Continuing Romans 8

As we continue in Romans 8, I was thinking how important it is for us to lay hold of truths in our hearts very deeply and richly.

So for me personally, I went back through Romans in my heart and mind, truly seeking to rehearse the words of Truth that are laid out for us.

One of the things that I stopped at is how Abraham is mentioned a number of times in the New Testament.  God speaks of him in Romans, II Corinthians, Galatians, Hebrews,  James, I Peter.

Yet he is not spoken of as a passing name,  but spoken of in detail in a few of these letters.  Romans 4 is such a type of how God means for us to believe God thoroughly and completely.  It is through faith in God's Word that we come to know the true power of Christ's Risen Life.

It is simply laying hold, possessing, and keeping the Words of Life that produce something in us which is not done by human endeavor.

So let us go back to the example of Abraham in Romans 4.  God declares to him that he is going to be the father of many nations.  He declares to him that he will have a son - that through Abraham's loins will come God's plan.  What is that plan?

I see that it is two-fold.  The Messiah came through his natural loins - but also Abraham is the father of faith.  We, having been Gentiles in the flesh, were NOT in the natural lines of Jewish heritage.  BUT we are children of Abraham, because of faith.

We need to make a big deal out of faith.  For God has made a huge deal out of it.  What kind of faith though?  Faith that he is going to give us a car, faith that he will help us get a new DVD player? 

Oh my, not making fun of our petitions - we all have them.  I've had them.  And I realize that God was gracious - so gracious in my babyhood, my adolescence - all the stages of my spiritual growth.  He DOES supply all our need too!

However, as we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our precious Lord and Savior - our spiritual eyes are opened to the grand understanding of God's redemption and the future glory in Christ Jesus.

This revelation to our hearts will definitely AFFECT our present lives.  I want to list again, in review of all the riches and truths we have in Christ Jesus - through God's grace of giving His Son.

1)            We were dead in trespasses, in sins.  Not alive.  Dead, dead, dead.  God judged sin in the flesh by and through the cross of Jesus.  The judgment for our sins was laid on HIM!  Therefore Jesus died on that cross.

2)            As an act on God's part - because Jesus Christ became our full representative of humans - we died with Him.  God counted us in Christ when His Son died.  Adam's creation was fully judged - from the beginning in Genesis when Adam fell.

3)            Jesus Christ was buried.  We were buried with Him.  Death has a grave.  What is buried?  Our sins, dead things are buried!    Romans 6.

4)            When Christ was raised, we are raised in His Resurrection, His Life.  It's the newness of Life coming from Jesus - only Jesus.  This is why Paul wrote in Colossians, elements on the outward DO NOT give LIFE - religion does not give life - the dead are raised by Christ alone!  This is  Romans 8:1,2 - The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.

5)            Abraham was dead in his body.  He COULD NOT produce a son by natural means.  He was to produce by the promise of God alone.  He waited, he trusted in God, he lived by faith, he believed God's Word "Thou shalt have a son!"

6)            We are to live the steps of Abraham.  God has given us His Holy Spirit - through the Spirit we were quickened made alive.  Nothing we did NATURALLY brought us into this state.  We simply believed the Gospel, the message of our salvation.

7)            Paul said to the Galatians:  "How did you begin?"  By works of your own flesh OR through the hearing of faith?"  So how do you continue?

Beloved, we continue through faith in the Life of Christ within our beings.  We continue through the Son of God WHO has come in to bring forth the fruit and glory of God in Jesus Christ.  We are raised from the dead of sins and trespasses.  We ARE forgiven of those awful deeds.  We are walking NOW in the newness of LIFE in the Son - not by fleshly, meager means.  The inner man is where Christ dwells.

We MUST believe.  We must STAND and be ESTABLISHED in FAITH.  Abraham did.  He is the father of faith.

Is God faithful?  Abraham thought so.  "And being fully convinced that WHAT GOD has promised, He was also able to perform."

Now, I personally am not fully sanctified yet!  My experience is not complete yet.  However, along with you, I am in Christ - I am justified by the blood of His cross - we are in Him.  We both walk in faith of and in the Son of God who now dwells in us.  There are so many Scriptures to underscore this.

"Lord God, strengthen us in Your Son."

Raised in Christ Jesus,

Sue Gaither