Bible League: Living His Word So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!Although it may not always look like it, something radical happened when we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. What we once were no longer truly characterizes what we are now. Once we were characterized by the "flesh," the Apostle Paul's metaphor for the sinful spiritual state of individual human beings. Living according to the flesh is to live according to the old sinful state of life apart from Christ. Now that we are "in Christ," however, the flesh does not properly characterize what we have become. Indeed, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). The flesh, in other words, died with Christ at the cross. Further, since we are in Christ, what we once were not only died with Him at the cross, but what we are now was raised to life with Him. We have been made alive with Christ (Colossians 2:13). We are, therefore, new creatures. The old person that once characterized us is gone and the new person we are in Christ is here. This does not mean that we no longer sin, but it does mean that the old sinful spiritual state is no longer adequately descriptive of what we have truly become. The old sinful spiritual state no longer defines us. From Paul's perspective, all this means that we should no longer regard those who are in Christ from "a worldly point of view." We should no longer define fellow Christians according to what they may seem like on occasion, but according to what they truly are in Christ. At one time Paul even regarded Christ from a worldly point of view. Now, however, we should no longer make that mistake, because it totally mischaracterizes Christ and the people who are in Christ. We should also not regard ourselves from a worldly point of view. Although at times we may fail and not live up to everything we truly are in Christ, we should never lose our faith in Paul's proclamation that "the new is here!" Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 18, 19 Leviticus 18 -- Laws on Sexual Relations NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 19 -- Idolatry Forbidden; Various Laws NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 27:32-66 Matthew 27 -- Judas Hangs Himself; Jesus' Trial, Crucifixion and Burial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion They speak without a sound or word;their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. Insight The apostle Paul referred to this psalm when he explained that everyone knows about God because nature proclaims God's existence and power. This does not cancel the need for missions because the message of God's salvation found in his Word, the Bible, must still be told to the ends of the earth. While nature points to the existence of God, the Bible tells us about salvation. God's people must explain to others how they can have a relationship with God. Challenge Although people everywhere should already believe in a Creator by just looking at the evidence of nature around them, God needs us to explain his love, mercy, and grace. What are you doing to take God's message to the world? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 2 Kings 25:30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king's palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin's case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness. Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Matthew 5:17,18 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. • "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious. Matthew 5:20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Romans 8:3,4 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, • so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 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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