Tag: If God is for us

Live through the Spirit

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 19 & 20
Psalms Reading: Psalm 38
* New Testament Reading: Romans 8

Romans 7 pointed out the fact that we aren’t able to live the righteous life that God requires in our own strength.  “Live through the Spirit” is the title for Romans 8 in my Bible.  The word “spirit” or “Spirit” occurs 19 times in Romans 8, so it must be important.

Yesterday, we pointed out that Paul was describing the war within someone trying to please God by trying to follow a bunch of rules.  That section culminated in Romans 7:24, which says, “What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Romans 8:1 starts by saying, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”  No condemnation?  Tell me more!  I want in on that.

Paul then said that the law was only able to point out sin, but could not address our sinful nature.

He then went on to describe two types of people, one sinful and one spiritual.  He’s describing someone who lives according to their sinful nature versus someone who lives in accordance with the Spirit – he is not describing two types of Christians. 

Note the contrast:

Live according to the sinful nature
  • Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what the sinful nature desires. (8:5)  
  • The mind of sinful man is death. (8:6)
  • The sinful mind is hostile to God. (8:7)  
  • It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. (8:7)
  • For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die (8:13)
​Live in accordance with the Spirit
  • Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (8:5)
  • The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (8:6)
  • If by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. ( 8:13)
  • Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (8:14)
  • And if sons of God, then heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. (8:15)

Paul said in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”  So if the Spirit of God lives in us, our mind is controlled by the Spirit – we aren’t controlled by our sinful nature.  If the Spirit of God doesn’t live in us, we don’t belong to Christ.

Romans 8:10-11 goes on to say, “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”  Can you imagine the power it took to raise Jesus from the dead to eternal life?  That same power is in us – if and only if we are controlled by the Spirit of God.

Ultimately, it’s my choice.  Am I going to completely surrender my will, my future, and my all to God, and live for Him (with His help)?  Anything less is failure to surrender to God, meaning I continue living according to my sinful nature, which will result in death.  I get to make the choice.  And so do you.

This doesn’t mean that someone living according to their sinful nature can’t do good.  It also doesn’t mean that someone living according to the Spirit can’t sin.  I picture this as more of what motivates a person’s life and actions.

This doesn’t mean that we won’t have troubles in our lives.  Paul went on to say that suffering will come, but the future reward is more than worth it.  Paul said in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  And I’ll point out that Paul had lots of suffering, as he told us in 2 Corinthians 11:23-26, “… been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.”

Paul then went on to say that these sufferings make us long all the more for the redemption of our bodies we will experience when Jesus returns.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  So even problems in our lives turn out for good for those who love Him.

Paul then went on to say that God is for us, and Jesus not only died for us but currently intercedes for us.  Because of this, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (8:35) and the love of God (8:29).   Because of this, we can not just conquer our sinful nature, we are “more than conquerors” or super-conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:38-29 closes with, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If you completely surrender your life to God, the same power that raised Christ from the dead will live in you.  By having your mind controlled by the Spirit, you can overcome your sinful nature and live the life God called you to live.  And if you do, absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  And when Jesus returns, you’ll live forever in paradise with God and Jesus.

Only one question remains:  will you completely surrender your life to God?

-Steve Mattison

Reflection Questions

  1. Why did Paul say that the law can only reveal sin, but not save?
  2. If you truly live according to the Spirit, will you break the 10 commandments (or any of God’s other laws)? Why or why not?
  3. What did God reveal about Himself by giving the 10 commandments? (Note: He tells us something specific about Himself with each of the first 5 and had a direct purpose for each of the other 5.) What does He continue to reveal about Himself in Psalm 38 (a psalm about the oppressive weight of sin and guilt) & Romans 8?
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Against You

Nahum 2

Thursday, November 10, 2022

While deciding what to write for each day this week I was quite confused about the second chapter of the prophet Nahum. The book at face value is a prophecy of a military assault on Nineveh. Verses one and two call the people of Nineveh to battle. Verses three through seven go through the visions of the battle. Using phrases like “Chariots rage in the streets” and “The palace is dissolved” or my personal favorite, “They run like lightning.” Close to the end of this section is the phrase “She shall be led away captive.” Nahum saw the outcome of the battle and knew that Nineveh would eventually fall to the hands of this mighty army. In verses eight through twelve, is the prophecy of Nineveh crumbling and being looted after the war. “Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold! There is no end of treasure, or wealth of every desirable prize.” Nineveh was seriously gone.

“I am against you,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will burn up your chariots in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will leave you no prey on the earth. The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”

That was Nahum 2:13. The direct quote from God, the LORD Almighty, was that he was against Nineveh. While reading a commentary about this, the author quoted Romans 8:31 “…If God is for us then who can stop us.” The author followed it up with the question “If God is against you, who can be for you?”

This small chapter of the Bible is one that may not be entertaining at first glance but there at the end, ask yourself the question; “Would God have a reason to be against me?” 

Pray for discernment of all things in your life, and repent. Get right with what rules God has laid out for us to follow, so that God will be for us.

