devotional

Notice:

You have just become the heir to the Gate’s fortune, the Buffet fortune, and . . .

What would it be like to wake up one day and find out that you were the heir to the greatest fortune in the world?

What if you became an heir to the most powerful family in the world?

What if you became an heir to the most powerful, most wealthy, most influential, most . . .?

What if you became a heir through adoption?
How would you respond?

Would you reject your adopted family?  Would you question your adopted father’s motives?

Romans 8:15-17 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (ESV)

The reality of our adoption into God’s family, as co-heirs with Christ is awesome. We must fully accept:

• the reality of the relationship—He loved us that much
• that we are received thoroughly into God’s family—we are not second class children.

There is nothing we can do to earn more of God’s love.  There is nothing we can do to cause God to love us less.

In light of our adoption into God’s family, let us live in a manor that honors our Father.

Pastor Steve Kilgore

Romans 8:12-25 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (ESV)

In this section Paul seek to help us find the balance between working out our own sanctification and passively waiting for the Spirit to transform us.

This fine balance between faith and surrender on the one side and self-effort and rules on the other side is not too easy to maintain.

The two sides of the scale are both truth–that while God is gracious and gives the Spirit to empower our sanctification, He does expect us to be actively involved. Too often in the church, we have feared this tension and have overemphasized rules. Paul’s solution is to show us the depth of relationship we have with God (sons, children, heirs) so that any rules are a response, not a condition, for the relationship.

Rules without relationship lead to rebellion. (Andy Stanley)

Rules within relationship lead to responsibility.

Because we have feared that people would take advantage of God’s grace, we have multiplied rules, which have lead too often to Pharisaical legalism.  Legalism may produce duty motivated by fear or guilt.  But it can never produce true devotion–the delight of responding in obedience from the heart.

And what does God ultimately want?  Obedience, yes–but an obedience of worship.

Pastor Steve Kilgore

Science and the world tell us that we, nor any other living thing for that matter,can be both dead and alive at the same time. The two concepts are mutually exclusive. Yet God, in His supernatural sovereign power, gives us, as Christians, the miraculous privilege of being BOTH simultaneously in Him.

We are both at once DEAD to sin being crucified with Christ, and ALIVE because of His indwelling Holy Spirit (God’s imputed righteousness).

To be both dead and alive at the same time, the Holy Spirit must indwell us and that only occurs at the point where we accept Christ and His finished work on the cross.

In the New International Version of this passage, the word "if" appears no less than 8 times. "If" implies that a pre-existing condition, if met, produces a result.

Verse 9: IF we are controlled by the Spirit and not by our sinful nature, we know the Spirit of God indwells us. IF anyone does not have the Spirit, he does not belong to Christ.
Verse 10: IF Christ is in us, we are dead to sin because the righteousness of the Holy Spirit gives us new life in the Spirit and empowers us to overcome the temptations of the flesh.
Verse 11: IF the Spirit indwells us, God’s power over sin and death lives IN us!
Verse 13: IF we live according to the sinful nature and refuse to accept Christ’s atoning death and resurrection, we have nothing to look forward to but death. But, IF we have accepted Christ, sin is put to death in us and we have new life. We will continue to sin because of the old nature, but those sins are put to death with Christ on the cross.
Verse 17: IF we are God’s children, we are joint heirs with Christ, the ultimate legacy, to live with HIM eternally. IF we share in His suffering, He promises we will share in His glory!

Paul sums up the passage perfectly in his letter to the Galatians:

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Praise to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved us so much that he died on the cross and, through His shed blood, crucified every one of our sins, past, present and future with Him, giving us the promise of hope and life everlasting with Him in Glory.

Dead to sin!      Alive in Christ!

Dave Hostetter, Deacon

(Though not part of our Romans devotional series, I was compelled, based on the teaching on salvation in the book of Romans to look forward to Easter.)

Easter does not have quite the commercial push that Christmas does. Christmas preparations start several months prior, but the significance of Christmas is only understood in light of Easter. As Christmas approaches, we focus on four Advent Sundays. So with Easter just around the corner, use these passages to prepare your heart and mind to appreciate in a special way the wonder of your Savior and the salvation He provided for you.

Week 1 The Word

Jesus Christ came to provide salvation for a dying world. People come to Jesus because through Him they can see God. He makes the truth and grace of God known to all. Reflecting on His Word and work allows man to encounter God, compelling an expression of heart gratitude.

