There is no condemnation to those who have invested their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ since the Law of the Spirit has set us free from the Law of sin and death. For what the Law was unable to do because it had been weakened by the flesh God accomplished by sending His Son in the guise of sinful flesh to be a sin offering for us.
And as Christ
took upon Himself the sins of all men of all time, God was, through Him, in the
process of overcoming man’s sinful nature. As a result, we are able to satisfy
the requirements of the Law if we simply avoid the ultimatums of the carnal
man, and, rather, we cooperate with the leading of the Spirit.
Those who live according
to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh wants, but those who live according
to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit wants. The mind which is
governed by the flesh results in spiritual poverty and death, but the mind
which is governed by the Spirit results in life and peace. The mind which is
governed by the flesh is nothing less than the enemy of God. It does not submit
to God’s Law nor is it capable of doing so. Those who live according to the
desires of the flesh are incapable of pleasing God.
You, however, do
not live in and for the flesh, but in and for the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit
of God lives in you. If a man does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not
belong to Christ. However, if Christ is in you, though your
body is subject to death due to sin, the Spirit will provide you life, because
of the righteousness with which He endues you. And if the
Spirit which is responsible for Christ’ resurrection is alive and well in you He
will also give life to your mortal bodies, as a result of that quickening
Spirit.
Therefore,
brothers and sisters, we have no obligation to the flesh to live according to
its demands. For if you live according to fleshly desires you will die. But if
you by the Spirit put to death the inappropriate thoughts and actions of the
body, you will, without any doubt or contradiction, live.
For those among
us who voluntarily submit to the unction of the Holy Spirit are the children of
God. The Spirit which you received does not lead you into spiritual slavery so
that you continue in fear. But, rather, the Spirit you received has caused you
to be adopted as sons. And by Him God has gifted you with the
wherewithal to use the words, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit, Himself agrees with
our spirit that we are the children of the living God. Yes, if we are children
then we are heirs, and we will share all that is His. If indeed we share in His
sufferings, we cannot help but share in His preeminence!
In my humble
estimation, I believe that which we endure now is hardly comparable with the
inestimable, and everlasting future God has promised us. For all
of creation is desperately waiting for the sons of the Father to inherit all
that God has stored up for them in heaven.
For the creation cannot,
as yet see the reward, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who
subjected it to this present dispensation. And yet, there is that hope which
God instills in us. And the expectation is that every known and unknown creature
will, one day, be released from its bondage to aging and decomposition, and will
inherit the freedom and glory of the children of the Most High God!
It is obvious that every animate, and
inanimate thing which currently exists has been groaning, as does a woman in
childbirth. Not only this, but we, ourselves, who are recipients of the first
fruits of the Spirit are groaning within ourselves, as we wait eagerly for our heavenly
adoption; the redemption of these frail human bodies. For as a
result of this hope we will be saved.
During this
little season in which we now wait, we should encourage one another that hope
requires waiting for something which has not yet transpired, but which is of
inestimable and lasting value. If we exercise a spirit of hope, that which is
invisible but more real than what we call “real,” we must also exercise a
spirit of patience.
The Spirit always
inspires us to believe our redemption is at hand, and helps us when weakness
overcomes us. So often, we find ourselves unsure just how to pray, but the
Spirit, Himself intercedes and intervenes for us with inarticulate groanings.
And He who searches the compulsions of our souls knows the Spirit’s aspirations
for us since the Spirit intervenes for believers in accordance with the will of
the Father.
And we know that
in all things God works for the benefit of those who invest their expectations
in Him, those who were foreordained to achieve His wonderful plans. For those
whom God foreknew, He also predestined to emulate the life, words and actions
of His Son, so that He might be the first among a myriad of brothers and
sisters.
And God foreordained
the destinies of many children before He ever breathed the earth and stars into
place. And having foreordained them, He also appointed them. And having
appointed them, He also validated them. And having validated them, we know and
we are sure that He will exalt them.
How then can we
adequately respond to all of these things? If God stands with us, who can ever stand
against us? If this magnificent God of ours refused to intervene for His Son
and allowed Him to die a sacrificial death for us, why would we doubt His willingness
to fulfill our every need?
Who would dare
bring a false accusation against those whom God has chosen for Himself? After
all, God is the justifier of men. Who then has any right to denounce us? Only Christ,
Himself, (and He has no intention of doing so). For it was Christ who
surrendered His life for us. And more than this He was raised to life for us. And
more than this He sits at the very right hand of His Father. And more than this
He has never failed to intercede for us.
Who or what can
possibly remove us from the never-failing, ever-enduring love of Christ? Will difficulty
or hardship or persecution or suffering or famine or nakedness or danger or
sword? (I tell you, no)!
As it is written,
“For Your sake we
encounter death on a daily basis.
We are like sacrificial sheep ready to be slaughtered.”
In
every circumstance with which we contend we win. We win! And we owe our victory
to the One who has so often proven His love for us, and who has never failed to
fight the good fight with and for us.
For
I am absolutely convinced that neither this life, nor the cessation of this life,
nor the angels of heaven, nor the angels of hell, nor the status quo,
nor that which awaits us in the future, nor rulers, nor mountains, nor valleys,
nor anything else God ever created will be able to separate us from the overwhelming
love of our Abba Father; that love which is manifested in the person of Christ
Jesus our Lord.
McDonald Paraphrase of the New Testament. Copyright 2018
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