Remember what Jesus did for you

John 19:31-42,  (NKJV) The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”[a] 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”[b] 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

Footnotes:

1. John 19:36 Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20
2. John 19:37 Zechariah 12:10

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, (NKJV)

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying,“This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Romans 3:21-26, (NKJV)

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 1:20, (NKJV)

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

1 Corinthians 1:20-25, (NKJV)

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[a] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 2:10-16, (NKJV)

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4, (NKJV)

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-7, (NKJV)

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

1 John 1:7-9, (NKJV)

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:1-3, (NKJV)

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

Galatians 5:16-26, (NKJV)

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Colossians 1:15-23, (NKJV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.  21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

My Comments: I look back over my life and I always knew God was there and doing things for me and never gave much thought, except for at Easter time, as to what Jesus did for me and it was never an in depth thought. I knew there was God the Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Ghost and they were all one yet did not know that I could only go to the Father through the Son until just before 911 when I learned what being Born Again was all about and accepted Jesus as my Savior. He filled me with His Holy Spirit and I have never been the same since though I had a lot of growing to do (still do). We need to read His Word thoroughly with the Holy Spirit guiding us to understand the Word (the Word is Jesus). Then we will grow closer to God the Father and we need to remember all He is teaching and has taught us. 

Growing up in the Greek Russian Orthodox Church as I did in Alaska and coming from a family from the Priest hood, I did not have deep thoughts about Jesus' sacrifice. I did not understand Slavonic (the language spoken at Church) though my Grandmother explained many of the words especially the common prayers and songs yet it was my communion with God that grew in my heart not the theology of the Orthodox Church. Maybe they gave thought to Christ's sacrifice and knew Him better than I. I cannot speak for them only myself.

The church had many Icons (pictures of saints and Jesus and such) all over and like the Catholics the congregant lite candles in front of them and said prayers to them for help etc. They did not read their Bibles, the Catholic usually did not either, so their understanding of the Word came from Priests who told them what to believe. In my case many were Alaskan Natives and they came out of superstition and animism beliefs in their history so praying to many was natural. I praise God He has shown me Jesus his precious Son and made me to understand that praying to Him (God) through the Son (Jesus) is what I must do.

Jesus gave up Heaven to come to earth to take on the sin of the whole world so that we may have Eternal Life with God. What a wonder that Jesus would give up and go through so much pain and suffering so I and the whole world may live with the Father. There is no life without accepting the Sacrifice of Jesus the Son of God. When we choose Jesus' sacrifice and righteousness we choose life. If we do not choose Him we choose death in Hell with Satan who becomes our god which is what he has always wanted when he tried to usurp God and was cast out of Heaven.

Abba Father has used many through a long period of history to record His Word and it is all about Jesus. We study His Word and gain knowledge, insight, understanding and wisdom so we can live our lives to glorify Him. We need to read and reread the Words so they will be in us as Jesus is in us. We remember His Sacrifice in Communion (He is not Sacrificed again and again as some religions teach and we do not eat His real body or drink His real blood it is a symbolic act of remembrance as He told us).

During the taking of the bread and drink we remember His Sacrifice and what He went through for our Salvation and we confess our sin and know He has Sanctified us through His Sacrifice on the Cross. And because of His Resurrection we will overcome death and be raised to be with Him in Heaven where He stands before the Father in our place. Praise God we belong to Jesus. We are His eternally. We are alive in Him and He in us.

Loved ones I pray you will choose life. When we turn to God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ and accept the salvation He attained for us we choose life. When we choose our own road our own life. (like "I did it my way") we choose not to be with God and that way is death for which there is no coming back from once our body leaves this world. He gives us till we die in this body yet loved ones I pray you will not wait that long. You would miss out on great joy and peace by waiting. Search the Word and ask Him who has done so much to guide you through His Holy Spirit as you read the Word and He will show you the truth of His Word. Open your Heart and take the leap of faith and accept Him as Savior and He will open up life to you as He did for me just before 911.

