Romans 8:1-14

 

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     Jesus bought me.  I owed a debt I could not pay, and Jesus paid it for me with His own blood.  I am joined with God in the Spirit.

      That doesn't mean I won't sin anymore.  My body is carnal.  My fleshly mind cannot please God.  It is dead.  My sinful human nature is the enemy of God and my human body is enslaved to it.  Without the sacrifice of Jesus, my soul and spirit would also be condemned to death.  But Jesus paid the price for my sins, a price I could not pay.  He redeemed me and I belong to Him.

     So I should set my mind on things of the Spirit, which is alive in Christ.  I should not live according to the flesh, or set my mind on things of the flesh, for the flesh will die.  So long as I live on the earth, my human body is subject to the laws of sin and  death, but my spirit is already made alive in Christ.  Therefore, I should spend my life focused on spiritual life, not carnal death.

     One day when I leave this earth, the Spirit of God has promised that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, He will also give new life to my mortal body.  I will have a new, perfect body and live with Him.

     Because I belong to God, I should mortify the deeds of the flesh.  I should no longer desire any association with the sins that I have been set free from.  If I continue to live in the flesh, I do not belong to God.  I  cannot dabble in sin to satisfy the urges of the flesh. If the Spirit of God lives in me, I will desire to honor Him.   This doesn't mean I won't make mistakes.  It means my desires and focus will change from following and pleasing self to following and pleasing God. 

 

 

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Lord, help me to trust You more and more each day.  Show me Your will for my life.  Let me be and do what You desire.  Help me to grow in Your wisdom and understanding.  Protect me from the allure of the things of this world.  I want to serve You with all of me.