(Lesson 427)(10-16-12) Romans 8:1-14, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him 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. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
In this lesson, Paul makes it very clear that through the life and death of Jesus, all whom accept His sacrifice are no longer judged by the sinful actions of the flesh. So far as those eternal souls are concerned, they escape the final judgment of God because, "if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."
Paul tells us that those who reject the grace of God through Christ, will continue to be finally judged by their sins in the flesh and those who accept His grace will remain righteous in spirit and be judged by that righteousness before God.
Close attention should be paid to the very last statement in this lesson, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." This statement leaves NO room for misinterpretation, it very clearly separates the spiritual inner man/woman from the carnal man/woman in the flesh, and designates the saved spiritual man/woman as the sons/daughters of God. It says, "they ARE the sons of God" not that they will be if they live perfect lives, they, very clearly, already ARE!
The utter awesomeness of that statement should make goosebumps rise on those of us who have place our souls in the redeeming grace of God and the sin remitting sacrifice of Jesus Christ.~
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