John 1:1-18 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. ⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) ¹⁶ And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (ESV)

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (ESV)

Week 2 The Son of God: Deity

As you contemplate the Savior at Easter remember: You have a Savior who is the all-powerful Creator-God, yet who cares for your needs. Not only is He the “Word become flesh” He is the Lord God. Not only is He concerned about your eternal destiny but He cares about your every day struggles. Focus on Him with a thankful heart.

Colossians 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (ESV)

Hebrews 4:14-16 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (ESV)

Week 3 Jesus: Humanity

Jesus came to earth not as a conquering King, but as a carpenter. He can in true humanity. His death enabled mankind to have a relationship with God through faith. This is a relationship that provides the certainty of eternity in the presence of the glory of God and a present existence being transformed into that glory. In His humanity He became an example for us to follow.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (ESV)

Colossians 2:9-12 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. (ESV)

Week 4 The Savior: Sacrifice

The Lord Jesus Christ, the true God-Man came to earth to reveal the Father, to be an example to man of righteous living, to sympathize with man’s problems—but most significantly, He came to die. We were under the death penalty. We deserved to die. He became our pardon. When He died on the cross He took our penalty. His death gave us life.

Isaiah 53:4-6 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV)

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (ESV)

Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (ESV)

Week 5 The Lord: Resurrection

Our glorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for the wages of our sin. His resurrection from death is proof He is who He said He was—God. His resurrection is our guarantee that God the Father accepted His payment for our penalty. We, of all people are most blessed!

His is risen! He is risen indeed!

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:20-21 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:50-57 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (ESV)

Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Could there be any more encouraging passage?

This passage, for me, ranks right up there with Lamentation 3 as a wonderful passage of assurance and encouragement.

Lamentations 3:22-25 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. (ESV)

And there are many others, but. . .

No condemnation!

To fully appreciate it, we must remember the context.

In the previous section, Romans 7, Paul has revealed the struggle of an individual trying to overcome sin by self-effort and will power. Trying to become righteous or trying to live up to the lofty position believes have been given in Christ. The self-effort results in utter failure.

What makes the struggle of Romans 7 so significant is the reality of the believer’s position in Christ. In Romans 6 we have been told that we are “dead to sin” that we don’t have to live in sin any longer. So naturally the reality of our struggle with sin in Romans 7 should cause frustration, perhaps discouragement and hopelessness.

So when we read Romans 8:1-2 NO condemnation, it is like a cool breeze on a hot summer day, like a refreshing drink to a parched throat.

In spite of our present struggle with sin—there is now no condemnation.

We should shout, Amen and Amen!

What grace! What mercy! Undeserved kindness, forgiveness, grace and mercy.

The reality of “no condemnation” should result in spontaneous and continual worship.

Pastor Steve Kilgore

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (ESV)

Verse one begins with a summary statement regarding chapters six and seven. Therefore (with regards to the past two chapters) there is no commendation (katakrima- verdict with adverse consequences) for those in Christ Jesus.

What does it mean to be ‘in Jesus’? Well, if you reside in America, you are an American. If you reside in Jesus, or more correctly, He resides in you, you are a Christian! This section of Romans relates what it means to be a Christian. The first reflection here is that there is no condemnation. Like Romans five verse one says, we have peace with God! How does it feel to wake up every morning, and know that there is nothing positionally between you and God! As an earthly father, there are times when there is relational stress with my children, but their position in my family is forever secure.

Verse two answers the question ‘why is there no condemnation’? The answer is that one law has superseded another law. The law of sin and death, which we were under before we met Jesus, was replaced by a law that was in force earlier by God, the law of the spirit of life. This law is simple, where the spirit is, there is life! At salvation, God’s spirit entered our life, and we entered a new relationship with God. We did not fix the old law in our own strength, nor did we perform religious things that impressed God enough to cancel the first law. The next section of Romans 8 deals with the doctrinal issues of justification and forgiveness. Today’s verses should give us hope and make us eternally grateful for God’s mercy and grace given to us in His son Jesus!

Dean Brior (ABF Teacher)

21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

The world tells you to “take control of your life.” Nike says “Just Do it!” In the Bahamas I heard they say “No problem man” to almost everything. Burger King said "just have it your way," and I could go on.

The Apostle Paul took control of his life, but in the end he found his self-effort to be worthless. The truth is life is a struggle and we need a lot of help! The struggle is within and it’s against the deadliest enemy of all sin. It affects mankind in every area of life. The end result of sin is death. It can destroy the mind, leave people hopeless and void of peace. As believers sin can grieve the Holy Spirit, hinder our prayers, resulting in our inability to grow, mature, and please God. God forgives us but sin still has its terrible consequences. Paul knew this very well from his own experience that the battle is from within the believers’ body as well as the outside. A true Christian will have pure motives, deep down he or she wants to serve and love God but it is only through the power of Christ we can truly have deliverance and victory! over sin in the Christian life.

