In The Word
Read: Romans 8:1-17
Deliverance from Bondage
8 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the 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 are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if 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.
12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
What a powerful reality that those who are in Christ Jesus will not face eternal judgment from God. But, we are faced with the condition of being “in Christ Jesus.” This hope is not for everyone. We see this illustrated in the account of Noah (Genesis 7); God offered protection from the coming judgment, but only those who accepted went into the ark and were shut up inside. While the waters of judgment raged outside, Noah and his family were safe inside. God offers that same hope through His own Son. What the Law was unable to do, God did. What the flesh was too weak to do, God did.
It is because of this hope that we put off the flesh and receive the Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same Spirit that lives in those who accept Him. Paul said that we are no longer obligated to the walk in the flesh. The Spirit-filled believer has been raised into a new life. That believer is one that is led by the Spirit not by the flesh. By this same Spirit, we know that we are the sons of God.
If you are in Christ Jesus, you are liberated from the fear of God’s judgment. He has placed you by His Spirit inside the sphere of His protection. If you are filled by the Holy Spirit, you have the power to put to death the deeds of the flesh. If you are baptized in His Spirit, you can know that you are a child of God, calling Him Abba, Father. Do you have this hope? You can. The condition is “if.” If you accept, you will be accepted; if you ask, you will be filled. God’s offer is extended, will you accept?