1If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won't be punished. 2The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death. 3The Law of Moses cannot do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ's body to condemn sin. 4He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires. 5People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. 6If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. 7Our desires fight against God, because they do not and cannot obey God's laws. 8If we follow our desires, we cannot please God.
9You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him. 10But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. 11Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
12My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. 13If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. 14Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. 15God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. [b] 16God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.
So now, Paul tries to wrap up this entire thought. He begins with "If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won't be punished" This is not because God has simply ignored the Law, but because He "used Christ's body to condemn sin". The Law is completely satisfied with us.
If we belong to Christ...
Have you ever wondered how we can "know" we belong to Christ? Well, I'm glad you asked. We have one certain test...The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him...But Christ lives in you. So you are alive.
We belong to Christ if the Holy Spirit lives in us.
OK...how do I know the Holy Spirit lives in me? Paul says we can know "if by the help of God's Spirit we say "No" to our desires". This is in stark contrast to people who DO NOT belong to Christ. They "follow their desires...think only of themselves".
This is an interesting dynamic. Saying "NO" to our desires is not synonymous with "obedience" (although the two should eventuallly look alot alike). Saying "NO" to our desires is "agreeing with God" that those desires are unhealthy and sinful.
When we've belonged to Christ for some time it's difficult to remember that everybody doesn't "agree with God" about what is right or wrong. We want to believe it's simply a matter of not knowing better. If we tell them, they will agree. Actually, that's not true. Only the Holy Spirit can get us to agree with God. I know I agree with God...so I know the Holy Spirit has to be in me...it's the only way that can happen. I hope and pray that my life looks like it agrees with God. On the occasions when it doesn't, I'm sure the Holy Spirit will let me know.
And I"ll agree with him...
Live boldly out there today...
July 15, 2011
Romans 7:7-25, The Battle with Sin
7Does this mean that the Law is sinful? Certainly not! But if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known what sin is really like. For example, I would not have known what it means to want something that belongs to someone else, unless the Law had told me not to do that. 8It was sin that used this command as a way of making me have all kinds of desires. But without the Law, sin is dead.
9Before I knew about the Law, I was alive. But as soon as I heard that command, sin came to life, 10and I died. The very command that was supposed to bring life to me, instead brought death. 11Sin used this command to trick me, and because of it I died. 12Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good.
13Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. 14We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin. 15In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate. 16Although I don't do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good. 17So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
18I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot. 19Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong. 20And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
21The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right. 22With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God. 23But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do. 24What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? 25Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me.
So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin.
I counseled an employee. He had been rude and dismissive to a co-worker, who had complained to me. During our conversation the employee excused his actions by saying it was his co-worker's fault for being so sensitive.
Huh?
We hear it all the time...people blame their bad behavior on others. Notwithstanding the fact that others have responsibilities as well, it has never been accepted rationale to blame others for our own actions. The attitude demonstrates an alarming lack of maturity and is destructive to relationships.
But..."the devil made me do it!"
"Really! I'm not a bad person. That's a stupid rule!"
And so, we blame the rule for our transgression. If the rule didn't exist we wouldn't be guilty of anything. And, really, what's the big deal?
Can we imagine the state we'd be in if God had his standards but never shared them with us? How would we figure our #4 on our own? Or, #9? Paul says we ought to be thankful to God for the information and consider the Law our friend. After all...it's what can keep us out of trouble.
Even at that, we struggle. As believers we agree with the Law but our human lusts are at war with the Law. This is a lifelong struggle that we cannot escape. The power of the Holy Spirit can mitigate the tension but it proves the truth...that we are all "recovering sinners".
What a dilemma! Is there any hope? "What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me".
Remember yesterday? "Jesus paid it all!"
Live boldly out there today...
9Before I knew about the Law, I was alive. But as soon as I heard that command, sin came to life, 10and I died. The very command that was supposed to bring life to me, instead brought death. 11Sin used this command to trick me, and because of it I died. 12Still, the Law and its commands are holy and correct and good.
