Verse of the Day 8/31

 

Romans 9:14-15 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! ¹⁵ For God said to Moses,

"I will show mercy to anyone I choose,
    and I will show compassion to anyone I choose."  New Living Translation (NLT)

For today's verses we'll move to Romans chapter 9 which goes into a subject which many churches choose to avoid or ignore.  Arguments often arise out of it and churches have split over the debate about it.  We are talking about "election", God's choosing.

 

In today's society we quite often hear the words fair and fairness used in relation to many of the days "hot topics" from health care, to income redistribution, voting rights and a host of other topics.  In the church the topic of "fairness" is often brought up in relation to election, causing some to challenge that God, as the Phillips translation puts it, "is monstrously unfair".

 

John Piper writes, "God is utterly free from the constraints of his creation.  The inclinations of his will move in directions that he alone determines.  Whatever influences  appear to change his will are influences which ultimately he has ordained.  His choice to show mercy to one person and not to another is a choice that originates in the mystery of his sovereign will not in the will of his creature....If God ever surrendered the sovereignty of his freedom in dispensing his mercy, he would cease to be all-glorious,  he would no longer by Yahweh, the God of the Bible."

 

I remember Pastor Bill Swanger's teaching on the subject of election.  Basically, he said and taught that "both election and man's free will, and his accountability are clearly taught in the Bible.  We will never be able to settle the argument on this side of heaven."  Rather than arguing and taking sides we should trust in God, be thankful for his saving grace, that he has chosen to have mercy and compassion on us, and live knowing that we are his instruments in reaching others, whether we believe it is their choice to believe or God's sovereign election to use us to reach them.

 

In preparation for worship this weekend, consider what it means to you that He has had mercy on you.  Read the lines to the Philips, Craig and Dean song "You are God Alone".  No matter what side of the debate you may take, may you be able to say that He is God alone.

 

You are not a God
Created by human hands
You are not a God
Dependant on any mortal man
You are not a God
In need of anything we can give
By Your plan, that's just the way it is

[chorus]
You are God alone
From before time began
You were on Your throne
You are God alone
And right now
In the good times and bad
You are on Your throne
You are God alone

You're the only God
Whose power none can contend
You're the only God
Whose name and praise will never end
You're the only God
Who's worthy of everything we can give
You are God
And that's just the way it is

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 9:14-17

J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

We must not jump to conclusions about God

^14-15 Now do we conclude that God is monstrously unfair? Never! God said long ago to Moses: 'I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion'.

^16-17 It is obviously not a question of human will or human effort, but of divine mercy. The scripture says to Pharaoh: 'Even for this same purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name shall be declared in all the earth'.

Verse of the Day 8/30

 

Romans 8:38-39  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 

We ended yesterday's devotional considering the words from the song "Your Love Never Never Fails" which started with "nothing can separate".  In today's passage we have another "all things", this time relating to tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, or danger or sword.  Take a few minutes to think of more modern day terms, of situations in our lives, that would fit into these categories.  Then think of what it means to you to be "convinced" of the fact that in Christ we are "more than conquerors" (v.37).

 

In all these things, through all the challenges of life, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ which never fails.  As you look at the last few words of verse 38, consider what it means to be "in Christ" and just how we can be more than conquerors.

 

John Piper's daily devotional for today contained the following about what it means for you if you are "in Christ".

 

1. In Christ Jesus you have been seated in the heavenly places even while he lived on earth. Ephesians 2:6, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
2. In Christ Jesus all the promises of God are Yes for you. 2 Corinthians 1:20, "All the promises of God find their Yes in Christ."
3. In Christ Jesus you are being sanctified and made holy. 1 Corinthians 1:2, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus."
4. In Christ Jesus everything you really needed will be supplied. Philippians 4:19, "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
5. In Christ Jesus the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. Philippians 4:7, "The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
6. In Christ Jesus you have eternal life. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
7. And in Christ Jesus you will be raised from the dead at the coming of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." All those united to Adam in the first humanity die. All those united to Christ in the new humanity rise to live again!

Do you need to know and experience these promises for you today?  Trust that nothing can separate you from the love of God.

