Romans Road 2

Papa,

Thank you that we can call you “Papa”. Thank you that you loved us enough to send Jesus to make a way for us to be with you, to be in full communion with you. Jesus, thank you that you showed us the way, and opened the way for us to be sons and daughters of God. Holy Spirit, help us to hear you more clearly guiding us and reminding us that we are indeed the beloved children of God. In Jesus’ name,

Amen

This week we covered about 7 verses in Romans 8. Sin kills, Christ brings life and restoration. Flesh is an ally of sin, and cannot submit to God. We must learn to live loved, and become mature children of God, moved about by the impulses of the Holy Spirit, fully aware and accepting of the truth that we have been adopted by Him.

Romans 8:10-16

Now Christ lives his life in you! And even though your body may be dead because of the effects of sin, his life-giving Spirit imparts life to you because you are fully accepted by God.  Yes, God raised Jesus to life! And since God’s Spirit of Resurrection lives in you, he will also raise your dying body to life by the same Spirit that breathes life into you! 

So then, beloved ones, the flesh has no claims on us at all, and we have no further obligation to live in obedience to it. For when you live controlled by the flesh, you are about to die. But if the life of the Spirit puts to death the corrupt ways of the flesh, we then taste his abundant life.

The mature children of God are those  who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,”  leading you back into the fear of never being good enough.  But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,”  enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!”  For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God’s beloved child!”

First, we talked about Romans 8:10-11. We learned how when we are in Christ, we are no longer dead to Christ and alive in sin. Yet, now, we are alive in Christ, and are being brought to life in Him.Not only in terms of spiritual life, but even our physical bodies can be restored to life and healed from the effects of our previous life. This is through the presence of the Holy Spirit, who also makes us fully acceptable to and accepted by God. You are fully accepted by God. Let that sink in. You are fully accepted by God. This acceptance brings healing, even to your natural body. It can begin to undo the consequences of your old sin patterns and family baggage and wounds. Let it. 

In verses 12-13, we saw how because we are in Christ, that old nature which is purely focused on what feels good in the moment, no longer has to control us. You no longer have to follow its dictates, and it is a dictator. Abundant life is yours when you choose to go where the way of the Spirit leads you. When you develop a relationship with the person of the Holy Spirit, He will help, guide, and protect you, if you listen to Him. That is Wisdom, y’all. What is this “way of the Spirit”? The way of the Spirit means living with a focus on how we can bless God and others. It is living in keeping with Torah, which, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can do.

In verses 14-16, we saw how when you are fully accepted by God, you are His beloved child, in Christ. If you want to progress in getting closer to our Father, then you must empty yourself of your drive and desires and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you fully. That is far easier said than done. Let’s get on the path, or take another step on the path toward maturity today. Let’s hear the Spirit confirm in us that we are indeed beloved children of God.

What did we learn this week? That we are the beloved children of God, fully accepted by the Father, because of the work of the Son, through the power of the Holy Spirit. We hopefully had that reality driven home afresh, that sin, guilt, and shame need have no sway over us now. We have healing and restoration from the inside out. Can you believe all that? That is the abundance of life that the cross and empty tomb promise us who live in keeping with Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. You are a beloved child of God. Let that truth shape your life.