-John Evans

APPLIcation

  1. Really, ask yourself the question, “Would God have a reason to be against me?” Pray for discernment, examine yourself and repent.
  2. Are there any of God’s rules that you need to work a bit harder at following? Which ones
  3. How would you answer question 1 in light of Romans 3:23? What does Jesus’ sacrifice for your forgiveness mean to you? Does this mean you can sin now?
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From God

Acts 5

April 23

The early church leaders were starting to experience the same persecution that Jesus faced. In Acts 5, we find the “religious” Pharisees objecting to the preaching that was going on, again. Evil men will always try to stop the truth.

The Pharisees wanted to stop the preaching of the truth by killing Christ’s followers. One of the pharisaical leaders had more wisdom than the others in spiritual matters. That Pharisee was Gamaliel, a doctor of the law (Acts 5: 34). Gamaliel stood up and advised the mob of blood-thirsty Pharisees, “… Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39).

What a good point to keep in mind for a Christian. If something is of man, it probably will not last. Often, we have ideas about what we can do for God or even ourselves. We try. We plan. We spend, but the idea does not flourish. The effort is wasted, and the goal never materializes. Often it does not succeed because the effort was not of God, and it flopped. Ministries, relationships, business enterprises, and other endeavors have not succeeded because God was not in them.

However, when God is in the matter, nothing on this Earth can stop it from succeeding. Businesses had thrived when all odds were against them because the founders sought God about the matter and were convinced, He was in it. Ministries, with all the critics prophesying doom and gloom, were baffled when it turned out to be a flourishing outreach because God was in it. Men and women have looked back on long marriages because before dating had even gotten started, they sought God’s will and way for their lives. Even when we look at how the Bible is still around despite men trying to destroy and remove it from existence. Yet here it is in every city and available to everyone. You probably have a couple in your home alone. Amazing!

How few failures and disappointments we would have if we did the wise thing first. Seek God’s direction in all of life’s endeavors. If God is for it, who could possibly stop it?

What would it look like if you preached like the apostles did? Do you believe that God can use your faithfulness? Your willingness to speak the truth even if it meant that you might be ridiculed, mocked. If God is for you who can be against you? Maybe give it a shot this week and see what speaking the truth in love to others might do.

-Andy Cisneros

Questions for Reflection & Discussion

  1. Can you recall an effort you were involved in that flopped because God was not in it? What did you learn from this experience? How will you (or did you) proceed differently next time?
  2. What have the apostles endured so far in Acts? Why? What is their attitude now? (5:41)
  3. What do you do day after day? What are you known for talking about? How does that compare with the apostles in Acts 5:42? Any changes you would like to make (or God would like you to make)?
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We Are Hupernikao

Romans Chapter 8

 

I am thrilled that I will be sharing my thoughts on Paul’s letter to the believers in Rome.  Romans is my favorite book of the Bible due to the sheer amount of truth, enlightenment and encouragement that is contained within.

 

Pages and pages can be written on any given chapter within Romans, but I plan to touch on only one or two (or three) portions of each chapter I am covering.

 

Romans chapter 8 is right in the middle of this amazing book, and it should be an amazing encouragement to any believer who is struggling with the weight of life.

 

Have any of you watched the news any time recently?  The old adage, “No news is good news” is often very true.  If the news didn’t have BAD news to talk about, they wouldn’t have much to say at all it seems.  Our world is fallen, and sinful behavior thrives in this fallen world.  But you don’t have to watch the news to know that.  We can see the adverse effects of living in a fallen world on a day to day basis within our own lives.

 

We are reminded in this chapter that all of creation groans and waits in eager expectation to be made perfect and freed from the bondage of decay.  Me too!  I’m not too old yet, (47 is the new 40), but I know my body is slowing down.  Much worse, I have seen loved ones pass away as a result of their bodies failing.

But that will all end!  We will be made perfect in the coming Kingdom!  That is the hope talked about in this section, and it is a hope that can not be taken from us.

 

Until that day comes, be encouraged, fellow believers, in the words Paul shares here.  Verse 28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  That’s encouraging!  That doesn’t mean everything will be perfect as we want it to be, but God, in His infinite wisdom knows what is best for our own good even if do not.

 

Verse 31b – “If God is for us, who can be against us?!!!!”  (I added the exclamation marks – it SHOULD have them in my Bible.)  That is one of the best lines in all of scripture in my humble opinion.  What God has put in motion is unstoppable.  No one will stop God’s plans, and God’s plans include YOU!

 

Yes, we all face hardships in this fallen world today, until we are made perfect in the Kingdom.  But we have a certain hope in that coming day, and nothing can take that hope away or prevent that day from coming.  Likewise, these momentary troubles can not separate us from the love of Christ.  Paul tells us  in verse 37 that in regards to these troubles we are “more than conquerors.”  The Greek word for that phrase is hupernikao.

greg 1

We learned that word in a Sunday School lesson last year, and it was fun to shout “Hupernikao!” if we demolished the other team in volleyball after church on Wednesday nights!  It feels great to be hupernikao.  That is what we are intended to be with God and Christ on our side.

 

Finally, this chapter concludes with more incredible encouragement in regards to the possibility of being removed from the love of God:

 

“38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

I hope that is as encouraging for you as it is for me.  Take these passages to heart.  Remember them when the world seems to be against you.  Remember that your creator, your Father, your God is FOR YOU!  And nothing can take that, or His future promise for you, away.

 

-Greg Landry