Let Jesus take control of your life , Let Christ do it! its truly no problem for him. Unlike  Burger King let the Lord have his way. Unlike mans self-effort he delivers for real!

Fred Taylor (Member)

Romans 7:14-25 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (ESV)

“What? St. Paul with a sin problem? No way!!”

That’s what the early church thought about Romans 7:14-25. While St. Augustine and others through history have tried to provide insight into what the significance of this passage really is, the problem persists: Who is Paul talking about and what does he mean?

It is generally accepted that verses 1-13 refer to an unregenerate person, because it is in the past tense. But starting with verse 14 only the present tense is used. Is this about the apostle Paul, or someone else? If we assume that Paul had achieved sinless perfection, it can’t be Paul. But Scripture tells us that only Christ was perfect. We also know that Paul had some “human” tendencies. (E.g., it seems he is vindictive in Gal. 5:12, and can’t get along with Mark and Barnabas in Acts 15:39.) Moreover, 1 John 1:8 clearly states that we all sin, and James 1:14 addresses this issue directly: “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.”

Paul affirms his spiritual condition in verse 25: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” So what he has to be addressing in this passage is the spiritual warfare of the Christian. None of us is perfect. We tend to excuse our little foibles, and slipups as being inconsequential. After all, they are only little sins, and those aren’t a problem — are they? (At least not until or unless they become “big.”)

When Paul states in verse 24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” I would like to suggest he is talking about all of us. The only difference is that he is taking, with deadly seriousness, what may be “little” sins. This is perhaps why the modern translations of the New Testament have generally done away with the occasional use of the term “carnal” as a translation for the Greek word sarx, and replaced it with the usual word “flesh.” The term “carnal Christian” is not supported by the Greek, but has caused much mischief in the minds of Christians — most typically being used to describe other Christians whose behavior doesn’t match up to our own.

We are all carnal, that is, of the flesh. We all are sinners. None of us has sinless perfection.

That is why Paul makes the strong statement in verse 25. Sometimes spiritual warfare is dramatic and clearly defined, but as Paul asserts, each of us has a spiritual battle going on, and only with God’s help can we prevail. Where is our mind-set? True, through Christ’s death and resurrection the ultimate victory is won, but do we grasp the complete wretchedness of any sin in His sight?

Vern Mittelstadt (ABF Teacher)

Romans 7:7-25 is viewed by many as a depressing passage because of the reality of the internal struggle with sin that Christians face.

After all, we are saved by God’s powerful work of grace in the cross-work of Christ (Romans 3:21-26) through simple faith (Romans 3:25; 4:1-25) and bestowed with His righteousness which is accompanied by reconciliation–peace with God(Romans 5:1-11)–and therefore freed from the domain of sin (dead to sin) and commanded to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness.

If we are commanded to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness, not sin, yet struggle with sin–it can be discouraging.

But perhaps we, having fully appreciated the wonder of the grace and mercy of God that provides salvation for us, should see Romans 7:7-25 as an encouraging passage. How?

It can be encouraging—because we realize the struggle with sin is something we can’t do on our own.

Let me repeat that, the struggle we have with sin is not something we can overcome or conquer on our own.

Romans 7 teaches us that just as our justification and reconciliation (entering into a relationship with God through Christ) is only accomplished by faith, so also our sanctification (the process of being conformed to the image of Christ) is only accomplished by faith–by surrendering our inability for God’s ability.

Until we understand our total inability to live "godly" through self-effort, we will never experience the freedom God intends for us to experience.

Pastor Steve Kilgore

Romans 7:13-20 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (ESV)

It is often said that a person must be lost, or recognize that he is lost, before he can be saved. That can certainly be backed up by Paul’s words in this portion. The law, which was good, convicted him of his sin and he recognized his lost condition. How important it is for us to recognize that “once we were lost, but now we are saved”–but until we receive our glorified bodies, we have a sinful nature which delights in confusing us spiritually.

Paul candidly and, I believe, emotionally shares the spiritual struggle that we all feel at times when the inward, spiritual, nature struggles with the outward, fleshly, nature. A wonderful exercise in Bible Study is to look deeply at verses 15 thru 20 and note the uses of I and me, marking them with and I for inward and an O for outward. It will not only give a clear understanding of Paul’s meaning but will help to understand our own struggles more clearly.

Katherine Fitzpatrick (ABF Teacher)