SOAP 22/06/05
Scripture
Rom 8: 1-2 & 5 & 9-11 & 13-14
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Observation
Rom 8 talks a lot on the response to Rom 7-- struggling with sin part. the key is to realise again the aspect of being controlled or led by the Spirit. it is important to see that by our own selves we cannot battle the sinful nature, as the sinful nature will take every method to ensnare us and cause us to sin. that's why the struggle exist. it is also that we are still being made perfect in the image of Christ. that is why in Christ, 'there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus' the reason for the now no condemnation is that 'through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.'
it is through the work of Jesus Christ that has broken the curse of sin and death. (v 3) it is then important to note how Paul continues his explanation of the reason and focus of our struggle... it is the mind. for in v 5, we see that if we live according to the sinful nature, we have our minds set on the nature desires... the nature desires are indeed 'natural' to man. we have sexual desires, one of the most common of all, and most difficult to handle at least for me. and of course desire for fame, fortune and riches. these are all nature desires. and here it is clearly said that if our mind is set on the things of the natural desires, we are living to the sinful nature! (some point to note here!) and the result of this is death. (V 6)
and those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on 'what the Spirit desires'.
Application
to make things very simple for simple man, like myself, i need to pray and ask what is the desires of the Spirit. i can be asking also from the scriptures what i need to set and meditate my mind on. the good things and then only can i start to know what the Spirit desires and then to live as in to set my mind on what the Spirit desires.
prayer
Lord i thank you for your word, your word is life! I pray that i will be alert to set my things on what the Spirit desires and that indeed i can find out what they are from the Bible. Help me to then pray for strength to live according to that. may life indeed come from your word and our obedience. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Scripture
Rom 8: 1-2 & 5 & 9-11 & 13-14
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
5Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Observation
Rom 8 talks a lot on the response to Rom 7-- struggling with sin part. the key is to realise again the aspect of being controlled or led by the Spirit. it is important to see that by our own selves we cannot battle the sinful nature, as the sinful nature will take every method to ensnare us and cause us to sin. that's why the struggle exist. it is also that we are still being made perfect in the image of Christ. that is why in Christ, 'there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus' the reason for the now no condemnation is that 'through Jesus Christ the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.'
it is through the work of Jesus Christ that has broken the curse of sin and death. (v 3) it is then important to note how Paul continues his explanation of the reason and focus of our struggle... it is the mind. for in v 5, we see that if we live according to the sinful nature, we have our minds set on the nature desires... the nature desires are indeed 'natural' to man. we have sexual desires, one of the most common of all, and most difficult to handle at least for me. and of course desire for fame, fortune and riches. these are all nature desires. and here it is clearly said that if our mind is set on the things of the natural desires, we are living to the sinful nature! (some point to note here!) and the result of this is death. (V 6)
and those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on 'what the Spirit desires'.
Application
to make things very simple for simple man, like myself, i need to pray and ask what is the desires of the Spirit. i can be asking also from the scriptures what i need to set and meditate my mind on. the good things and then only can i start to know what the Spirit desires and then to live as in to set my mind on what the Spirit desires.
prayer
Lord i thank you for your word, your word is life! I pray that i will be alert to set my things on what the Spirit desires and that indeed i can find out what they are from the Bible. Help me to then pray for strength to live according to that. may life indeed come from your word and our obedience. In Jesus' Name, Amen!
posted by Samuel Ng | 1:00 PM
1 Comments:
I googled 'abundant life' and found your blog. You have a nice witness going here :)
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