My heart cries to You Abba for all who need Your salvation through Your Son Jesus and I pray You will guide them and open their hearts to Your joy and peace and that they will accept Your Son's sacrifice and grace. Which cannot be bought by good acts or pretense and only through the faith of believing on Your Son Jesus. Thank you Abba for all You have done to bring them to You and open their eyes, unstop their ears and soften their hearts that they may have life everlasting and be filled with the Holy Spirit who will teach all who come to Jesus what the Word says and give them understanding and guide them in knowledge and wisdom. I pray all through Your Son Jesus our Savior, in union with Your Holy Spirit. Amen
Rebishka

Our mouths can be cruel or loving

Acts 17:13-14, New King James Version (NKJV)
The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., 
"But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds."

Heb 10:24-25, (NKJV)
  "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Ephesians 2:10, (NKJV)
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

John 3:16-18, (NKJV)

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

My Comments: In families, communities even in the International scene we see gossip being spread like a cancer to hurt and destroy others and relationships. We also, see it in churches the one place one would think it would not be yet because we have so much pride and want to be thought of more highly than we should we say things that damage others and their relationships.

True there are often reasons we say for telling what we know. That person cheated on their spouse, that child stole and went to detention, that person lied to me. You name it I am sure you know things you have heard or even said about someone. Should you have? If it would cause the harm of another and not bring them into right relationship with their Savior then probably “No.’” Yet is it needed to have attention brought to it like when Paul told the Church of Corinth that allowing incest to continue was not what they should do? Then probably “Yes," we should say something. 

Everyone had talked about it because it got back to Paul. The Leaders at Corinth should have talked to the two people to bring them into right alignment with God’s Commands. But it would not have been told as children tell. It was to be told lovingly so the couple would stop and be welcomed back into the fellowship with the Church. Never another word would or should have been said about it to anyone. In this story of Paul writing to the Church of Corinth we just know the man was accepted back but we do not hear what happened to the women. He came back to the family of God.

It is important for us to be in relationship with our families and those we worship with. Both require interaction between members for growth and strength and lifting up. We are cautioned to not forsake the gathering because God made us to need interaction with Him and with others. Both interactions help grow us.

It is about bringing the family of God back into right relationship with God through lovingly talking to them. Then if need be the consequence of exclusion is applied so the person will with remorse, repent to God and then relationship is restored. We are all sinners. We all fall. We then confess our sin to God, this is repentance, and we again have right relationship with God. We are His workmanship and we are created in Christ Jesus when we accept His gift of Salvation and it is for us to do good works in His name. What good works can we do if we are hitting on people to make ourselves feel better about what sinners we are? We cannot do good tearing others down!

This same thing applies to families, countries and the world. There are things at each level that is to be shared in order for people to not fall for lies yet one should be careful what they repeat or start themselves and weigh the consequences. We only are told to go to Believers. To the world we show the right way to live as Christ Jesus and we pray they will want to know our Lord so they will find reconciliation with God the Father who loves them and wants them to come to Him through His Son who He sent to obtain salvation for them as well as for us.

Abba Father, help us to always go to you when we are tempted to repeat things we have heard or even seen. Help us to be loving when we go to a Brother or Sister about what we perceive they may be doing that offends You. Give us the words we should say to them and help us to know if we should go to the Elders or our Pastors when we have done all we can to help bring our Brothers and Sisters into right relationship with You. Help us to always pray about all situations and only act when You prompt us to do so. Not because we want to “bring someone to their knees,” or pay them back for hurting us or someone else, or whatever reason we might give ourselves to give us permission to gossip. You are God and we are not, let us never forget this. When we are tempted to repeat things close our mouths and give us a way of leaving a gossiping situation.

Thank You Jesus for coming to save us from sin and for taking sin upon Yourself in our place. Help us to love others as You love them. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we will learn from Him all that we should in Your Word and will not fall to temptations.

