July 22, 2012
Evening Service

This morning we saw again that the law has no dominion over us anymore.  We have been freed by our death (spiritual) in Christ at our baptism.

 

We found the law to be “holy, just and good” but, it only was all distorted because we are drawn to sin and could not keep its requirements.   It defined what sin is and also stirred within us a desire to “eat the forbidden fruit.”  It did its job though in pointing us to our need for a Savoir.

 

Paul shared with us his personal struggle he experienced with knowing what is right and actually being able to do it.  He concluded that there “in me nothing good dwells.”  He cried out for a Savoir to deliver him and supplied the answer.

 

Rom 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  (25)  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then with the mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

 

 

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

·         God offers no condemnation (judgment) to those who are in Christ Jesus.   This refers to those who have made a commitment in their life to follow Christ and have baptized into Him.

Gal 3:27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ.

·         He further explains it by saying those in Christ do not walk “according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  It is a key point that we understand what he means with these two contrasting lifestyles.

·         According to the flesh-to live a life dominated by the dictates and desires of sinful human nature with all its sins and weaknesses.  If it feels good, do it; no rules to play by.  Following any path my mind can dream up.

Gal 5:19-21  Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness,  (20)  idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies,  (21)  envying, murders, drunkennesses, revellings, and things like these; of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

·         The flesh here is not only physical sins but, included also spiritual.  It is what drives a man to do what he does in the absence of God or Christ.  These are the fruits that produce death.

 

·         According to the Spirit- to live a life dominated by the dictates and love of God.  We desire to serve God because of our love for Him, which began with His love for us.

Gal 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith,  (23)  meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  (24)  But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.  (25)  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

·         When we surrender our hearts to Him and give Him full control these things are naturally produced in our life by the Spirit within us.  The Spirit now has control.  We will produce fruit leading to life and pointing to God

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rom 8:2-4  But the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  (3)  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh;  (4)  so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

·         We have been freed from the law of sin by Jesus coming in the flesh (physical body) and living a life free from sin.

1Pe 2:22 He who did no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth,

 

1Jo 3:5 And you know that He was revealed that He might take away our sins, and in Him is no sin.

 

·         We are now empowered by the Spirit to love God and love our neighbors, in essence fulfilling the law.  The law’s requirements are now met by living a Spirit controlled life.  We can become over comers by the Holy Spirit.

 

Rom 8:5-8  For they who are according to the flesh mind the things of flesh, but they who are according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace  (7)  because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.  (8)  So then they who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

·         Here he again compares the two lifestyles we talked about before.  The flesh is motivated by self gratification and leads to death.  Spiritual led life follows God and grants us life and peace. 

·         Notice the carnal mind is an enemy of God.  It is a life in total rebellion against God; one that seeks to be his own master and resists the surrendering of himself.

·         Those living such a life cannot please God and come under condemnation.

 

Rom 8:9-11  But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.  (10)  And if Christ is in you, indeed the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (11)  But if the Spirit of the One who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised up Christ from the dead shall also make your mortal bodies alive by His Spirit who dwells in you.

·         Paul assures us that we are walking with God, if we the Spirit of God dwells in us; because without the Spirit we “are none of His.”

 

Joh 14:16-20  And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever,  (17)  the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you.  (18)  I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.  (19)  Yet a little while and the world does not see Me anymore. But you see Me. Because I live, you shall live also.  (20)  At that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

·         Jesus promised that the Comforter (Holy Spirit) would come and dwelling/living within us; this is our eternal life. 

·         We received that Spirit at the time of our baptism.

Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

·         By faith we enter the waters of baptism accepting it as our spiritual death and arise to walk in the newness of life.  The newness of life includes the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Col 1:26-27  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.  (27)  For to them God would make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the nations, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.