Sunday, May 17, 2009

Romans Chapter 7 & 8

Chapter 7 Continued: The struggle between goodness & sin

Our conscious recognizes the goodness of the law through the Holy Spirit or natural inclinations of our conscious. When we recognize we have done wrong, and when our conscious convicts us of our wrongdoing- that is the recognition of the goodness of God’s law. Yet, our bodies- our fleshly natures, struggle and fight against what is right. It as if there is an inner struggle between goodness and sin; between the Holy Spirit that lives in us, and the sin which reigns in our bodies.

Chapter 8: New Life & God's Love

It is obvious our flawed human natures cannot possibly overcome our inclination towards sin. No matter how hard we try and no matter how disciplined we think we are- can never meet God’s standards of perfection. What the law could not achieve for us, God achieved- through Jesus who was the “sin offering”. Therefore we no longer live according our natural human natures- the sinful flesh. Instead we live by the spirit which is this: we are justified as righteous through our faith. We are no longer condemned and under the reign of death. As a result, though our faith which gives us the spirit, we will receive life. But remember as living in the spirit and not under our former natural ways, we put to death our former ways. If we suffer from temptation, hardship, suffering or criticism as a result of our new lives, we need to remember it is only temporary because we have hope in eternal life. We are considered to be God’s children as a believer. Because of this we may eagerly await our eternal happiness. Where we may lack in willpower or in strength, the Holy Spirit will intercede to help us.

God loved us so much, he did not even spare his very own son- Jesus. It should be obvious therefore that God loves us very much. So why should it bother us when others do not like us, or if others who are simply human beings try to hurt us? If God is on our side, does it really matter what other people may say or do to us? Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

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