Freedom

05/12/2010

Good Morning!

Romans 8:1-11 (English Standard Version)
Life in the Spirit
1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For 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, 4in 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. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9You, 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. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.Footnotes:
a. Romans 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit)
b. Romans 8:2 Some manuscripts me
c. Romans 8:3 Or and as a sin offering


Freedom! What is freedom? Paul writes to you and to me with this message of freedom. What are we free from? We are free from the condemnation that comes from the curse of sin that once ruled our lives. Does that mean we don’t sin anymore? I wish! But I also know that in my own human frailty, there are and will continue to be times where I do not live as I should, do as I could, and love as I ought. Here’s the key, though – the Spirit of God dwells within me (and you), reminding me of that which is God’s will; teaching me how to live in God’s way; correcting me and loving me even in my failure. And that gives me peace.

So, there is truly no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. And that makes today and every day blessed.

Agape’

Mr. Jim
Fatdad5@comcast.net
"Preach the Gospel everyday - and if you have to, use words" ... St. Francis of Assisi