shanes devotion on Romans 8: Romans 8:4-11 Devotional 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you. The law was not able to overcome sin so God gave sin the knock out punch by sending His Son to die on the cross for my sins and your sins. The law could recognize and condemn sin but it was not able to eradicate it. Therefore, God sent his only son to be the ultimate sin offering to cover our sins forever! The law, however, is still important in the life of a believer as verse 4 says the aim is “that the requirement of the Law might be fully met or “fulfilled” in us.” The Spirit helps us fulfill the requirements of the law by no longer allowing the sinful nature to dominate but by submitting to the direction of the Spirit. Paul then goes on to discuss a spiritual battle between the flesh and the Spirit. When we make the decision to follow Christ, we are making a choice to live by the Spirit and not the flesh. We cannot live by both and effectively grow in our relationship with Christ. Living by the flesh leads to “death” but living by the Spirit leads to “life” and “peace.” If we live by the flesh, we make decisions to enhance sin in our lives. If we choose to live by the Spirit, we make decisions to conquer sin in our lives. If I truly love my wife, I don’t show her my love by telling her. I show my love by demonstrating to her through my actions. My behavior will exemplify my love for my wife or it will exemplify my love for my self (flesh). She has chosen to be my wife, but I must choose to love her. Verses 6-8 describe it as a state of mind. We either allow Christ to lead our minds or we allow Satan to control our minds. BUT, if the Spirit of God lives in ME, I am in the realm of the Spirit. I deserve death, but through Christ, I receive life! The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in YOU!!!! Just imagine what he can and wants to do in and through you. Keep pursuing Christ because he first pursued you Shane
Posted on: Wed, 14 May 2014 14:05:58 +0000
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