Romans 8:1,2 ESV
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus [who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit].
2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
First let me make a comment about vs. 1. The phrase that is in brackets is not in any of the early manuscripts. Therefore it was probably added as a comment at a later time. However, this is not too alarming, since the same phrase appears at the end of vs. 4.
Verses 8:1-4, along with Chapter 7 show how the law of "sin and death" has been deprived of its power to take believers into bondage. At the same time the holy law of God receives from believers a living obedience motivated by the wonderful work of our Savior.
Christ who knew no sin, was made sin for us, and those who believe in Him are made the righteousness of God in Him (II Cor 5:21). This atoning work has changed us from the status of condemned sinner to some who is righteous, like Jesus Christ. In addition, we now stand one with Him. This oneness is a union of lives. Believers, through God's Spirit dwelling in them, are united with Christ just as the head and members of the body share one life.
Much more than we do, we need to meditate on the wonderful work of Christ on our behalf. We were transported by Him, from absolute condemnation to absolutely never being condemned. This is because God's wrath was satisfied (propitiated) at the Cross, and we need to thank God for that very often.
Is there security in these truths? Can you place your life in the hands of the Perfect One who best knows what you need.
God Bless You,
Dennis
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christ. Show all posts
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Accepted: Complete in Christ
Colossians 2:9,10 ESV
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
We are accepted by Christ. We are now found in Christ. We are made complete in Christ. Adam and Eve were perfect upon creation. Once they sinned by disobeying God the destructive force of sin began it's work and has continued to do so in all mankind. If we look at ourselves today, we may not even realize the ways that we are damaged goods because of sin's destruction.
Before Christ, not only were we spiritually dead, but also our physical, mental and emotional condition had deteriorated. It's all connected. Just as an unsaved person does not have a spiritual relationship with God, he also is not able to draw upon the wisdom of God in his life decisions. Rather, the unsaved person is marched around by the lusts of his flesh and the wiles of the devil.
In our salvation, at the point of regeneration, God brings life to that which has been spiritually dead. He places His Holy Spirit within us. We now have spiritual life. We are no longer dead. Our new life in Christ is furnished by the completeness that is in Jesus Christ Himself. We can now fellowship with God Almighty through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 5:17 ESV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Although we must work to rid ourselves of the dead man's baggage, in Christ we are new creatures with a potential that is reminiscent of that first man and woman.
Let's walk with God daily and talk to Him, as He condescends to be involved in our lives.
God Bless You,
Dennis
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
We are accepted by Christ. We are now found in Christ. We are made complete in Christ. Adam and Eve were perfect upon creation. Once they sinned by disobeying God the destructive force of sin began it's work and has continued to do so in all mankind. If we look at ourselves today, we may not even realize the ways that we are damaged goods because of sin's destruction.
Before Christ, not only were we spiritually dead, but also our physical, mental and emotional condition had deteriorated. It's all connected. Just as an unsaved person does not have a spiritual relationship with God, he also is not able to draw upon the wisdom of God in his life decisions. Rather, the unsaved person is marched around by the lusts of his flesh and the wiles of the devil.
In our salvation, at the point of regeneration, God brings life to that which has been spiritually dead. He places His Holy Spirit within us. We now have spiritual life. We are no longer dead. Our new life in Christ is furnished by the completeness that is in Jesus Christ Himself. We can now fellowship with God Almighty through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ and the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
II Corinthians 5:17 ESV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Although we must work to rid ourselves of the dead man's baggage, in Christ we are new creatures with a potential that is reminiscent of that first man and woman.
Let's walk with God daily and talk to Him, as He condescends to be involved in our lives.
God Bless You,
Dennis
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Accepted: A Member of Christ's Body
1Corinthians 12:27 ESV
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Some other key verses, working up through the chapter. (I realize bottom to top is not generally recommended.)
12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
We have been considering many ways that a believer is accepted by God. Many of these have focused on the believer as an individual. With this indicator of acceptance, we see that God has accepted the believer as a part of something much larger: the body of Christ. Now this is not the physical body of Christ, even though the current passage of scripture is based on the analogy of the physical body. The body of Christ is the Church, and of course I mean the true Church, those believers who are truly redeemed. Christ is obviously the head of this body. By God's design, the combining of believers into a body provides much strength and ability that would not be available for an individual body part.
As God knows intimately each believer, He knows how to fit each one into the body. God has an exact place for each believer in the body. The positioning is not only what is best for the individual, but also what is best for the body. All the members of the body take orders from the head of the body (Jesus Christ), and as they trust and obey, the body is strengthened. When believers do not trust and obey, then the body is weakened.
So what is your experience in the body of Christ? Your 'in the body' experience is first in the Church, and secondly in fellowship with the broader circle of Christians. The norm presented in the New Testament is that the believer functions in a church body. Have you found the place that God wants you to be? Are you enjoying strength and support from the fellowship? In the midst of your body life, are you able to see your sins and faults, and forgive others for theirs? How about the Pastor?
I certainly hope you are living in victory and joy with this issue. God has designed the body of Christ for our good. We must believe that, even if it is only by faith. In this day and age, many Christians have struggled with rejection (real or perceived) from the body, as if they were a transplant that did not belong. These people are hurting and need the love of others in the body. The sanctification of all believers is still underway. The fruit of remaining sin is that sometimes the church will dump their wounded along the road (maybe because they are not perfect Christians) instead of restoring them.
God Bless You with what you need regarding 'body life',
Dennis
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Some other key verses, working up through the chapter. (I realize bottom to top is not generally recommended.)
12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
We have been considering many ways that a believer is accepted by God. Many of these have focused on the believer as an individual. With this indicator of acceptance, we see that God has accepted the believer as a part of something much larger: the body of Christ. Now this is not the physical body of Christ, even though the current passage of scripture is based on the analogy of the physical body. The body of Christ is the Church, and of course I mean the true Church, those believers who are truly redeemed. Christ is obviously the head of this body. By God's design, the combining of believers into a body provides much strength and ability that would not be available for an individual body part.
As God knows intimately each believer, He knows how to fit each one into the body. God has an exact place for each believer in the body. The positioning is not only what is best for the individual, but also what is best for the body. All the members of the body take orders from the head of the body (Jesus Christ), and as they trust and obey, the body is strengthened. When believers do not trust and obey, then the body is weakened.
So what is your experience in the body of Christ? Your 'in the body' experience is first in the Church, and secondly in fellowship with the broader circle of Christians. The norm presented in the New Testament is that the believer functions in a church body. Have you found the place that God wants you to be? Are you enjoying strength and support from the fellowship? In the midst of your body life, are you able to see your sins and faults, and forgive others for theirs? How about the Pastor?
I certainly hope you are living in victory and joy with this issue. God has designed the body of Christ for our good. We must believe that, even if it is only by faith. In this day and age, many Christians have struggled with rejection (real or perceived) from the body, as if they were a transplant that did not belong. These people are hurting and need the love of others in the body. The sanctification of all believers is still underway. The fruit of remaining sin is that sometimes the church will dump their wounded along the road (maybe because they are not perfect Christians) instead of restoring them.
God Bless You with what you need regarding 'body life',
Dennis
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