Verses one through eight:
Paul said, "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 IN 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."
As is clearly affirmed in this chapter, there are two distinctly different entities within a human man or woman. One being the earthly, carnal part that goes about day to day, generally doing the things that are contrary to the will of God because there is NO righteousness in the carnal body. The other is the inner, spiritual part, the soul. The soul, or spiritual part is that part that can be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ upon acceptance of God's grace. The carnal, or earthly part is condemned to die, the spiritual part can be eternally saved by placing ones faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the remission of ALL sins.
In the first eight verses of this chapter, Paul explains that NO "carnal" (earthly) man or woman, can live a life that is "good" enough to be pleasing in the sight of God. Therefore, He sent Jesus as a 'one time fits all' sacrifice for the sins of the inner, spiritual man or woman. The acceptance of that sacrifice allows the old earthly body to die, but returns the spiritual, glorified body to the presence of God in heaven.
Is Paul teaching that those of us whom are saved by the grace of God can do or act any way we choose and get by with it? So far as what the Father sees in our carnal bodies, YES! On the other hand, will Jesus, our judge and intercessor, let us get by with those things He has forbidden us to do, such as mistreating others? NO! Jesus WILL judge His own, and will chasten (punish) every act of disobedience that is charged to the saved carnal man or woman. However, that punishment will come in the flesh, while we live here on earth.
Paul explains that the law, those rules that were totally fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus, and that many today impose upon themselves, exposed the weakness of the fleshly, carnal body, in that no man or woman could obey them.
Thank God, He provided redemption for us through the perfectness of His only begotten Son!
We will continue this series of lessons tomorrow.~
No comments:
Post a Comment