Walk in The Spirit!
There is the problem that many believers have with understanding the ministry of the Holy Spirit in sanctification. And that is where I want to set my focus on in this devotional. We need to remember that a person cannot come to God by means of the law
or performance, nor can he or she grow or sustain living for God by keeping the law or performance. Our sanctification, like our conversion is still a work of God either in regeneration or sanctification
The default condition of lost humanity is to always revert to some form of self-help. It’s the Gospel of moralism that says man is not totally depraved, and there is with humanity the ability for self-improvement. It is this self-improvement that not only will bring personal happiness but will ultimately be approved by God.
But our text here in Romans 6:6-7 runs counter to that kind of thinking. Let me read it once again…
Romans 6:6-7 (ESV) 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.
David speaks to the beauty of God’s word as he saw it in the Old Testament. It is also important to note that
David uses the covenant name of God, LORD, meaning Jehovah. God’s word speaks directly to the believer, the one in a covenant relationship with Him.
and reminds us of our relationship with Him. The two “edged sword” (Hebrews 12:4) of the word had penetrated David heart and soul and his response here is one of delight and awe. He knew he was being exposed to the God of the universe who has revealed Himself to David in spirit and truth.
Paul calls the Ephesians to walk worthy of your calling.
Soundness of theology is not about winning an argument but about humbly, gently, and patiently pointing hearts to the One who is the Way the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). While salvation and true sanctification are exclusive to the person and work of Christ and the Scriptures, our goal is to be used as earthen vessels qualified for the master’s use.
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
A Call for Clarity regardng the Gospel.
Biblical faith and more to the point, saving faith, focus on the person and work of Christ and the Gospel message which speaks to a trust in the finished, fully sufficient work of Christ. “Believe in Jesus, trust Christ, follow Jesus, God loves you, accept Christ” and others, are wholly deficient and present and leave the hearer with a road map of their own making, with no address.
A response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk
Isaiah 5:20 (ESV) 20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
A Christian response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk
There have been a number of times that I found myself deeply angry over the evil that is in this world. This evil is sadly a part of the fall and the weight of the curse on creation.
Romans 8:19–22 (ESV) 19 For the creation waits with eager longing 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 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
What does True Faith Look Like? I believe that is exactly what James was arguing for In James 2:14-26.
Some have said that James is arguing that a person is saved by works. You can only draw that conclusion by “cherry picking” certain verses. It cannot be argued that the text (James 2:14-26) is teaching anything other than true faith always is demonstrated in good works or fruit that brings glory to the completely necessary and sufficient work of Jesus Christ on the cross, culminating in His resurrection ( I Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 2:8-10).
God is never honored in our self-effort, no matter how righteous we may think it is. He deserves all the honor and glory for what He has created in us fully. Biblical Faith is what pleases God.
As the Reformers saw it, true biblical faith is the “sole instrumental cause” for our justification, sanctification, and ultimate glorification and all to the glory of God!
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
What is a Biblical faith? Does faith have value and efficasy in of itself or is a true Biblical faith a trust grounded in obective truth.
For the Bible believing Christian, biblical faith finds it value and is efficacious based on the obect it is placed in. In the case of Biblical Christianity, it is a faith placed in the finished work of Christ in salvation and the power of the resurrected Christ in sanctification.
The theme of the book of Romans is found here in vv. 16-17; a righteousness based on faith and not works, available to all. It is the power of God In Salvation.
Every major doctrine of the Bibl
e can be found in Romans. But all those blessed truths would be meaningless to us apart from the impartation of the righteousness of God, his saving grace, through the work of Christ on the cross providing redemption to all who will believe.