Bible League: Living His Word There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.The word "law" in our verses for today does not refer to any set of commandments in general or to the Mosaic Law specifically. It would probably be better translated as "power." Given this, there are two powers at work in the world. There is the power of sin and death, and there is the power of the Spirit of life. The power of sin and death, on the one hand, is the power of our own sinful spiritual state – which is itself under "the power of the evil one" (I John 5:19). It is the tyrant and rebel within us that leads us astray from God's will and ways and, as a consequence, leads us to eternal death and separation from God. The power of the Spirit of life, on the other hand, is the power of the Holy Spirit at work within those who believe in Christ Jesus. It is the power that enables the believer to follow God's will and ways and, as a consequence, leads us to eternal life and fellowship with God. For those who believe in Christ Jesus, the power of the Spirit of life has set us free from the power of sin and death. The believer receives the Holy Spirit when Jesus Christ is accepted as Lord and from that point on the Holy Spirit "dwells' within the believer (I Corinthians 3:16). The indwelling presence of the Spirit is a liberating power that sets us free from the tyranny and rebelliousness of the sinful spiritual state. This does not mean that Christians never sin again or that the sinful spiritual state has been completely abolished (see Galatians 5:17), but it does mean that the primary spiritual motivation and direction of the believer is no longer dictated by that state, but by the Spirit. For those who believe in Christ Jesus and have been set free by the power of the Spirit, there is no condemnation. No condemnation on Judgement day in the future (see Matthew 25:31-46) and no condemnation in the present – as our verse for today implies. If, therefore, Satan is trying to condemn you concerning your past and present failures, then remind him of Romans 8:1. Remind him that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJob 16, 17, 18 Job 16 -- Job Reproves His Friends for Their Unmerciful Outlook; Maintains His Innocence NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 17 -- Job Appeals from Men to God NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 18 -- Bildad Reproves Job for Presumption and Impatience NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 9:1-22 Acts 9 -- Saul's Conversion; Ananias; Saul Begins to Preach; Aeneas and Dorcas NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.Insight Mark's Gospel emphasizes Christ's power as well as his servanthood. Jesus' life and teaching turn the world upside down. The world sees power as a way to gain control over others. But Jesus, with all authority and power in heaven and earth, chose to serve others. He held children in his arms, healed the sick, washed the disciples' feet, and died for the sins of the world. Challenge Following Jesus means receiving this same power to serve. As believers, we are called to be servants of Christ. As Christ served, so we are to serve. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.Let us not imagine that the soul sleeps in insensibility. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise," is the whisper of Christ to every dying saint. They "sleep in Jesus," but their souls are before the throne of God, praising him day and night in his temple, singing hallelujahs to him who washed them from their sins in his blood. The body sleeps in its lonely bed of earth, beneath the coverlet of grass. But what is this sleep? The idea connected with sleep is "rest," and that is the thought which the Spirit of God would convey to us. Sleep makes each night a Sabbath for the day. Sleep shuts fast the door of the soul, and bids all intruders tarry for a while, that the life within may enter its summer garden of ease. The toil-worn believer quietly sleeps, as does the weary child when it slumbers on its mother's breast. Oh! happy they who die in the Lord; they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. Their quiet repose shall never be broken until God shall rouse them to give them their full reward. Guarded by angel watchers, curtained by eternal mysteries, they sleep on, the inheritors of glory, till the fulness of time shall bring the fulness of redemption. What an awaking shall be theirs! They were laid in their last resting place, weary and worn, but such they shall not rise. They went to their rest with the furrowed brow, and the wasted features, but they wake up in beauty and glory. The shrivelled seed, so destitute of form and comeliness, rises from the dust a beauteous flower. The winter of the grave gives way to the spring of redemption and the summer of glory. Blessed is death, since it, through the divine power, disrobes us of this work-day garment, to clothe us with the wedding garment of incorruption. Blessed are those who "sleep in Jesus." Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.John 6:40 "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." 1 John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. Matthew 11:30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." John 14:15,21 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. • "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." Proverbs 3:13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. Psalm 119:165 Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble. Romans 7:22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 1 John 3:23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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