13Am I saying that something good caused my death? Certainly not! It was sin that killed me by using something good. Now we can see how terrible and evil sin really is. 14We know that the Law is spiritual. But I am merely a human, and I have been sold as a slave to sin. 15In fact, I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do what I know is right. I do the things I hate. 16Although I don't do what I know is right, I agree that the Law is good. 17So I am not the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
18I know that my selfish desires won't let me do anything that is good. Even when I want to do right, I cannot. 19Instead of doing what I know is right, I do wrong. 20And so, if I don't do what I know is right, I am no longer the one doing these evil things. The sin that lives in me is what does them.
21The Law has shown me that something in me keeps me from doing what I know is right. 22With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God. 23But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do. 24What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? 25Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me.
So with my mind I serve the Law of God, although my selfish desires make me serve the law of sin.
I counseled an employee. He had been rude and dismissive to a co-worker, who had complained to me. During our conversation the employee excused his actions by saying it was his co-worker's fault for being so sensitive.
Huh?
We hear it all the time...people blame their bad behavior on others. Notwithstanding the fact that others have responsibilities as well, it has never been accepted rationale to blame others for our own actions. The attitude demonstrates an alarming lack of maturity and is destructive to relationships.
But..."the devil made me do it!"
"Really! I'm not a bad person. That's a stupid rule!"
And so, we blame the rule for our transgression. If the rule didn't exist we wouldn't be guilty of anything. And, really, what's the big deal?
Can we imagine the state we'd be in if God had his standards but never shared them with us? How would we figure our #4 on our own? Or, #9? Paul says we ought to be thankful to God for the information and consider the Law our friend. After all...it's what can keep us out of trouble.
Even at that, we struggle. As believers we agree with the Law but our human lusts are at war with the Law. This is a lifelong struggle that we cannot escape. The power of the Holy Spirit can mitigate the tension but it proves the truth...that we are all "recovering sinners".
What a dilemma! Is there any hope? "What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die? Thank God! Jesus Christ will rescue me".
Remember yesterday? "Jesus paid it all!"
Live boldly out there today...
July 14, 2011
Romans 7:1-6, An Example from Marriage
1My friends, you surely understand enough about law to know that laws only have power over people who are alive. 2For example, the Law says that a man's wife must remain his wife as long as he lives. But once her husband is dead, she is free 3to marry someone else. However, if she goes off with another man while her husband is still alive, she is said to be unfaithful.
4That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God. 5When we thought only of ourselves, the Law made us have sinful desires. It made every part of our bodies into slaves who are doomed to die. 6But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.
I went through the intersection and saw a "flash". A week later I got a I got a nice Olan-Mills quality print of me non-chalantly cruising through a "greenish-red" light. Busted!
Laws have sanctions when we break them...in this case, For $75, I could keep the picture! Sanctions are intended to encourage compliance.
But what if the laws don't apply? Then, no penalty. The military has something called "Status of Forces Agreements" with every country in which we station military personnel. The SOFA is mostly concerned with the legal issues associated with military individuals and property. This may include issues like entry and exit into the country, tax liabilities, postal services, or employment terms for host-country nationals. So, while Mali and I were stationed in Germany we were not required to pay the 17% Value Added Tax (VAT) of purchases. We also didn't pay $4 per gallon for gasoline.
Sweet!
Phil Driscoll sings a song titled "Jesus Paid it All".
With every drop of Blood that fell that day.
A billion tears of pain were washed away,
Ten thousand times ten thousand wars were won.
There was nothing left to pay.
Like the rain that washes earth and air,
Like a fountain flowing pure and clear,
Cleansing hearts and souls, and minds of men,
And tearing down the walls of fear.
Jesus paid it all,
Jesus paid it all.
With every stripe a final sacrifice,
Jesus paid it all.
One Man hung suspended in the space.
A power struggle for the human race.
It bridged the gap between mankind and God.
And dying with Amazing Grace.
With every drop of Blood that fell that day,
Ten thousand tears were washed away.
Ten thousand times ten thousand wars were won,
Till there was nothing left to pay.
Like the rain that washes earth and air,
Like a fountain flowing pure and clear,
Cleansing hearts and souls, and minds of men,
And tearing down the walls of fear.
Jesus paid it all, Jesus paid it all.
With every stripe a final sacrifice.
Oh, Jesus paid it all.
Jesus, Oh, Jesus,
Jesus paid it all.