 

Blessings,
Mike

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Romans 8:37-39

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Verse of the Day 8/29

 

Romans 8:32-33  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Continuing in Romans and the references to "all things" we move to verses 32 and 33.  A key words in verse 32 are "graciously give".  John MacArthur points out that it literally means to "bestow out grace".  He points out that the words used can also be translated as forgiveness.  This makes sense in the fact that forgiveness is a foundation or key element of grace.  He expands on this saying that the all things referred to in verse 32 has to do with the forgiveness of every sin of the believer who trust and depend upon Christ for this.  This grace is borne out in God's doing whatever is necessary to complete the purpose (v.28) he had in choosing us.  (Philipians 1:6).

 

These words should give us confidence that even when we fail, when we fall short and our love will fail Him, His love never fails.  He will do what it takes to bring us back to Him.  This reminded me of the Newsboys song "Your Love Never Fails".

 

Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails

I know I still make mistakes
But You have new mercies for me everyday
Your love never fails

Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning

 

May this thought "nothing can separate us" (v.35) remain with us today, let us be aware that He is with us.  Read ahead in the passage.  Lord willing, we'll return to it and this thought tomorrow.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Romans 8:32-35

English Standard Version (ESV)

³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.^{[a] 35} Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Verse of the Day 8/28

Verse of the Day 8/28


Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)



Today's verse, Romans 8:28 comes to us on 8/28. It combines within the space of a few words the concepts that we've been and will be considering, the "we know" and the "all things".

...

We probably will admit to our children saying to us, or us saying to our parents, "I know, dad" or "mom, I know!" in an argumentative way, speaking of a head knowledge of something prior to going through the experience. There is a big difference between the "we know" that Paul speaks about. It is one that comes out of going through the furnace of affliction, of pain and suffering, of wrongful imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck and illnesses to name a few. Paul went through them all.



Pastor James MacDonald writes, "the word know communicates experiential knowledge - the kind that comes from life. You didn't go to church, college or Google to find this kind of knowing. You know because you've gone through it, and God's Spirit has confirmed it. This knowing isn't something you feel. Things don't always feel in the moment like they could work together for good, but time will prove God's character. This is one of those tried and definitely true pictures in God's Word about how He works."



The first two years after our son Jeff's accident, I dug into Romans to try to come to grips with this verse in particular and what Paul had to say, what Pastor MacDonald has to say. With the help of reading Martin Lloyd Jones and John Piper's works on Romans, God's Word and His Spirit at work in my life I've come to a place to "know" and accept this "anchor for the soul" that God has blessed us with.



Do you know this today from experience? If you do, you've come to realize that His love never fails, never changes.



In Christ,

Mike



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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace NIV



Romans 8:27-29

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)



27 And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit’s mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God
28 We know that all things work together[a] for the good[b] of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Verse of the Day 8/28

Romans 8:28  We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today's verse, Romans 8:28 comes to us on 8/28.  It combines within the space of a few words the concepts that we've been and will be considering, the "we know" and the "all things".

 

We probably will admit to our children saying to us, or us saying to our parents, "I know, dad" or "mom, I know!" in an argumentative way, speaking of a head knowledge of something prior to going through the experience.  There is a big difference between the "we know" that Paul speaks about.  It is one that comes out of going through the furnace of affliction, of pain and suffering, of wrongful imprisonment, beatings, shipwreck and illnesses to name a few.  Paul went through them all.

 

Pastor James MacDonald writes, "the word know communicates experiential knowledge - the kind that comes from life.  You didn't go to church, college or Google to find this kind of knowing.  You know because you've gone through it, and God's Spirit has confirmed it.  This knowing isn't something you feel.  Things don't always feel in the moment like they could work together for good, but time will prove God's character.  This is one of those tried and definitely true pictures in God's Word about how He works."

 

The first two years after our son Jeff's accident, I dug into Romans to try to come to grips with this verse in particular and what Paul had to say, what Pastor MacDonald has to say.  With the help of reading Martin Lloyd Jones and John Piper's works on Romans, God's Word and His Spirit at work in my life I've come to a place to "know" and accept this "anchor for the soul" that God has blessed us with.

