Have you ever fallen into the trap of thinking "you know if I only had...___________________everything would be alright." "If I only had 10,000 in savings, if I only had his/her brains, his/her looks, his/her position, his/her life, home, spouse, car...whatever. I have fallen into that trap...normally it is for a larger brain, and normally it is for good motives, to be able to dive deep and search out the depths and truths of God's Word and then share it with others. However, if I am transparent with you I must confess that my flesh enjoys skimming a little glory for myself. Don't you look at me so holy! I know, I know that God will not share HIS glory with anyone! When I realize that I have fallen again into the same trap I quickly repent and ask for forgiveness.
Paul's discussion in Romans 7-8 is huge for me in this...to know that Paul struggled is very helpful, to know that I CANNOT LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE IN MY OWN POWER is huge! You and I are 100% dependent on the Holy Spirit to live the Spirit filled life. I have ZERO ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit in my own ability! I CANNOT love my wife as Christ loves the Church in MY OWN POWER...IT IS NOT POSSIBLE! However, Christ in me the Hope of glory...when I am broken, yielded, surrendered, when I come to HIM in absolute desperation, acknowledging I NEED HIS power to live the life HE commands me to live...then and only then is the Spirit of God released through the children of God.
How does the Christian live a righteous, Spirit filled life without a constant struggle to keep God’s Law? Paul teaches us that the Spirit's law of life lived in Christ Jesus has set us free (8:1–2). The OT Law failed to produce righteousness. So in Christ God condemned “sin in sinful man” and provided HIS Spirit, who enables believers to fully meet the Law’s requirements in God's own power. What the law was powerless to do God did by sending HIS OWN Son (3–4). We focus on Jesus, fixing our eyes on Jesus, surrendering and yielding to God’s Spirit rather than on trying to keep laws or lists (5–8). I won't dive into this now, but we all have lists, those list make us legalist...repent of those lists! Sorry, back to the topic at hand...if we’re controlled by the Spirit who brought life to Christ’s dead body, HE will bring life to us who are spiritually dead (9–12). Our obligation is not to the Law, but to be broken, yielded, and surrendered to the moving and working of the Holy Spirit (13–16). Remember, Romans 8:10, If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Paul accurately describes our spiritual condition in Ephesians 2:1, And you were dead in your trespasses and sins. DEAD...DOA...DEAD ON ARRIVAL...YOU WERE DEAD...GET IT? DEAD!
Remember what Paul said in Romans 5:10? "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. We have a new nature, we are new creatures in Christ, we now have peace with God...we were HIS enemies and now we are HIS children. We are HIS children by the new birth, the birth from above and by adoption. Paul tells us in Romans 8:14-17 that, "all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 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.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 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.
Do you see how foolish it is to try to skim HIS glory? HE is inviting HIS children, ON HIS TERMS, to share in HIS glory, as Peter tells us to be "partakers of His divine nature. If we foolishly try to skim HIS glory it will ruin us, if we come as broken, contrite, yielded, surrendered children HE lavishly and gloriously gives us HIMSELF! HE IS THE TREASURE!
The day is coming when creation will be renewed, even as you and I are being renewed (17–25). Meanwhile the Spirit helps us in our weakness, praying and interceding with and for us ( 26–27). It’s our relationship with God that brings us victory, for He has chosen us not to have a mind set on the flesh, living in sin, but to be transformed, to be conformed into the image of His Son (vv. 28–30). God will never forsake us nor leave us, HE will not allow HIS OWN to be charged with sin (31–34). We are God’s beloved, HIS own. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ our Lord (35–39). HE is our ever present help in time of trouble and all the time. (Richards)
Below are some bold and yet true claims for the child of God from Romans 8.
• In Christ, I am free from any condemnation.
• In Christ, I have kept the righteous requirements of the law.
• In Christ, I am obligated to be led by the Spirit.
• In Christ, I am a child of God and a coheir with Christ.
• In Christ, I will be redeemed from this cursed creation.
• In Christ, I am certain of my eternal glorification.
• In Christ, I fear nothing either in or out of this world.
Boa, K., & Kruidenier, W. (2000). Vol. 6: Romans. Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference (265). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Pursuing Christ with you...for HIS glory and our JOY in HIM!
love,
m