The Law of God does has a dire sanction for Law breakers...eternal separation from God. Somehow, even that doesn't incline us to obey. It's like we've decided we'd rather spend eternity with somebody else. We are "walking dead". But, Calvary is our "Status of Forces Agreement". Calvary is our legally binding contract with God that the penalties have been paid.
That is...if we recognize we died with Christ. The law doesn't apply to dead people.
Live boldly out there today...
4That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God. 5When we thought only of ourselves, the Law made us have sinful desires. It made every part of our bodies into slaves who are doomed to die. 6But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.
I went through the intersection and saw a "flash". A week later I got a I got a nice Olan-Mills quality print of me non-chalantly cruising through a "greenish-red" light. Busted!
Laws have sanctions when we break them...in this case, For $75, I could keep the picture! Sanctions are intended to encourage compliance.
But what if the laws don't apply? Then, no penalty. The military has something called "Status of Forces Agreements" with every country in which we station military personnel. The SOFA is mostly concerned with the legal issues associated with military individuals and property. This may include issues like entry and exit into the country, tax liabilities, postal services, or employment terms for host-country nationals. So, while Mali and I were stationed in Germany we were not required to pay the 17% Value Added Tax (VAT) of purchases. We also didn't pay $4 per gallon for gasoline.
Sweet!
Phil Driscoll sings a song titled "Jesus Paid it All".
With every drop of Blood that fell that day.
A billion tears of pain were washed away,
Ten thousand times ten thousand wars were won.
There was nothing left to pay.
Like the rain that washes earth and air,
Like a fountain flowing pure and clear,
Cleansing hearts and souls, and minds of men,
And tearing down the walls of fear.
Jesus paid it all,
Jesus paid it all.
With every stripe a final sacrifice,
Jesus paid it all.
One Man hung suspended in the space.
A power struggle for the human race.
It bridged the gap between mankind and God.
And dying with Amazing Grace.
With every drop of Blood that fell that day,
Ten thousand tears were washed away.
Ten thousand times ten thousand wars were won,
Till there was nothing left to pay.
Like the rain that washes earth and air,
Like a fountain flowing pure and clear,
Cleansing hearts and souls, and minds of men,
And tearing down the walls of fear.
Jesus paid it all, Jesus paid it all.
With every stripe a final sacrifice.
Oh, Jesus paid it all.
Jesus, Oh, Jesus,
Jesus paid it all.
The Law of God does has a dire sanction for Law breakers...eternal separation from God. Somehow, even that doesn't incline us to obey. It's like we've decided we'd rather spend eternity with somebody else. We are "walking dead". But, Calvary is our "Status of Forces Agreement". Calvary is our legally binding contract with God that the penalties have been paid.
That is...if we recognize we died with Christ. The law doesn't apply to dead people.
Live boldly out there today...
July 13, 2011
Romans 6:15-23, Slaves Who Do What Pleases God
15What does all this mean? Does it mean we are free to sin, because we are ruled by God's wonderful kindness and not by the Law? Certainly not! 16Don't you know that you are slaves of anyone you obey? You can be slaves of sin and die, or you can be obedient slaves of God and be acceptable to him. 17You used to be slaves of sin. But I thank God that with all your heart you obeyed the teaching you received from me. 18Now you are set free from sin and are slaves who please God.
19I am using these everyday examples, because in some ways you are still weak. You used to let the different parts of your body be slaves of your evil thoughts. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him.
20When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. 21But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. 22Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. 23Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bob Dylan sang "you've got to serve somebody". Man, was he right. Who we choose to serve makes all the difference.
Serving ourselves is a possibility. This is the person who claims "I answer to nobody!" The literal translation is...I serve myself. We've already determined the outcome.
Serving the stuff around us (our desires) is a possibility. This is the person who says "I can't help myself!" The literal translation is...I'm an addict. We've already determined the outcome.
Serving God is a possibility. We've already determined the outcome...by faith.
Some say "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". I understand the idea that a "sure thing" always seems better than a promise. In this case...faith trumps a sure thing.
Live boldly out there today...
19I am using these everyday examples, because in some ways you are still weak. You used to let the different parts of your body be slaves of your evil thoughts. But now you must make every part of your body serve God, so that you will belong completely to him.
