Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 13 - Shall we sin, because we are not under the law)

Start this lesson series here: 
Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 1)

Understanding the Process of Salvation in Romans (Part 13 - Shall we sin, because we are not under the law)

In Romans 6:1-13, Paul teaches us that in a positional (or heavenly) state, we are dead to sin, having been crucified with Christ, and that we need to accept this by faith so that as Christ was resurrected by the power of God, we too can walk in that newness of the resurrection life of Christ. In additional to coming to this understanding concerning sin, we are also introduced to the truth that we are dead to the law by the body of Christ. See these few verses to highlight the fact,

Rom.3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; …  28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. …  

Rom.6:14  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 

Though Paul expounds on this topic in chapter 7, he starts this topic in chapter 6 with another rhetorical question to counteract and neutralise the reasoning mind of believers, saying, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?”

The Spirit of God in His Word and the Spirit of Christ in Life

The Spirit of God in His Word and the Spirit of Christ in Life

Read the following passage and note the capitalized text.

Rom 8:5-9  For they that are after the flesh DO MIND the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit [DO MIND] the things of the Spirit.  (6)  For to be CARNALLY MINDED is death; but to be SPIRITUALLY MINDED is life and peace.  (7)  Because the CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  (8)  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  (9)  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the SPIRIT OF GOD dwell in you. Now if any man have not the SPIRIT OF CHRIST, he is none of his.

We have the state of carnal mindedness and the state of spiritual mindedness. In addition, we have reference to the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ. In the context of this passage, what is the Spirit of God compared to the Spirit of Christ? Here is my interpretation:

• The SPIRIT [WORD] OF GOD is the wisdom and knowledge of God that comes by His Word.
• The SPIRIT OF CHRIST is the salvation life of God that comes by trusting in Christ.

Continuing with this passage in Romans,

Rom 8:10-11  And if CHRIST BE IN YOU [to be justified (saved)], the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (11)  But if the SPIRIT [WORD] OF HIM [GOD] that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

You wouldn't even know you had the Holy Spirit unless the Bible told you.

You wouldn't even know you had the Holy Spirit unless the Bible told you.

Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh, Gal.3:3? So how did the Galatians get the Spirit of God? By the hearing of faith which comes through the written word. Ephesians 1:13 says, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, unto the day of redemption." You were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise until the day of redemption. Did you feel that happen when you got saved? Did you feel the Spirit of God come into you and circumcise you, and put off the body and the sins of the flesh, and take your soul and join it to the Lord Jesus Christ? You didn't feel any of these things. The Word says that we walk by faith. You wouldn't even know you had the Holy Spirit unless the Bible told you. The Holy Spirit did not come upon you like with Peter, James, and John, when they started talking in tongues, displaying mighty signs and miracles, and laying hands on the sick. Their dispensation was one of signs and sight. The truth is that we are in a different dispensation: one of faith; not of feelings! Thus, anyone who is seeking for the Spirit through signs, through feelings, through their physical senses, are not walking in the faith of our doctrine. They are living in ignorance of the written word of God according to the doctrine given to the Body of Christ through Paul’s epistles.

What does the scriptures say? The scriptural truth is that once you hear the gospel and put your trust in Jesus Christ, you are regenerated by the Spirit of God, and that Spirit of God baptizes you into Christ, sealing you there to the day of redemption. Then from that moment on you are to ‘drink in that spirit’ that comes from spending time in the word of God, 1Cor.12:13, not seeking it by the laying on of hands or trying to find that fresh anointing of the spirit at the church alter.  The written word of God is God’s spirit and life, Jn.6:63. When you partake in the word, you are ‘filled by God’s spirit’, Eph.5:18, renewed in your mind, increasing in the mind of Christ, 1Cor.2:16, in tune with the will and the judgements of God. We receive the Spirit of God by spending time in His Word and we walk by that Spirit when we give ourselves over in obedience to that word that is Spirit and life within us.

How do we effectively serve God and live for Him

How do we effectively serve God and live for Him

The biggest hinderance in your life regarding serving and living for God is not your flesh. Your flesh is not the obstacle that hinders you from serving God. Neither is it sin. Neither is it your will, your procrastination, your weakness, habits, or commitments. How about getting prayed for? How about alter calls to be filled with the Holy Spirit? How about fasting and other spiritual activities? No. No, and no! So, what then is the greatest hinderance to serving God? It is unbelief and negligence of the written Word of God. You don’t need more willpower, or to do better, or try harder tomorrow. You need to get into the Bible and start believing it!

You see, ignorance is unbelief. The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”. Thus, you don’t have to hear the word of God, and then choose to ignore it, to be in unbelief. Unbelief, through ignorance, is already upon you by simply not hearing the word. Paul says, “I obtained mercy because I did in ignorantly, in unbelief”. Ignorance and unbelief are connected. To elaborate on this, also consider the following. In Romans 14, Paul writes about being weak in the faith or strong in the faith. The state of your faith is connected to knowledge. Why cannot the ‘weak brother’ eat meat that was offered in the idol’s temple? Because when he goes to eat the meat, he is eating with the knowledge that that idol was a god. He is weak in the faith! He is ignorant of the knowledge of the truth in God’s word. Knowledge and faith go hand in hand just as much as ignorance and unbelief go together. Faith is not subject to you, to your thoughts, your emotions, or your understanding of life and truth. Faith is defined and established in the written word of God and is subject to that truth only.

So, to step up to the next level in serving and living for God, you need to stop ignoring and neglecting the written word of God. You need to hear the word of God. You need to read it and get it into you. You need to understand its doctrine and adhere to that which is written and addressed to you in this dispensation of grace. Nothing else but the knowledge of the written word is what will stablish you in the faith and in godly service to God. Amen.

Words carry Spirit

Words carry Spirit

Words possess a spiritual dimension. When you receive a word, it takes residence in your heart, carrying the essence and spirit of the one that inspired it. Similarly, words come from the heart of the giver and convey their will, wisdom, and purpose. This is why Jesus rightly said, “My words are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

Today, the words of God are compiled into the canon of scripture. Reading the written words in the Bible can convey the spirit of God into our hearts. Have a look at the following passage:

1Co 2:11-12  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  (12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Did you notice the word ‘spirit’ in the bolded part? It is not a capital “S”. What is being referenced here? It is not the Holy Spirit. Rather it is the written Word of God! The ‘spirit which is of God’ refers to the Bible. As you read and believe the written word, you are partaking in the essence and spirit of the one that inspired it. Essentially, you are receiving God’s (Holy) Spirit, which is the inspiration, and power, and truth within those words, bringing life, knowledge, conviction, and God’s will, by His Spirit.

When you grasp the truth of the ‘spirit’ of God, you will start to better understand verses such as these:

Rom_7:6  But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

(By gaining knowledge in the newness of the ‘spirit’ that we can start to walk by the ‘Spirit’. Rom.8; Gal.5)

2Co 3:6-8  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  (7)  But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  (8)  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

Eph_1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

2Th_2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

 

I cannot believe all the Bible because man compiled the canon of scripture

I cannot believe all the Bible because man compiled the canon of scripture

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I say this with love and respect...