Read the Bible in a Year (26NOV19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, November 26’s Bible reading is Romans 8-10.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, November 27’s Bible reading is Romans 11-13. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

ROMANS MOMENT – (26NOV19) “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4).

While writing the church in Rome, the Apostle Paul explained to them about living life in the Spirit. The Law did not have any power within itself, so it was impossible for the Law to save anyone. Yet, Jesus came and became the fulfillment of the Law and through Him all who believe and call upon His name is saved. Living according to the flesh causes one to sin, but Paul wrote that we are to live according to the Spirit of God. The flesh does not want to do what the Spirit wants, so this is why there is an ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the flesh. Nevertheless, we who have accepted Christ in our hearts have the Spirit residing on the inside of us so that we will not take comfort in fulfilling our fleshly desires. In allowing the Spirit to have control over our lives, we have become the children of God. The Bible says: “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

Some people in the world claim to be “spiritual,” but if they do not possess the Holy Spirit then there is only one spirit in which they are operating, and that is of the enemy. The Bible says: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9). The Spirit of God testifies of Jesus, so any spirit that is not a testimonial of Christ is one that has excluded that individual from being a child of the Most High God. The Bible says: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). A choice has to be made as to if we will live by the Spirit or live for Satan because there are no gray areas when it comes to being a child of God.

So, what does it mean to be justified? God justified us by declaring us as righteous in that we had no part in obtaining our own salvation through works, but it was done through Christ in whom we have our faith. Paul used the example of Jacob and Esau in that Jacob was chosen by God before he or Esau ever had a chance to do any type of works. The Bible says: “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, ‘The older will serve the younger.’ Just as it is written: ‘Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated’ ” (Romans 9:11-13). Jacob did not have anything to do with God choosing him, for God had chosen him prior to his birth. Similarly, we were also chosen to be the children of God prior to our being born.

What does it mean to be sanctified? Sanctification is the process of being set apart for the kingdom of God, and we are transformed into the image of Christ. Sanctification is the works that one does in becoming more like Jesus, but those works are not what saves us because justification was already declared by God once we accepted Him into our hearts. For example, the thief on the cross did not have time to work on sanctification because he was dying, but he was justified instantaneously when he asked Jesus to receive him. The Bible says: “ ‘Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise’ ” (Luke 23:42-43). Even though the thief on the cross was unable to do one selfless act, the Lord received him; therefore, he was saved by justification apart from any works.

Isn’t it a wonderful feeling to know that there is nothing that we have to do to earn salvation? And yet, our love for Christ causes us to have a desire to do good works, so that we can be a witness and testimony to others of God’s goodness. This is why God wants us to do good works, not to be saved, but so the lost can taste and see that He is good. How would they know of God’s goodness if they never see it manifested in our lives? The Bible says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Our good works is all about God and not about earning salvation. Therefore, we should count it a joy to do acts of kindness not to boast about ourselves, but to boast of the Lord’s goodness. Something to ponder….