 In Jesus name we pray in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen

Rebishka

Forgive as you are forgiven

Genesis 50:17, English Standard Version (ESV)
¹⁷ ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
Psalm 79:9, New King James Version (NKJV)
⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation, For the glory of Your name; And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, For Your name’s sake!
Psalm 130:4, (ESV)
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
Matthew 6:12, (ESV)
¹² and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Luke 6:36-37, (ESV)
³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ³⁷ “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
Matthew 18:21,(ESV)
²¹ Then Peter came up and  said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
Matthew 18:27, (ESV)
²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.
Matthew 6:14-15, (ESV)
¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Luke 7:47,  (ESV)
⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Luke 23:34,  (ESV)
³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Luke 24:47(ESV)
⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 2:10, (ESV)
¹⁰ Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ,
Ephesians 1:7, (ESV)
⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
***Ephesians 4:32, (ESV)
³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
1 John 1:9, (ESV)
⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Colossians 2:13-14, (ESV)
¹³ 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.
Hebrews 9:22, (ESV)
²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

My Comments: We are all born into sin and we all have let sin ruin our lives to one degree or another and there is a price to pay but the Gospel the Good News is Christ died for our sin while we were still sinners. He made Himself sin for us and obedient unto death. He made sure we could be forgiven. He has forgiven us everything. He has given Himself for our redemption.

When we who have wronged the God of the Universe have been forgiven so much how can we not forgive others for what they have or have not done in our lives? Forgiveness is a action not a feeling. We forgive and like God we forget and give love. God’s greatest gift to us was His Love and our greatest gift to others is Love. Love let’s us forgive others. I know this can be hard. Especially for people who have been abused by parents or spouses or even other relatives. Especially if that hurt is sexual. Forgiving because God forgave us is paramount even in these circumstances and it does not mean a person needs to put themselves in a position where abuse continues nor does it mean we do wrong by bringing these type of things into the eyes of the law. Yet even if we do it we do it with love and not hate or anger. Remember when we sinned though there was forgiveness there were consequences for our actions.

God sent His Son to be the resurrection and the life and if we believe in Him we shall have eternal life. He rose again to give us new life. He forgives and because He forgave us we are able to forgive others. In forgiveness there is mending, healing and joy.

Abba, may we always remember what You have done for us even in the midst of painful situations so we may be merciful as You are merciful and forgiving. May we have Your Love in our hearts and have Your compassion and be tenderhearted towards all as You have been and are with us. May we have patience to allow You to work not only in our lives but in the lives of others especially our loved ones. Thank You Most High for all Your Love and forgiveness, In Jesus Name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray, Amen.
Rebishka

A study on the Chapter of Romans 8.

Romans 8:18-39, New King James Version (NKJV)

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Sonship Through the Spirit

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

From Suffering to Glory

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

God’s Everlasting Love

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

My Comments: This blog entry is being devoted to the whole chapter of Romans 8, and the text is included so those in parts of the world who do not have access to the Bible may see the verses for them selves. I think it, also, helps everyone be on the same page so to speak.

The preceding chapter has to do with our being dead to sin until Jesus redeems us and addresses the law, which those who are not redeemed by the Blood of Jesus Christ are under. And about how one is dead without Jesus freeing us from sin.

Let’s look at Chapter 8 which is for those who have been redeemed and are walking according to the Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, which is the Spirit of God the Holy Spirit.

Paul lets us know the good news right away in verse one. “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Wow, every time I read that I smile and tingle all over. No condemnation means just that. Christ Jesus took on Himself all the sin of the world and for those who accept His free gift they are condemned no more which is what they were before.

I remember thinking all my life that I was saved and would go to Heaven because I went to church, believed in God and that Jesus was His Son and that their Holy Spirit was sent as tongues of fire. Yes, Jesus is the Son of God and the second part of the Holy Trinity. Yes, He did send the Holy Spirit into the world after He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father the first of the Holy Trinity and the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. Yet I was not saved and would not have gone to Heaven because I did not take Jesus as my Savior. This verse refers to the freedom from sin by Christ Jesus. Before this time we were under the law of sin and of death and now we are free and under the law of the Spirit as verse two states.