20When you were slaves of sin, you didn't have to please God. 21But what good did you receive from the things you did? All you have to show for them is your shame, and they lead to death. 22Now you have been set free from sin, and you are God's slaves. This will make you holy and will lead you to eternal life. 23Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bob Dylan sang "you've got to serve somebody". Man, was he right. Who we choose to serve makes all the difference.
Serving ourselves is a possibility. This is the person who claims "I answer to nobody!" The literal translation is...I serve myself. We've already determined the outcome.
Serving the stuff around us (our desires) is a possibility. This is the person who says "I can't help myself!" The literal translation is...I'm an addict. We've already determined the outcome.
Serving God is a possibility. We've already determined the outcome...by faith.
Some say "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". I understand the idea that a "sure thing" always seems better than a promise. In this case...faith trumps a sure thing.
Live boldly out there today...
July 12, 2011
Romans 6:1-14, Dead to Sin but Alive because of Christ
1What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God's wonderful kindness will show up even better? 2No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning? 3Don't you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death? 4When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ. We were baptized, so that we would live a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
5If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. 6We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. 7We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people.
8As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. 9We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. 10When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. 11In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.
12Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires 13or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. 14Don't let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God's kindness and not by the Law.
There is a school of thought that goes something like this: If the Blood of Christ is more powerful then the most heinous sin...it's impossible for me to sin enough to overwhelm the Blood.
True...as far as it goes. But, this idea is carried farther by the notion that we do God a great favor by sinning even more. More sin produces more grace. Madison Avenue would love the marketing potential of this one!
Nevertheless, the premise is true. The Blood of Christ is really that powerful...so, why not?
Paul introduces the idea of vicarious atonement here. The dictionary defines "vicarious" as experiencing as a result of watching, listening to or reading about the activities of other people, rather than by doing the activities yourself. Allow me to put a heavy emphasis on the word EXPERIENCE. For something to be "vicarious" it must be experienced.
So...We "experience" the death and resurrection of Christ. In so doing, we "experience" His death that paid the penalty for sin. We also "experience" His resurrection that shattered the power of sin.
Sin is dead to us...Is that your "experience?" It's supposed to be.
Paul introduces some simple logic here. "Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires" A fair analogy is this: Would we put a thousand dollars worth of tires on a five hundred dollar car? Only a very foolish, shortsighted person would do that.
Live boldly out there today...
5If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with him. 6We know that the persons we used to be were nailed to the cross with Jesus. This was done, so that our sinful bodies would no longer be the slaves of sin. 7We know that sin doesn't have power over dead people.
8As surely as we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with him. 9We know that death no longer has any power over Christ. He died and was raised to life, never again to die. 10When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. 11In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God.
12Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires 13or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. 14Don't let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God's kindness and not by the Law.
There is a school of thought that goes something like this: If the Blood of Christ is more powerful then the most heinous sin...it's impossible for me to sin enough to overwhelm the Blood.
True...as far as it goes. But, this idea is carried farther by the notion that we do God a great favor by sinning even more. More sin produces more grace. Madison Avenue would love the marketing potential of this one!
Nevertheless, the premise is true. The Blood of Christ is really that powerful...so, why not?
Paul introduces the idea of vicarious atonement here. The dictionary defines "vicarious" as experiencing as a result of watching, listening to or reading about the activities of other people, rather than by doing the activities yourself. Allow me to put a heavy emphasis on the word EXPERIENCE. For something to be "vicarious" it must be experienced.
So...We "experience" the death and resurrection of Christ. In so doing, we "experience" His death that paid the penalty for sin. We also "experience" His resurrection that shattered the power of sin.
Sin is dead to us...Is that your "experience?" It's supposed to be.
Paul introduces some simple logic here. "Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires" A fair analogy is this: Would we put a thousand dollars worth of tires on a five hundred dollar car? Only a very foolish, shortsighted person would do that.
Live boldly out there today...
July 11, 2011
Romans 5:12-21, Adam and Christ
12Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. 13Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law. 14Yet death still had power over all who lived from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. This happened, though not everyone disobeyed a direct command from God, as Adam did.
In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later. 15But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people.
16There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.
18Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life. 19Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.
