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Romans 8:4 – Fulfilled Through Him

Posted on by Will

that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Truth to Learn

The righteousness that God demands of us is fulfilled for us through the righteousness of Christ.

 

Behind the Words

The words “righteous requirements” are a translation of the Greek word dikiōma, which is from the verb dikaioō, meaning “to render as just, righteous, or innocent.” Dikaiōma refers to “an equitable deed” and by implication to “a decision or statute.”

“Fulfilled” is from the Greek word plēroō, which means “to fill-up completely” or “to make complete.” As it is used in this verse it means “to completely satisfy.”

The word “walk” is translated from peripateō, which is made up of peri, meaning “around” and pateō, meaning “to walk.” Hence, it literally means “to walk around.” Metaphorically, it refers to the manner in which we live our life.

 

Meaning Explained

In order to get the full impact of this verse we have to go back and join it with the second half of the previous:

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 The reason that God sent His son was to fulfill the Law and to make a judgment against sin so that the righteousness of the Law might be completely satisfied in us.

But, how does Christ’s fulfilling the Law translate into the righteousness of the law being fulfilled in us? Back in Romans 3:21-28 Paul talked about the righteousness that is imputed by grace upon all those who believe, and he concluded:

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law.

The only way that God can satisfy his own justice, which requires that sin be penalized (and we know that the wages of sin is death), is for someone who has perfectly fulfilled the righteousness of the Law to then offer His life as a substitution for ours. This is precisely what Christ did when he came in the “likeness of sinful flesh.” And, it is by faith that we receive the grace of God through which He credits Christ’s righteousness to our account. By faith we believe that Christ died to pay the penalty for our sins, and by grace God then imputes Christ’s righteousness to us. Hence, the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us.

The final phrase of this verse is a statement of fact, not a condition. It is a description of Christians, we who have received that grace and, therefore, walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

 

Application

Let us demonstrate the righteousness that has been imputed unto us by living our lives characterized by things of the Sprit of God rather than the things of our flesh. After all, we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of the sinless Lamb of God!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:3 – Righteous Through Him

Posted on by Will

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by having sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

Truth to Learn

Jesus Christ perfectly kept the law, thus demonstrating His righteousness, and God grants us His righteousness through faith in His sacrificial death.

 

Behind the Words

The words “could not do” are translated from a single Greek word. It is adunatos, which is a compound word made up of the privative a, meaning “without” or “not” and dunatos, meaning “powerful, able, or capable.” Hence, adunatos means “without power” or “unable.”

“Weak” is from the verb astheneō, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “without” and sthenos, meaning “strength.” Thus, it means “to be without strength” or “to be weak.”

The Greek word homoiōma is translated here as “likeness.” This word is derived from homos, which means “one and the same.” Homoiōma means “having the same form.”

The word translated “condemned” is the Greek word katakrino, which is the verb form of a word we looked at just two verses back. It means “to proclaim a judgment of condemnation against someone or something.”

 

Meaning Explained

This is another potentially very confusing verse so let’s look at it one phrase at a time. “For what the Law could not do” is a reference to what Paul has said in the seventh chapter of this letter. The Law cannot produce righteousness in man. Why? “In that it was weak through the flesh” says that the reason the law could not produce righteousness is because man tried to produce righteousness through acts of the flesh. But the flesh is weak because of the sin nature and cannot satisfy the law; therefore, the law could not produce this righteousness.

But, what the Law could not do, Paul says God sent his son to do for us: “God did by having sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” In other words, even though Christ took on human flesh, he did not take on sinful human flesh. He had the appearance of sinful flesh (that form which every member of the human race has), but He was not sinful human flesh. For emphasis, let me restate that this passage says that Christ took on human flesh, but he did not take on sinful human flesh.

God the Father sent Jesus in the form of sinful human flesh, “on account of sin;” that is, Christ came to earth and took on human flesh in order to deal with sin. He dealt with sin by living a sinless life that was then freely offered for sinful lives. Because he perfectly fulfilled the Law and committed no sin, He “condemned sin in the flesh.” In other words, in human flesh Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Law and therefore made a judgment of condemnation against sin.

 

Application

Paul has been teaching us that a person cannot be justified by trying to obey the law. We have a sin nature that causes us to sin, and with a single sin we lose the righteousness that perfectly keeping the law would have provided. As a result, God had to create a way for sinful man to receive His righteousness, which can only come by faith in the blood of Christ. Thank you, God, for giving me your righteousness through faith in the sacrifice of Your perfect Son.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:2 – His Faithful Spirit

Posted on by Will

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death.

