Sue With Deer

Sue With Deer
"As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants after You."

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Beginning Romans 8

Before we look at the first few verses of Romans 8, just would like to take a quick side road to make sure no one misunderstands some things I have written in all my devotions, especially the last ones in Romans.
 
First, I believe with all my heart that the whole of God's Word is for us.  Paul said that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto ALL good works."       2 Timothy 3:16.
When I was growing up, I heard that verse always quoted "thoroughly" furnished.   In the King James the word is not translated "thoroughly," but "throughly."  The reason I like the word "throughly" is because you can wash your hands thoroughly (on the outside) but you cannot wash your hands "throughly."  You cannot get into the inside of the hands.
God's Word, His Way, His instruction, His All is meant to get on the inside - so we are fully furnished - not hit and miss, not a spot here and there.
God changes our heart to want to know ALL of His work, His history leading up to the cross, the resurrection, His ascension, seating and future coming in glory.
We believe it is SO important to allow God's Spirit to teach us the history of God in all things which includes the Old Testament.  We certainly are privileged to have all the Scripture in one book!  We are not scrounging around for scrolls to piece things together.  And on top of this, we have God's precious Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into ALL Truth.
It is a constant yielding, constant testing of spirits out there who do want to pervert, twist God's Word.  And I find that God's way is through meekness, submission to Him constantly to come to know Truth - and know is a precious word.
This is our premise from which we do our best to share the insights God has given us and continues to give us regarding His Son.  We are not seeking to be "hyper" about anything - overboard, swinging to a far left or a far right.  We truly believe in humble submission to the Authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and seeking to allow Him to make His Words known to our hearts.
In our lives, we've seen many persuasive arguments through people, hard core, and "camps" of those different persuasions.  May God continue to protect all of our hearts and keep us in the center of the Living Resurrected Christ in total trust and submission to Him.
So with all that said, I will continue with Romans 8:1-2.
Paul said something at the end of Romans 7 which is "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord..." (Romans 7:24, 25a)
He went into full blown explanation of how man was not able in natural fleshly ability to be holy, to carry out holiness through him obeying the Law, commandments of God.
God had to do a new thing - He says this in the Old Testament.  "Behold I do a new thing..."
The Spirit of God coming to dwell in the heart of flesh - the dead spirit caused by sin and death from the Great Transgression is absolutely the greatest gift to man.
The Spirit of God is not, as we all know, a thing, a creed, an idea, another list, BUT the Person whom we all need to pull off the Christian walk!
And so Paul says these precious words:  "There is therefore now no condemnation which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law (meaning there is NO respecter of persons) of the Spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
This is so worth pondering.  Paul just gave us wings in Truth.  I have always been in awe of the law of aerodynamics - how when a huge jet already weighing thousands and thousands of pounds, with people, baggage and fuel gets off the ground.  It comes out of the law of gravity into the law of aerodynamics.
The flesh of man without being born-again is carnal and dead.  The law of sin and death is operating.  But when one comes into Christ, is born of His Spirit, the spirit man is united with His the Lord Jesus Christ - in union with His Resurrection.  Christ is the Law of Life through the Spirit.
This is why we go "up" in our walk through sanctification because we trust in Him, we trust God's Word, we trust His way.
"Thank you, dear Father and dear Lord Jesus Christ for leading us triumphantly in all things."
Until next time,
Sue Gaither

 

 

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