To be under the law of the Spirit means we live our lives as Christ Jesus would as much as possible and continue with the Holy Spirits help to become more and more like Christ Jesus in all we do, think and say. Verse three goes on to tell us that the law was weak in that it could only address the flesh and not that very well. Sort of like our laws in all of our countries. But God is stronger and He sent His Son as an offering and as verse three says, condemned sin in the flesh as Jesus as man. Several of the verses address wailing in the Spirit as in verses four and five. 

I love the fifth verse it continues to edify my mind and make me look at how my walk with my Heavenly Father is. Am I walking in complete faith and trust and walking in His Spirit or am I walking in the flesh or the desires of the flesh? Do I tell the truth even if it is not peasant to hear? Do I make sure to give back money I borrow? Do I gossip or flee from saying anything about my Brothers and Sisters? Do I cause others to stumble or help them in their walk? For each of us the questions might be the same or they might be about pornography or lust of the eyes for another person or even a piece of real estate that is coveted.  As verse six says the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, and while verse seven gives the reason, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God. Then comes the reason in verse seven, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so. Wow, again! Paul is really hitting straight at the heart of the matter and then goes on to tell us we are not of the flesh if the Spirit of God dwells in us.

In verse ten we are told that essentially when we die in our bodies we are alive in the spirit or in Heaven (we all will one day stand before the Throne of God in Heaven but only those who choose Jesus will stay the others will not), and in verse eleven we are promised we will be raised as Christ Jesus was by the Spirit bodily. That we know will happen in the future because we are the sons of God as it says in verse fourteen and will be resurrected to be with Christ Jesus when He comes again. Because we have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba? Father?” as in verse fifteen, the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit and we are heirs as in verses sixteen and seventeen. Then Paul goes on to remind us of the fall of Mankind when Adam and Eve caused sin to be a part of (through the first Adam sin entered and through the second Adam or Jesus, sin was conquered) all mankind.

In verses nineteen through twenty-two, Paul talks of the groaning of creation. Why? Because when Adam sinned the rest of creation was changed as well. God created the world in perfection and Adam changed that with sin. The sin of giving into the flesh or what we now call sin nature, and not obeying God, is the way we live our lives before coming to redemption.  But there is hope as seen in verses twenty-three and twenty-four.

In verses twenty-six through twenty-eight we see how the Spirit of God helps us in our weaknesses. He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And Jesus, He searches the hearts knowing the mind of the Spirit and the will of God. What a merciful God we have for a Father. He has sent His Son to die in our place and then sent His Spirit to intercede for us and groan for us, teach us and comfort us. None of which we deserve. He did it all because He loves us and doesn’t want any to perish.

In verses twenty-eight through thirty Paul talks about predestined and there has been many denominations that confuse the thinking with some of their ideas. This text merely shows all have been called yet God knew who would accept and it had nothing to do with God choosing certain people over others. It had to do with Him being all knowing yet He gives each the same chance to know Him and to accept His Son as Savior. Those who accept are justified and glorified and then in verse thirty-one Paul reminds us God is for us and what do we have to worry about if God is with us? Absolutely nothing!

Though the world slander us, persecute us and as some are experiencing today in many parts of the world, though we be put to death as Christ Jesus we have nothing to fear because to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ our King. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, not tribulation, distress, or persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or the sword because we are not ashamed of the Gospel nor of our Lord and Savior. Even though we be led to the slaughter we conquer through Him who loved us (verses thirty-one through thirty seven). As verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine, remind us, nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior please consider these things and if you would like to accept His sacrifice then just confess that you are a sinner and ask Jesus to come in to you and be your Savior. It is easy to talk to Jesus as He loves us so much and none will be rejected because He died so all would have salvation who asked.

