February 21, 2024
Romans 8
Last week questions came up about the “carnal Christian.” Several definitions of carnality all lead to worldly living which is enmity to God. We all have been and will be guilty of living in the world and in the flesh. A Christian who is being sanctified will be deeply troubled of the sin they caused a carnal Christian, who in my opinion has not been saved and calls themselves a Christian in name only, will challenge their rebellion with further rebellion, in other words “How far can I take it?”
Romans has given us thus far, God the Father in creation, Romans 1 to 3:20. God the Son in salvation, Romans 3:21-Roman 7, and now, God the Holy Spirit in sanctification Romans 8:1-39. We cannot please God in our own power it must be lived through the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul calls this the law of the Spirit in verse 2. How would you apply this? It is a principle and authority, operating through the Holy Spirit to accomplish what the written law could not accomplish, our salvation. Again, the written law was not intended to be a device to save man or bring man closer to God. Obedience to the moral code of the law may not be sin in itself but will never be a way our sin is forgiven, and that effort done in the strength of man may be sin. God said in Amos 5:22, “Even if you offer me your burn offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.” And Isaiah 1:13, “Stop bringing me useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths and the calling of solemn assemblies- I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.” Jesus made it clear that He must die in order that the Comforter would be given, John 16:7, thus convicting first, sanctifying those of us who are saved by Him, who believe in Him, and judging the ruler of the world, John 16:7-11. The law was given for our benefit to lean into God for mercies unlimited because it exposed the many sins in us. The Holy Spirit is given to convict us and give us the power to live an obedient life which the law commanded but could not produce. Power is available; only we decide are we in the flesh or are we in the Spirit? Let’s choose to walk after the Spirit, to mind the Spirit, verses 3-5.
Last week we discussed feeding the new man. This week we see by sanctification the old man needs to be starved. The diet of the old man in Galatians 5:19-21; “sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and anything similar.” And these come with a warning, “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” So, this struggle between the old man and new man need not be scary. The Holy Spirit, Comforter, was given to all believers and He will be your source to victory over the flesh.
The flesh can be explained as our bodies and the bodies of others. The mind is included in the flesh and would need to be under watch so that the temptation that starts in the mind will not lead to full “evil actions”, Colossians 1:21. The mind can trick the heart so guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23 say “Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” It is your heart that flows your faith. Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.” The cards seem to be stacked against us, it is no wonder Paul said, “What a wretched man I am! Who will save me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24. The Holy Spirit provides the power to war against sin, it does not naturally lie in us. We must guard our hearts and minds and allow the Holy Spirit to fend for us against this bully called the flesh. Fear not, new man!
Our security now lies with the faith given to us by God that are salvation is real and secured in the hands of Jesus. Our “hope” increases as our faith increases. They are synonyms of each other, and both are gifts of God. Our hope is the expectation of something promised but not seen, our faith is our determination that our hope is real. Now, how do we know this? Scripture tells us. Now we do not just believe anything we are told or read. We are drawn to Jesus by the Holy Spirit as His own. Scripture then confirms this in John 10: 27-30, “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them from My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.” Our security lies in Christ, our sanctification lies in the Holy Spirit, and we have no separation from God!
Paul was certain as he was saved that he would not be separated from God, verses 38-39. And nothing under the sun, seen or unseen, death or any circumstance of life would ever separate him from God because of Jesus atoning work on the cross. The Holy Spirit is given as a down payment for our inheritance into the Kingdom of God, Ephesians 1:14. And praise be the Lord the Holy Spirit is part of this. I am thankful that He is given to me to remind me who I am in Christ, to give me words to speak to whomever. He sanctifies me moment by moment and has allowed the change to be real in my life. What change in me has He made? Well, I was sexually immoral, I had idols, I would check my horoscope from time to time, I hated certain groups of people, jealousy was certain when I was coveting, angry for the silliest reasons, was the sum of a person based on my own conclusions, was know as a “tattoo” because I would get under peoples skin, I wanted to have things of pleasure and so on. One by one God has shown me the evil each one of these things have. The Lord has opened my eyes through the Spirit and what little knowledge I had about Jesus that I was living for the flesh, worldly things and not for Jesus. My wife had a dream that I died shortly after my knee replacement, perhaps the old self did die and continues die daily because, no pun intended, I stopped running shortly after the replacement, 2017. If you’re running, when will you stop?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You again for Your teaching of Your Word. It is so powerful and gives us insight of the true Power You have and have shared with us in our sanctification. The concept of sin will one day be wiped from our memories and praising you will be forever on our hearts, minds and lips. Help us now to live in strength by the Spirit and to be humble, by Your side, in all times.
Amen
-David Mroz