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit is continually working in Christians.

 

Behind the Words

This verse starts with “For,” a translation of the Greek article gar, which is “a causative particle expressing the reason for what has been before.” In other words, the expression that follows is an explanation as to why “there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.”

The word translated “in” is the Greek preposition en, which refers to “a fixed position in place or time,” but by implication here it means “instrumentality.” In other words, the law of the Spirit of life is brought about through the work of Christ.

“Set me free” is translated from eleutheroō, which means “to liberate from the power and punishment of a master.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense, indicating action that occurred at a point in time in the past. In other words, it was not a gradual act of liberation but one that occurred immediately. This liberation occurred the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul is explaining why there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. It is because, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus set me free from the law of sin and death.” The expression, “the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,” refers not to a written law but a natural law as we discussed back in Romans 7:21. The Spirit of life mentioned in this verse refers to the Holy Spirit who brings life.

Paul is telling us that there is no condemnation against those of us who are saved because the natural law (supernatural law in this case) of the Holy Spirit, providing life through our faith in Jesus Christ, made us free from the control of sin and the death which results from that sin. We were set free from the law of sin and death at the moment we were saved.

It is because we believe God’s message about the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross that God’s grace has been bestowed on us and the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a seal of our salvation. And it is the Holy Spirit who gives us both eternal life and the ability to overcome our own sin nature. Hence, we have free will to obey God or not. Before we were saved, we did not have this free will, we were slaves to sin.

Why, then was Paul so frustrated back in Romans 7:15? It is because having a free will does not mean that we always do what is right. It means that we have the choice to sin or not to sin, and when we choose to sin we are convicted by our conscience (and by the Holy Spirit) and we regret doing it. This sin that separates us from fellowship with God requires confession to restore that fellowship and to restore our peace. Unsaved people don’t have this free will; they are under the dominion of their sin nature without the ability to resist.

 

Application

It’s easy to believe that because we have been declared righteous by God we can sin and not suffer the consequence of sin. However, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and prompts us to confess our sin. Thank you, Lord, for the freedom to obey and for the work of the Holy Spirit in us when we don’t obey!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:1 – No Condemnation

Posted on by Will

Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus,

Truth to Learn

There is no condemnation declared against born-again Christians; instead, we are declared as righteous.

 

Behind the Words

This word “condemnation” is an interesting word. The Greek word is katakrima, which means, “the result of a legal judgment in which there is a condemnatory ruling against someone.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the last verse of chapter seven the Apostle Paul was thanking God for the fact that with his mind he serves the Law of God even though with the flesh he serves the law of sin. He has spent most of the past three chapters discussing the doctrine of justification by grace through faith and then describing the fact that sin has had dominion over us and describing the battle that exists between the sin nature and the intellect.

In this verse he proclaims the great truth about these past three chapters. Even though sin has dominion over us in the flesh, because we have been declared as righteous by God, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” Even though our sin nature still causes us to fall and commit sin and, as Paul said back in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death,” he also said in that same verse, “the gift of God is eternal life.” Because God declared us righteous and gave us eternal life, there is no condemnation on us.

Back in chapter four, Paul talked about the fact that righteousness was reckoned, or imputed, to us by grace. This reckoning, or crediting, is a legal term that means that righteousness is declared and placed in one’s account where righteousness did not exist before. Since we have been declared righteous, there can be no condemnatory ruling against us.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Some translations have “who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” added to the end of this verse. This phrase is omitted in the best transcripts. It is possible that the scribe who copied this letter included this from the end of verse four. But, what if Paul did actually add this here as well as in verse four? If he did, then this is a statement of fact, not a condition. He is NOT saying that there is no condemnation to those “who are in Christ Jesus” on the condition that they “do not walk according to the flesh.” He is saying that a characteristic of those who are in Christ Jesus is the fact that they do not walk according to flesh but according to spirit. One of the signs of a true Christian is that they have a manner of life that is characterized by things of the spirit and one that is not characterized by fleshly things.

 

 

Application

I have had people ask me, “What do you think about Christians who get saved and then go back to living the same way they did before they got saved?” The only logical answer to this question, according to what Paul teaches us here and in verse four is, “They never really got saved!” Jesus, during his earthly ministry, taught his disciples, “Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruits, nor can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17, 18)

What does your fruit say about you? Are you in Christ Jesus?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:25 – He is Lord!

Posted on by Will

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself truly serve the law of God, but with the flesh I serve the law of sin.

Truth to Learn

Submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ is the only way to win the battle against our sin nature.

 

Behind the Words

“Thank” is translated from the Greek word eucharisteō, which means “to express gratitude” or “to give thanks.”