20The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's kindness was even more powerful. 21Sin ruled by means of death. But God's kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life.
How on earth did all this sin/salvation stuff happen? Most folks want to blame God for being on some big "ego trip", demanding our obeisance simply because He can. No so...
If life is "in the blood" so is death...
Sin forever changed our spiritual DNA. Before the fall Adam had an entirely different nature...pure and perfect. After the fall it became corrupted...and that corruption is what severed the relationship with God. You see, God only accepts the pure and holy.
As children of Adam we inherit that corrupted spiritual DNA. Basically, we are all born dead. I know, it's also not fair that I was born to be a mere 5'7".
But, of course...Calvary offers the great "transfusion". Our corrupted blood has been replaced by the perfect blood of the Lamb. When that happens our spiritual DNA is restored to perfection.
You see...that's not God's "ego". That's God seeing our need and finding a solution. Amazing! Can you believe it? Abraham did...
Live boldly out there today...
In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later. 15But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people.
16There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.
18Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life. 19Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.
20The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's kindness was even more powerful. 21Sin ruled by means of death. But God's kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life.
How on earth did all this sin/salvation stuff happen? Most folks want to blame God for being on some big "ego trip", demanding our obeisance simply because He can. No so...
If life is "in the blood" so is death...
Sin forever changed our spiritual DNA. Before the fall Adam had an entirely different nature...pure and perfect. After the fall it became corrupted...and that corruption is what severed the relationship with God. You see, God only accepts the pure and holy.
As children of Adam we inherit that corrupted spiritual DNA. Basically, we are all born dead. I know, it's also not fair that I was born to be a mere 5'7".
But, of course...Calvary offers the great "transfusion". Our corrupted blood has been replaced by the perfect blood of the Lamb. When that happens our spiritual DNA is restored to perfection.
You see...that's not God's "ego". That's God seeing our need and finding a solution. Amazing! Can you believe it? Abraham did...
Live boldly out there today...
July 10, 2011
Romans 5:1-11, What It Means To Be Acceptable to God
1By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. 2Christ has also introduced us to God's undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. 3But that's not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. 4And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope 5that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love. 6Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.
9But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life's blood, we will also be kept safe from God's anger. 10Even when we were God's enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son's life. 11And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.
As a child I memorized the King James version...which I still prefer. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ".
And this is why Paul spent so much time talking about a relationship with God through faith. It takes a lot of faith to believe the death of Jesus...2,000 years ago...can somehow influence our relationship with God today. Add to that...the resurrection...and God is asking a great deal of us. Of course, we already know the alternative.
But remember..."Abraham believed God"...
And nobody can make it more clear than Paul, right here. "God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life's blood". We might prefer to play a greater role in our own salvation but there doesn't appear to be any room for that.
As an addict, this is quite a relief. It makes these first three steps quite a bit easier...
Step 1 - If we can just believe God about our sinfulness, we can admit we are powerless over our sin addiction. We move on to step two... Step 2 - If we can just believe God about the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, we can believe that Jesus has the power to restore our relationship with God. We move on to step three...
Step 3 - If we can just believe God about the gift of His Holy Spirit, we can make a decision to turn our lives over to the care of God. We are part of the Family of God...Born again! We move on to step four...
Of course, this is where it gets exhausting for an addict...we have now committed ourselves to the life-long discipline of giving God room to work at killing the power of addiction in our lives. To the degree we give God room...we will see marvelous incidents of grace and mercy.
But remember...this work is not the work of salvation...that's been accomplished. This is the work of letting God do miracles...for our benefit and His glory. A.W. Tozer calls this the work of sanctification...becoming "set apart" as God's exclusive property.
It looks something like this...
Step 4 - Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves
Step 5 - Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs
Step 6 - Have God remove all these defects of character
Step 7 - Humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings
Step 8 - Be willing to make amends to all the persons we have harmed
Step 9 - Made amends except when to do so would injure them.
Step 10 - Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it
Step 11 - Seek, through prayer and meditation, to improve our relationship with God. Praying for knowledge of His will and the power to carry that out
Step 12 - Try to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs
It's the life of an addict...It's enough to keep us busy for a lifetime, But...we have a lifetime. God then, gave it to us...
Live boldly out there today...
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