 

Do you know this today from experience?  If you do, you've come to realize that His love never fails, never changes.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:27-29

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

²⁷ And He who searches the hearts knows the Spirit's mind-set, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ We know that all things work together^[a] for the good^[b] of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Verse of the Day 8/27

 

Romans 8:26-27   Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

In considering the things that "we know" in Romans 8 and the "all things" that Paul speaks of, having someone "interceding" for us is of utmost importance.  Facing illness, disappointment, accident or job loss are all things that can leave us groaning within ourselves, sometimes to the point that we do not know how to pray.  Paul encourages us that even in those times, we have an advocate, the "Spirit" who intercedes, goes to the Father with what we need.  This is not something that is found only here in Romans.

 

Hebrews 7:25  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost  those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.  English Standard Version (ESV)  This verse reminds us that Jesus is praying for us, He lives within our hearts to intercede for us.

 

It is not only when things are right between us and God.  Think of Jesus' prayer for Peter, knowing that He would stumble and deny Him, Jesus would be praying for Him. 

 

Luke 22:31-32  "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,^[a] that he might sift you like wheat, ³² but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

And how about Jesus' prayer in John 17, truly the Lord's prayer for us, "those who believe in me through their word". v.20.   For those who trust Him in and through all things, who truly "know" Him, He is there interceding for us.

 

Are you struggling with something today where you don't even know how and what to pray for about it?  Jesus, through the Spirit is praying for you, interceding for you, even pleading for you.  What does that mean for you today?

Just when I need Him, Jesus is near,
Just when I falter, just when I fear;
Ready to help me, ready to cheer,
Just when I need Him most.

Refrain

Just when I need Him most,
Just when I need Him most,
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer,
Just when I need Him most.

Just when I need Him, Jesus is true,
Never forsaking all the way through;
Giving for burdens pleasures anew,
Just when I need Him most.

Today is 8/27 and by chance (?), it happens to be where find ourselves in Romans 8.  May we find Him, when we need Him most.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:25-27

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁵ But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.

²⁶ So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

²⁷ And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.

Verse of the Day 8/26

Romans 8:22-23  For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. ²³ And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For the next several days, Lord willing, we'll take a look at some verses in Romans 8 which revolve around a few words.  Today's verses start out with "we know", we'll look at a couple of these and Paul's "I am sure" in verse 38.  We'll also take a look at "all things" which is spoken of 3 times in this wonderful chapter.

We considered the other day what it means to be "adopted" as children of God.  Today's verses bring the reality that while we are children, we still may suffer from and struggle with sin.  We may show evidences of God's grace and power in our lives, but we are a work in process and hopefully, progress.  Even so "we know" certain things.  We know that He is at work in our lives, that He cares for us, loves us, and that He is in control.  While that is the case we still see turmoil in our lives, our personal relationships and we sit it in the world around us, turmoil in our cities, our country, and in the middle east.  We realize that the world needs Jesus.  In all of this, our hearts may groan, longing for that day when His Kingdom will be established forever and evil is done away with.

The old hymn "I Know Whom I Have Believed" speaks of some things that we don't know and declares that which we are sure of if we are God's children.  The Message paraphrase of this passage states that "the Spirit of God is arousing us within".  I think that this hymn gives a good indication of just what this may look like.

I know not why God's wondrous grace    to me he hath made known,    nor why, unworthy, Christ in love    redeemed me for his own.   Refrain:     2. I know not how this saving faith    to me he did impart,    nor how believing in his word    wrought peace within my heart.      3. I know not how the Spirit moves,   convincing us of sin,    revealing Jesus through the word,    creating faith in him.     4. I know not when my Lord may come,    at night or noonday fair,    nor if I walk the vale with him,    or meet him in the air. 

But I know whom I have believed,    and am persuaded that he is able    to keep that which I've committed   unto him against that day.

In Christ,
Mike

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:21-25

The Message (MSG)

^18-21 That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

^22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Verse of the Day 8/24

 

Romans 8:15-16   So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.  Now we call him, "Abba, Father."   ¹⁶ For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.   New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Yesterday we considered "life in the Spirit" and the "new life" in Christ.  In today's verse the Apostle Paul expands on that theme and what it means to us.  We live as His adopted children, with the privileges of being a child of the King.

 

John MacArthur writes that this "Spirit of adoption" is a "Spirit produced awareness of the rich reality that God has made  us His children, and, therefore, that we can come before Him without fear and hesitation as our beloved Father.  It includes the confidence that we are truly sons of God."  So much so that Paul uses the term "Abba Father" which gives a sense of intimacy in which a child would call out "daddy" or "papa".

