A new way of living

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “A new way of living”

It’s commonly agreed among Bible scholars that Romans chapter eight is one of the most important chapters in the entire Bible. In it, Paul describes a new way of living that is now available to us because of our faith in Christ. The gospel of Jesus Christ makes possible a new way of life – an abundant life – lived in and through the power of the Holy Spirit of God.

Paul has spent seven full chapters in his letter to the Roman Christians illustrating the horrible truth that we are all lost sinners condemned to hell because of our sins – and there isn’t a single thing any of us can do to save ourselves. The entire distorted culture of the Pharisees was all about trying to earn their way into God’s good graces and Paul has shown conclusively that it is impossible to do so. At the end of chapter seven he even cried out “Who will save me from this?” And he answered with “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” It’s Jesus, Jesus will save us. He can and He will.

So, we get to chapter eight verse one and Paul says “Therefore …” In other words, since that is the case. Since it is true that Jesus can and will save us … Now there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Through the long history of human affairs few statements have been more powerful or more important than this one: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We are no longer condemned for our sins because Jesus has set you free from sin and eternal death.

The term “in Christ” was one of Paul’s favorite phrases. He used it 119 times in his 13 New Testament letters. It means that once we have placed our faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, we enter into a mysterious kind of shared life with Him. This is perhaps best illustrated by Jesus’ parable of the vine and the branches in John 15:5 “I am the vine: you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing.” Jesus lives in us, by means of His Holy Spirit in our heart, and He lives through us by using our physical body and our mortal life as His instrument of ministry to accomplish His purposes.

As disciples of Jesus, we truly do have a new way of living. We are set free from living like a person who is condemned. We no longer have to adhere to an impossible system of rules and regulations as we try to prove ourselves good enough to please God. Instead, we have the Spirit of Jesus living in us and working through us and that enables us to live as the people God intends for us to be. There’s more that needs to be said about this. So, we will continue this discussion tomorrow. For today, sit quietly before the Lord and think deeply about what it means for you to be in Christ and for Christ to be in you. Then go live like it’s true.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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