Lesson 1221

(Lesson 1221)(01-30-15) Romans 8:29-39

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

In today's quote Paul confirms and solidifies the security of the believer. He, very clearly describes the process by which one can become a child of God and how that once that one is saved by the grace of God he/she can never again be lost.

Paul explained it all far better than I ever will.~

Lesson 1220

(Lesson 1220)(01-29-15) Romans 8:26-28

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Today's lesson is yet another very important one in that it explains how God understands the intent of the hearts of those of us whom have placed our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and how He "justifies" the weakness of the flesh.

That means that if in our daily lives we cross the boundaries, of what is "sin" in the eyes of those around us, yet have no ill intent toward anyone, those "sins" are justified in the sight of God.

In the first verse of this lesson, Paul said, "the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." That means that the Holy Spirit is praying right along side us on our behalf.

In prayer, or in whatever we do, the Holy Spirit is right there with us to make "intercession" on our behalf and to assure atonement for us.

Do the saved still commit sins? Absolutely! Do those sins count against their eternal salvation? NO! Because the Holy Spirit knows our hearts and will preserve our souls until the day of redemption; "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, WHEREBY YE ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)~

Lesson 1219

(Lesson 1219)(01-28-15) Romans 8:13-25

"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. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

In today's lesson, Paul very clearly makes the point that if one puts his/her faith in his/her own actions by trying to live without, or above sin, while relying on their own ability to achieve righteousness, that one will die the spiritual death.

However, if a one puts his/her faith in the wholly righteous blood of Jesus Christ and has the righteousness of Jesus Christ imputed into him/her, that one is "justified" for the sins of the flesh and becomes a "joint heir" with Jesus Christ and is indeed the son or daughter of God.

Paul further said that life on earth, even if all could be righteous by earthly standards, is nothing to be compared to the righteousness and glory of heaven.

Paul assures us that, even among the saved, there will be a continuing struggle with sin because sin is inherent in our flesh. He also assures us that through "hope" (faith) we can be assured of everlasting life. ~

Lesson 1218

(Lesson 1218)(01-27-15) Romans 8:5-12

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."

Today's quote further affirms that once a person is saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, that person is sanctified in the spirit and is no longer subject to the penalty of death that God imposed upon all sinners.

We learn from this lesson that it is the flesh that commits sin, it is also the flesh that is corrupted by its own sin nature. Yet, it is the spirit, the "inner man" that is freed from sin by the blood of Jesus Christ and is eternally shielded against the penalty of death and hell.

Those of us whom have been saved from the penalty of death, should "walk in newness of life" doing everything within our power to live a life reflective of the righteousness that has been imputed into us through the soul saving blood of Jesus Christ.

As Paul said, "to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.~

Lesson 1217

(Lesson 1217)(01-26-15) Romans 8:1-4

"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."

In today's lesson, Paul continues to explain how through faith in Jesus Christ, and by the saving grace of God, those who believe in the operation of God (His plan for salvation) are no longer subject to sin in the spirit. The saved have become sanctified by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, and their earthly sins have been justified by His blood.

"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN; FOR HIS SEED REMAINETH IN HIM: AND HE CANNOT SIN BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD. " (1 John 3:6-9)~

Lesson 1216

(Lesson 1216)(01-25-15) Romans 7:18-25

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."

In today's lesson Paul very clearly verifies what has been said in theses past several lessons concerning the security of the believer.

Herein, Paul uses his own life experience as the example of how those of us whom have been redeemed by the grace of God struggle with the sins of the flesh while committing them every day.

Paul said, "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." This means that, just like those of us whom are saved today, the righteous things, Paul knew he should do, are not what he wound up actually doing, and, that the evil things, that he knew were wrong, were the things his earthly body wound up actually doing.

Therefore, Paul was just like us. He committed sins of the flesh on a daily basis and struggled with them constantly, but in his spirit, the inner man, he remained sin free and wholly righteous because of the righteousness imputed into Him through his faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul said, "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

Paul clearly knew, that it was not the "inward" spiritual man that committed the sins, but rather it was the "law of sin which is in my members."

What should we take away from this lesson? We should live our lives knowing that we are bound to sins of the flesh so long as we inhabit these mortal bodies and, that being so bound, we should live our lives, not so much to avoid the sins of the flesh, but to do as Jesus commanded, "The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Matthew 12:30-31) ~

Lesson 1215

(Lesson 1215)(01-24-15) Romans 7:5-17

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 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.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.

And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

Today's is another lesson that should be intently studied by those who contend that there is no eternal security for those of us whom have placed our faith in Jesus and that the saved are again bound to perfection just as were the ancient Jews who were under by the Law of Moses.

Paul, in the first part of this lesson, makes it clear that to those of us whom are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, the old law is "dead". That means that NONE of those commandments that were handed down to Moses any longer apply to the eternally saved. Paul said, "But now we are delivered from the law". Jesus fulfilled the Law on behalf of all who will believe in Him.

Jesus Himself said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to FULFIL." (Matthew 5:17)

In the latter portion of today's lesson, Paul explains that to those who are saved, the sins that are manifested through them are "justified" by their faith and are only charged against the carnal "man", or the man/woman in the flesh. Those sins are NOT charged to the redeemed inner spirit, or "inner man" that has been made wholly righteous before God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ that has been imputed into him/her through his/her faith in Him.

Therefore, once a person has tasted the heavenly gift of salvation, it WILL NOT and CANNOT be taken away. "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." (Hebrews 6:4-6)~