The word translated “through” is dia, which can imply “motion through something” or “through the instrumentality, or by means of someone or something.” The latter is the meaning as it is used here.

“Mind” is from the Greek word nous, which refers to “intellect or mental perception.”

The word translated “flesh” is sarx, which refers to the flesh of an animal, but it is used metaphorically to refer to our physical being.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul’s initial conclusion of this entire battle between his desire to obey God and his tendency to commit sin, is now expressed in the current verse. His conclusion is that with his mind, that is, his intellect, Paul serves the Law of God. As he said back in verse 22, he (his “new man’) delights in obeying the Law of God. The regenerated part of him wants to do God’s will. But with his flesh, that is his “old man” or his sin nature, Paul says he serves the law of sin.

Paul recognizes that the part of him that he has control over is focused on serving God, but the part of himself that he cannot control is a captive slave to sin. Again, let me point out that this does not absolve Paul of the responsibility for his sin. He is still guilty of violating God’s Law and of sinning against God. The difference, as we will see in the next chapter of this epistle to the Romans, is that God has provided a way for him (and us) to be free from the condemnation of sin.

That’s why he opens this verse with, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” You will notice that it is not Jesus to whom he is thankful, but to God (the Father) and his thanks is through, or by means of, Jesus Christ. Paul recognizes that it is because of what Jesus did for him on the Cross and by his resurrection from the dead that he is able to be freed from the dominion of his sin nature. By God’s grace the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us of all unrighteousness. Hence, he thanks God through Jesus Christ. But he doesn’t stop there. You will notice that he says “through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Paul recognizes that it is through the lordship of Jesus that he is able to overcome the lordship of sin that he is battling. In other words, he recognizes that it is only through submitting his will to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master that he finally overcomes his slavery to his own sin nature.

 

Application

Too often we hear of people who have “accepted” the gift of salvation, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross to pay for their sins, but they have never really submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you have never submitted to Him as Lord and Master of your life, you have not been saved.

Are you submitted to His will? Is He truly your Lord and Master?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:24 – Winning a Losing Battle

Posted on by Will

O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Truth to Learn

The ever presence of sin will bring a committed Christian to his or her knees … over and over and over and over …

 

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “wretched” is talaipōros, which is based on talas, meaning “suffering” and a form of pōreō, meaning “miserable or distressed.” Hence, this word refers to someone who is suffering miserably.

“Rescue” is translated from rhuomai, which literally means “to draw out for oneself.” It is interpreted as meaning “to rescue” or “to deliver from danger or harm.”

The word translated “body” is the Greek word somatos, which in its basest meaning refers to the physical human body. Paul is using this word as a metaphor, however. So, it is not referring to our physical body, but something else.

 

Meaning Explained

As I shared with you in the previous verse, I get really irritated with myself when I do that which I know God wants me to avoid. It gives me a great sense of guilt that is only alleviated by personal confession and God’s grace. Obviously, the Apostle Paul feels similar. As a result of the battle between his intellect and his sin nature in which his sin nature carries him off as a prisoner of war and controls his actions against his own will, he declares, “O wretched man that I am!” And, he wants to be rescued from his body of death.

Our translation here says “… this body of death;” however, the Greek text reads “the body of this death.” That is, Paul is using the word “body” to refer to something non-physical (the sin nature). He is saying that his sin nature has such control over him that it is as if his whole body is inhabited by and controlled by his sinful tendencies.

Some commentators suppose that Paul is referring to an ancient custom of tying a dead body to a captive. In this manner the prisoner had to drag the heavy and abhorrent, smelly burden behind him for the lengthy trek back to the homeland of the captor. Although this may not have been Paul’s intent, it certainly is a vivid picture of the constant burden of our sin nature.

I don’t need to ask you whether you ever feel this way or not. If you are truly a born again Christian, then you have felt this way. That’s the battle which rages within all Christians as we desire to please God and try to do His will. But this battle frequently ends in defeat when our sin nature sneaks up and takes us captive.

This is not a hopeless battle, however. Paul will begin to explain in the next chapter how we, as sinners saved by grace, can overcome the sin nature and experience personal victory by the grace of God through the blood of Christ!

 

Application

Don’t be too hard on yourself when you battle with sinful tendencies and the disobedience to God which follows. It doesn’t mean you have lost your salvation. In fact, it is a constant reminder that confession and humility before God are necessities for every Christian. The more we recognize our own sin, the more we have to humble ourselves and draw near to God. And He will ALWAYS forgive our sins.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:23 – Captured, Then Confessed

Posted on by Will

But I see another law in my members, battling against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Truth to Learn

Because of the battle within us, we become captured by our sin nature, but confession sets us free.