 

These thoughts bring back memories of another old hymn "A Child of the King".  As we prepare for the weekend, consider what it means to you to be a child of the King as we read a few stanzas from this hymn.

 

I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, an alien by birth,
But I've been adopted, my name's written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe and a crown.

Refrain:
I'm a child of the King,
A child of the King:
With Jesus my Savior,
I'm a child of the King.

 

My Father's own Son, the Savior of men,
Once wandered on earth as the poorest of them;
But now He is pleading our pardon on high,
That we may be His, when He comes by and by.

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:14-16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵ The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Verse of the Day 8/23

 

Romans 8:9-10  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

My wife Jean has a hibiscus plant that she received from her grandfather 20 years ago.  It has survived two moves, being planted in the yard and in a pot inside the house.  Recently all of the leaves wilted and died.  From outward appearances it was dead.  If you scratched the bark however, it was still green.  It was suffering from a disease.  There are some remedies including watering with bleach in the water and also repotting the plant.  Hopefully, it will not be too late and we will see the sprouts that will indicate new life.

 

Our lives may seem that way at times, seemingly dead on the outside.  Perhaps, we need the bleach and water of God's Word and His Spirit to give us a new "lease on life", a life in Christ.  If the Spirit of Christ is in us it will happen.  As we read yesterday, in Christ there is now no condemnation, the past with its sin can be left behind, we have the opportunity to move forward into new life.

 

I'm reminded of another chorus that we sang when I was in my teens.  It is still true today.

 

New Life in Christ abundant and free!
What glories shine, what joys are mine,
What wondrous blessings I see!
My past with its sin, the searching and strife,
Forever gone -- There's a bright new dawn!
For in Christ I have found new life.

 

May God grant us the grace, the power to live in the Spirit to restore, refresh and renew, to see new life in our lives.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:5-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death,but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[a] because of righteousness.

Verse of the Day 8/22

 

Romans 8:1-2  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you^[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Continuing on from yesterday's verses from chapter 7 and slavery to sin we have a total change of pace, change of direction in Romans 8. If we are in Christ we don't receive condemnation, but we receive the "gift of God which is eternal life" (Rom. 6:23).  We are free!

 

Yesterday we looked at one of the great hymns, "Amazing Grace".  When I read Romans 8:1, especially the words "no condemnation",  I am always reminded of another hymn "And Can it Be" and in particular the last stanza:

 

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

 

Being set free, being truly alive, allows us to live for Him and not only that to approach God as our Abba Father, "daddy" as seen later in Romans 8.  We'll close by taking a look at a couple verses from Hebrews 4 that echo these feelings.

 

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

If we've been set free in Christ, let us approach Him boldly with our needs and hearts desires, He will provide the "well timed help, just when we need it."

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:1-4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

8 Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

² For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.

³ For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [^[a]the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [^[b]subdued, overcame, ^[c]deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

⁴ So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].

Verse of the Day 8/21

 

Romans 7:24-25  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body? ²⁵ I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!^[a] So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

In chapter Romans chapter 7 Paul is dealing with the war that is being waged in the human heart and body between good and evil, sin and obedience and ultimately the opportunity for  grace and forgiveness.  Today's verses start out with the Apostle Paul's saying "what a wretched man I am".  Other translations use words like, unhappy and miserable.   All of them combined give a good description of the heart and sole apart from Christ.  Like Mick Jagger sing "I can't get no satisfaction".  Left to ourselves we would hopeless and helpless.  Even as Christians we can fall into sin and we can beat ourselves up over it, and try to "get back to God" on our own.  But as Paul asks the question "who can rescue me" we have the answer "thanks be to God through Jesus Christ."

 

Many throughout the Bible and through history have felt the same way and come to the same realization.  There is hope, there is help, there is forgiveness, and there is grace available to the sinner, the wretch like me.  It was the emphasis of perhaps the most beloved hymn of all time.

 

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound   	that saved a wretch like me!   	I once was lost, but now am found;   	was blind, but now I see. 

David realized that instead of being wretched, unhappy and miserable he could be happy and fortunate he could be if he sought God's amazing grace.

 

Psalm 32:1-2  Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is he who has forgiveness of his transgression continually exercised upon him, whose sin is covered.

² Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 7:23-25

New Living Translation (NLT)

²³ But there is another power^[a] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.