A radical change is
expected and required when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ. When no
change becomes apparent, we begin to wonder if there has been a genuine
conversion or if the one who was truly saved understands God’s Word concerning
sanctification and discipleship.
Our dear Paul has explained
in the book of Romans 8 the nature of
God’s provision for our deliverance. The words of our text in verses 1-17,
along with the rest of scriptures in this chapter are some of the most
encouraging words in the Bible.
HAVE YOU REACHED
THE POINT WHERE YOU DESIRE TO SERVE GOD AND TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS AND YET FIND
IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO? OR EITHER YOU ARE NOT A BELIEVER IN JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU
FAILED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD REQUIRES? IS THIS YOU MY FRIEND?
Please, read the following
passage of God’s word written by Apostle Paul. There is more good news for you
in Romans 8. The solution to your problem is now the topic under discussion in this chapter.
Romans 8:1-17 (Please
read the whole chapter)
So now there is no
condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And
because you belong to him, the power
of the life-giving Spirit has freed you
from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.
So God did what the
law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners
have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving
his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this
so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no
longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
Those
who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who
are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
So
letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the
Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For
the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and
it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their
sinful nature can never please God.
But
you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit
if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do
not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And
Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the
Spirit gives you life
because you have been made right with God. The
Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God
raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by
this same Spirit living within you.
Therefore,
dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your
sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by
its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For
all who are led by the Spirit of God are children
of God.
So
you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you
received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him,
“Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are
God’s children. And since we are his children, we are
his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we
are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
Amen!
Remain blessed
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