For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.—Romans 7:22-25
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.—Romans 8:1-6
I am so glad these verses are in the Bible! God’s grace always fills, overflows and rejoices my heart as I read Romans 7 and 8! I identify with Paul in his delight in the law of God in his inward man and also identify with him in the struggles of his flesh as they war against the law of his mind bringing him into captivity to the law of sin. Insert HEAVY SIGH here...
Sin IS miserable and a miserable place to be. I cry out with Paul, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),—Ephesians 2:4-5
I am so thankful for Jesus who is my Liberator...the One who has made me free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.—Romans 8:3-4
In Christ, there is NO condemnation. (8:1) My sins, past, present and future are forgiven! Further down in Romans 8:32 it says this: Read and rejoice!
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Paul’s argument here is from the greater to the lesser. God has already sacrificed His Son for us and that when we were still His enemies. How much more then will He give us what is necessary now as His friends to complete His purpose in choosing us. God will complete that good work He began in us! Verses 33 and 34 say this:
Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
God has justified us! He has declared us righteous. Who can then accuse us?? Who can then condemn us??
1. Christ died for us.
2. Christ also rose from the dead and in so doing conquered sin and death.
3. Christ sits at the right hand of our Father in heaven and
4. Christ continually intercedes for us before the Father.
Answer: No one!
My takeaway from my Romans reading this morning is this:
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.—Romans 8:6
So simple! Who wouldn’t choose life and peace over death?? Colossians 3:2 speaks to this well. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. I love what John MacArthurs says about this verse.
Set your minds can also be translated “think,” or “have this inner disposition.” As a compass points north, the believer’s entire disposition should point itself toward the things of heaven. Heavenly thoughts can only come by understanding heavenly realities from Scripture.
Father...Set my mind on the things that are above..on the heavenly...turn my heart to hunger and thirst after righteousness satisfying the desires of my spirit rather than those of my flesh.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.—Romans 12:2
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