Abba, I place all who read Your words and hear Your call into Your loving and merciful hands. May their hearts be given to You to heal and grow in Your love. Your word promises us salvation through the blood of Your Son Jesus. We praise and glorify You Abba for loving us so much You would sacrifice Your only Begotten Son for us and that when we accept His Righteousness we are made white as snow and become Your adopted children.

Thank You Jesus for Your love, for Your sacrifice and for accepting the cup so we may be Yours and one day be with You in Heaven. All praise and glory to You who created the world and came to earth as a human baby boy and died for our sin. No mind can comprehend Your Sacrifice of Love. No human could love as You have loved us. We are humbled and rejoice that You love us so much that You would give so much to buy us.

Holy Spirit, we praise and glorify You and thank You for Your groanings on our behalf and Your intercessions for us. Thank You, for the guidance and comfort You give us and the knowledge and understanding You fill us with. Help us on our walk that we may continually grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father and You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Rebishka 

He became sin for us who knew no sin.

1 John 1:9, New King James Version (NKJV)

The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

1 Corinthians 15:58, NKJV

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Matthew 24:27, NKJV

"For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

James 1:2-4, English Standard Version ESV

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Hebrews 12:5/6, ESV

⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
 nor be weary when reproved by him.
⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
 and chastises every son whom he receives.”

1 Peter 1:15/16, ESV

 ² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 6:5-8, ESV

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ For one who has died has been set free from sin. ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Romans 12:1/2, ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

My Comments: Sin entered into a perfect world when Adam and Eve chose not to follow God and what He told them but to listen to Satan the serpent. We have all been born with sin. Yes, even a little child has sin. The good news is we do not have to continue to keep sin because Jesus came to be the final sacrifice.

Before His birth God had given the animal sacrifice which was the blood sacrifice for the yearly removal of the years sins of the Jewish peoples. They were and have always been His chosen people. He has had to chastise them repeatedly for their walking away from Him yet they have remained and always will be His chosen. When Messiah came He allowed Himself to be crucified for the final blood sacrifice. Yes, He who created the world allowed Himself to be born a human and allowed Himself to be the sacrifice for our sin. Since that time mankind has had the choice to accept the sacrifice for their sin or reject it. Those who accept are Born Again and are going to Heaven. These are not my words they are Jesus’.

There is a song out that says, He came from Heaven to Earth to show the way, from the Earth to the Cross my debt to pay, from the Cross to the grave from the grave to the sky…which pretty much tells what He did for us. He took on all the sin, past, present and future up until He comes again, for the whole world so that none would perish but have life everlasting. It boggles my mind yet I know it to be true. I hope you ponder the words of the Lord and turn to Him and let your sin go and become Born Again in Christ Jesus and become a Child of God Almighty. Then He will fill you with His Holy Spirit so you will not have to give into your sin nature. He will help you overcome the sin nature you were born with and one day you will be with Him in Heaven.

After all, if He could create our world and all the stars, all the animals and can number the sands of the sea, do you not think He could take care of you and me and all mankind? If we turn to Him confess with our mouth that He is Lord and our savior He will be faithful and just to cover us with His blood that purifies and renews. Then when we stand before the Throne of God, He will see Jesus. What a wonder He has performed for us.

Abba Father, thank You for Your Sacrifice of Your Son. I cannot imagine how it was for You. Your love for us for all mankind was more than I can comprehend. I am humbled by Your Love and Your willingness to sacrifice Your Son Jesus.

Messiah Jesus, thank You for Your Sacrifice for our sakes, so we might become Your adopted Sisters and Brothers and Your Body here on Earth. Thank You for the Cross of Redemption that we might live eternally one day with You and rule under You. Help us to have a hunger and thirst for Your word and for Your Spirits teachings and guidance.

Holy Spirit, fill us with wisdom, knowledge and understanding so we too may flee the snares and temptations as Jesus did with the word of God on our tongues and in our hearts. Thank You for guiding and protecting us even before we knew our savior.

Abba, may our lives be lived as You created us to live them and our hearts and minds be totally yours. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

Rebishka