Tag Archives: Romans

Willing to repent and believe that it is safe

 

If we have been taught that there is safety in repentance then we can break through the dynamics that put issues ahead of our desire to seek the kingdom of God. One of those I mentioned earlier was how people think of me. If I do this, I will come to the point where I will not worry on how people think of me.

Now, I could do this or I could do what St. Benedict did when he was trying to erase the temptation of a woman. St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547 CE),  according to legend, cast himself into a thorn bush while naked.

I struggle staying away from the things that take me away from the kingdom of God but I also struggle to do the things that one would do if they were walking in the kingdom of God. Romans 8 I mentioned in an earlier post is the antidote for Romans 7. These truths help me follow Jesus in this area of struggle. Especially looking at my struggle to share the gospel, or an area in my inner life where I hope God does not want to deal with. Then I ask myself what I think it would look like for me to “go deeper” in my discipleship.

This was the promise from Jesus who walked a hidden life with God. He overcame sin and was able to fulfill the incredible plan of salvation for mankind.

 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. – Romans 8:3-4  ESV

I conclude then that Jesus; taking upon Himself human nature, condemned the sin in human beings, so that I, His disciple, who has the same nature, can now follow Him in this way, regardless of my background, personality, or where I live.

Here are some other lessons I have learned from Romans 8.

  • There is a house analogy describing the Spirit living in us just as a person would dwell or reside in a home.

    • You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus[d] from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. – Romans 8:9-11  ESV

  • In the same verse above there is the Holy Spirit described as the key identifier, the essential possession of a disciple of Jesus.
  • There is an adoption metaphor where the Holy Spirit has put together a connection between us and God so that we are truly His adopted children, and thereby, heirs of all that is His.

    • For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.. – Romans 8:15-17  ESV

  • The verses above also reveal the Holy Spirit providing the inner testimony or the prompting that calls out to God in an intimate way – “Abba! Father!” and provides the assurance that we are His children.
  • The Holy Spirit makes alive our spiritually-dead spirits and connects us to God.
  • The Holy Spirit is the same as Christ’s Spirit and God’s Spirit. They are one and the same.

 

 

 

 

 

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What is it that defeats me?

 

The questions like this one are laid out for me in Romans 7. There are so many things going on in life, giftings, and personalities that I see that I am unable to master at least one of my known impulses. I am finding myself these days going to those parts of myself and actually identifying what it is that is defeating me. One of those things is the desire for people to truly value me. As I walk with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God through this, I know that my moments of repentance will change me when see this for what it really is. I know that I may not have the victory but the grip will be loosened.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. – Romans 7:14-25  ESV

I believe I am not discipling perfect people myself, rather godly people – those who love God with all their heart and are making it their decision to follow Jesus.

There is no doubt that one of the most discouraging realisations for a new Christian is that they still sin. Too many of us are handcuffed to our past. There is the “tried and failed” look all over us – just look at the stats of life compared to those who do not follow Jesus, especially if we noted divorce, depression and just generally living a dysfunctional life. Unfortunately being stuck in a Romans 7 mindset of inevitable failure does not lead to hope, in fact, too many lose it.

Thankfully, as I look to what defeats me – I have Romans 8 still to read.

 

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