One In Jesus

Slavery and Sons

(Rom 8:14-15 ESV)  ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

“Sons of God” is a reference to —

(Deu 14:1-2 ESV) “You are the sons of the LORD your God. … ² For you are a people holy to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Those “led by the Spirit” — like the Israelites were led by the glory of God — are, like the Israelites, sons of God.

In v. 15, Paul re-visits Romans 6 – 7, in which he describes Christianity as slavery to God — a difficult image for sure. Now, in contrast to being enslaved to the flesh, we are adopted sons of God! Continue reading →

Flesh vs. Spirit

(Rom 8:5 ESV)  ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

The essence of the Spirit’s indwelling is that we think differently. That is, of course, exactly the lesson of Jeremiah 31 among several other Old Testament Spirit passages. God promises to change our inward being. Continue reading →

We kind of started on Romans 6 but found it inscrutable without a background in the Spirit. You can say the words, but you can’t really understand phrases like “die to sin” without an understanding of the Spirit’s power.

(Rom 6:1-2 ESV)  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  ² By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

When did we die to sin? When we were baptized. Did we promise to try harder? Absolutely. Is that enough to die to sin? Not even close. Continue reading →

Romans 8

(Rom 8:1-2 ESV) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  ² For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

This the heart of it all! After Paul’s powerful description of abject failure and futility, he declares — shockingly! — that despite his inability to obey as he wishes, there is “therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”! Continue reading →

Romans 6

Let’s skip to Romans 6, where Paul takes up the question again.

But realize that in chapter 4, Paul explains in detail how salvation by faith is based on God’s covenant with Abraham. In chapter 5, Paul explains how we’re “much more” saved after our initial conversion and then considers how it is that the more we know of God’s will we know, the more accountable we become. This ultimately sets up chapter 7, in which Paul declares that the more he wants to obey, the more he fails — leading to chapter 8, which explains the solution. Continue reading →

As predicted, I caught quite a bit of criticism for taking —

(1Jo 4:18 ESV) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

— quite literally. After all, it’s been pointed out, the Bible tells us to fear God. And it does. Sort of. Continue reading →

(Rom 3:8 ESV)  ⁸ And why not do evil that good may come?–as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.

Notice the charge Paul responds to: “why not do evil that good may come?” Why were such charges being made against Paul? Continue reading →