 

Behind the Words

“Members” is from a Greek word we have seen before. It is melos, meaning “a limb or other part of the body.”

The word translated “battling against” is antistrateuomai, which is a compound word made up of anti, meaning “against” and strateuomai, which means “to make war (or battle) against a specific enemy.”

“Bringing me into captivity” is from  aichmalotidzō, which means “to be taken away as a captive and made a prisoner of war.”

 

Meaning Explained

In verse 21 Paul said that he perceives an unwritten law that brings out evil in him whenever he is determined to do what is right. In verse 22 he said there is another law that he delights in: the Law of God. These are the two forces that are warring within him and within all of us. As we saw in the previous verse, these two forces are the “inner man” (the intellect of man) and the “old man” (the sin nature).

He now goes back to referring to these two opposing forces as laws, calling them the “law of my mind” (the intellect) and the “law of sin” (the sin nature). He aptly describes the conflict that occurs between these two as warfare. And, you will notice that Paul is astute enough to recognize that this is a warfare that is going on within his body. The two opposing forces have taken up residence in his (and our) physical body. These two opposing forces, these two laws, are at war specifically against each other and the battlefield is within our body.

He also recognizes that the law of sin is taking him captive and making him a prisoner of war. Hence, Paul is telling us that as the law of his mind, which delights in the Law of God (that is, obedience to God), and the law of sin (the sin nature) clash, the sin nature captures him, leads him away as a captive, and makes him a prisoner of war. In other words, his sin nature gains dominion over him.

I believe that this completely describes the battle that every Christian faces daily. We want to be obedient to God, we are determined to be obedient to our Heavenly Father and to please Him. But instead, we find ourselves succumbing to “the sin which so easily ensnares us” as Hebrews 12:1 calls it.

I don’t know about you, but I find that I get almost angry with myself knowing what I should do and, instead, doing what I know I shouldn’t do. As hard as I try I can’t overcome this enemy and it makes me feel guilty! Thank goodness for confession.

 

Application

Let us give thanks to God that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin! Though “our sins are like scarlet,” His blood washes them away completely so that we appear to God “as white as snow.” And we get that cleansing through confession, daily, hourly, minute-by-minute confession. For He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us – every time!

Now that’s grace!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:22 – God’s Delightful Law

Posted on by Will

For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.

Truth to Learn

For Christians, obeying God’s law is delightful, not onerous.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated here as “I delight in” is sunēdomai, which only occurs in this one place in the New Testament. It is a compound word made up of sun, meaning “with” or “together with” and a form of hēdomai, meaning “to be pleased” or “to rejoice.” So, we see that this word means “to be pleased with” or “to have delight in something.” Paul actually finds delight, that is, inward pleasure, when he obeys the Law of God.

“Inward” is from the Greek word esō, which is a form of eis, meaning “into.” It refers that which is already on the inside.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul said back in verse twelve that the Law is Holy and that the commandments that make up the law are holy, just, and good. Now he is saying that he actually finds pleasure in the Law. This is an obvious indication that Paul is “born-again,” for without this conversion a man cannot find pleasure in obeying God’s Law.

King David expressed a similar sentiment in Psalms 1:

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalms 1:1-2)

The law of God is not something that Christians should be afraid of; it should be a source of joy for us in our innermost being. Paul refers to this innermost being as “the inward man.” Here’s what Albert Barnes said about this expression in his Notes on the Bible:

The expression “the inward man” is used sometimes to denote the rational part of man as opposed to the sensual; sometimes the mind as opposed to the body (compare 2Co 4:16; 1Pe 3:4). It is thus used by the Greek classic writers. Here it is used evidently in opposition to a carnal and corrupt nature; to the evil passions and desires of the soul in an unrenewed state; to what is called elsewhere “the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” (Eph 4:22). The “inward man” is called elsewhere “the new man” (Eph 4:24); and denotes not the mere intellect, or conscience, but is a personification of the principles of action by which a Christian is governed; the new nature; the holy disposition; the inclination of the heart that is renewed.

So, Paul is saying that he finds inward, intellectual pleasure in obeying God’s Law because of the regenerated spiritual life that God has given him. Unfortunately, as we will see in the next verse, the “old man” is still with us as well and it is in a constant battle with this “new man.”

