Romans 8:1-21
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit) ] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set [me] you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, [and as a sin offering] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not 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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 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, [brothers and sisters] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
This is what sets us apart in Jesus Christ, from the rest of the Universe. The Law of the Spirit of Life vs. the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.
All in all, this isn't one of the most comfortable passages. Incredible beauty. There isn't one of us who won't feel the twinge of knowing we are still in these bodies and they are flesh. The meditations of our thoughts and the words of our mouth are not always acceptable. How well we know this. We all have two natures.
What we tend to rush right past... because we know it.... we know it.... we know it.... the sacrifice of Jesus Christ covers all of our sins. All. of. them. We have to declare God is God. He is the One Sovereign.
I have a memory from my childhood - being in the car on a warm, comfortable summer day. Pre-teen. My mother starts telling me about our chores for the day. Yuck and bother. I start to complain and my mother says, "Are you interested in knowing one of the most elemental laws of the universe?"
This was an attention getter, a unique reply from my mother and I said, "What?" With real wonder.
"The Universe is in decay."
"What do you mean?" -Sounded ominous to me.
"I mean everything is winding down, this is why we clean. Everything you come in contact with will need feeding, mending, replacing, painting, cleaning & polishing. For all of your life, every single thing." My mother cheerfully declared.
"That is the Worst Thing I've ever heard in my life." And you know, it still is.
Dust - according to a childhood friend of mine who is really enjoying home schooling her kids, in science - is not just made up of particles of human skin. Really. This is the 2nd law of Thermodynamics. Dust is the universe in decay.
So, what is our Endust?
In Christ Jesus, we cannot forget, we are children of God. The mercy and grace of God is what sets us apart. Renewal. Redemption. It is He that made us and not we, ourselves. Faith. Promises of God. Praise in the good times. Prayer, praise and faith in the difficult times. Hope.
The Word in Romans 8 says something important. Even if our flaws are pointed out to us. It repeats in:
Ephesians 2:4-9
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Here is a good note to end on for the mind of the Spirit:
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
Father God. Abba. Jesus. Holy Spirit. Jesus loves us, He will not fail us. On this, You raise us up.
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