 

Application

As we said, the law of God is not something that Christians should fear, but we also know that obeying it does not make us holy or righteous. We should feel good when we are obedient to God, but we should also recognize that our sin nature will cause us to break God’s law. Thank God for confession and for His grace!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:21 – The “Badness” Law

Posted on by Will

I find then a law, when I desire to do what is right, that evil is present with me.

Truth to Learn

There is a “law of sin” that can control our actions.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “a law” is the Greek word nomos, which means “something that has been parceled out.” In the Greek text there is a definite article before this word, so literally it says “the law.”

The word in this verse that is translated “evil” is the Greek word kakos, which means, “something that is bad or worthless.” It is not the word usually translated “evil.” That word is poneros, which means “malicious or indicating willful harm to others.” So, although it is not really a word, I guess we could translate kakos in this verse as “badness” to distinguish it from evil.

“Is present” is a translation of the Greek word parakeimai, which means “it lies near” or “it is nearby.” It is expressed here in the present tense, active voice, indicative mood which implies present continuous action, not a past event or a onetime event.

 

Meaning Explained

One confusing part about the current verse is Paul’s reference to “a law.” There has been considerable debate about what he means by this expression. The usual sense of “a law” is something to which we are subject, something that is imposed by a superior, something that binds, controls, or influences us. There are many things we call laws that really aren’t laws; rather they are things that we have learned by observation. We refer, for instance, to such things as the laws of physics, the law of gravity, or the scientific laws of thermodynamics. These are not really laws in the sense that some legislative or ruling body has declared them so and which has assigned officials to enforce these laws (unless, of course, you consider them as having been imposed by God Himself).

The law that Paul is talking about in today’s verse is just such a law. He is saying that he finds an unwritten law which seems to say that badness is constantly present, close at hand, ready to take over whenever he desires to do right. And, once again, we see the word “desire” which is from the Greek verb thelō, indicating not just a wish or a desire to do good, but a determination to do good.

Although we have said it before, this is an apt description of our sin nature, or our tendency to sin. Whenever we want to do the right thing, when we are determined to be obedient to God and to do His will, our sin nature is ever present and ready to lead us into doing the wrong thing instead.

In just a few verses Paul will refer to this sin nature, to this law that makes badness ever present when we’re determined to do good, as the law of sin.

If I were allowed to vote on this law, I would vote that we repeal it and make life a lot easier on all of us!

 

Application

Lord, help us to see this battle that is going on within us. Help us to recognize that even though we are saved through the blood of Christ and we are determined to obey You and do Your will, our sin nature keeps dragging us away from You. Lord, give us strength to resist our sin nature and give us the desire to submit ourselves completely to You. Amen!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 7:20 – Living on our Knees

Posted on by Will

Now if I do what I determine not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin dwelling in me.

Truth to Learn

When we lose a battle against our sin nature we simply need to confess our sin and God removes it from us.

 

Behind the Words

The word “do” (in the expression “I who do it”) is from the Greek word katergadzomai, which we saw back in verse fifteen, meaning “to work fully, to finish, or to fully accomplish.”

“Dwells” is also a word that we have looked at before. It is the word oikeō, which means “living somewhere as a permanent residence, as opposed to a temporary residence.”

 

Meaning Explained

This verse is very similar to verse seventeen, in which Paul identifies the sin dwelling in him as the reason that he does things that he hates. He now states a very similar fact, that it is the sin which has taken up permanent residence in him which fully accomplishes that which he has determined not to do.

According to Adam Clarke in his Commentary on the Bible, Paul is saying;

My will is against it; my reason and conscience condemn it. But it is the sin that dwells in me – the principle of sin, [the sin nature] which has possessed itself of all my carnal appetites and passions, and thus subjects my reason and domineers over my soul. Thus I am in perpetual contradiction to myself. Two principles are continually contending in me for the mastery: my reason, on which the light of God shines, to show what is evil; and my passions, in which the principle of sin works, to bring forth fruit unto death.

It is this contention between the Spirit of life within us and the sin nature within us which produces the daily battle that all Christians face: the wholesome desire to obey and please God versus the lustful desires of the sin nature that drag us into sin and guilt.

We will not leave this battleground until the day that we are taken to glory. We need to learn how to do battle effectively. We do that by submitting our will to God and learning repeatedly how to fall to our knees when our sinful tendencies win out over our desire to do good. Remember:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just so that He might forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:8, 9)

Also, keep in mind that when He forgives our sins, He removes them from us, as David said in the Psalms:

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:11-12)

 

Application

Even though we are in a constant battle with our sin nature, and frequently loose the battle, we know that through confession our sins are forgiven and sent away from us as far as the east is from the west. Lord, help us to learn the necessity of living on our knees!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved