Eternity Daily Bible Study: No. 534 Romans 1-8 - A Righteousness That Is By Faith Verses: Romans 8:3-4 Topic: The End Of Sin In The Flesh Date: 1st November 2005 Romans 8:3-4 MKJV For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; (4) so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. In chapter 7 Paul pointed out that sin dwelt "in the flesh" as a disruptive presence. This "sin in the flesh" was not the true nature of the Christian believer who stands righteous before God. "Sin in the flesh" is a rebellious spiritual entity that will be subdued in time and eliminated altogether at death or the resurrection. Today's verses make some very important points, namely: 1. The Law was unable to make anyone righteous because sin in the flesh weakened people so they could not fulfill the Law's demands. 2. So God sent Jesus "in the likeness of sinful flesh". 3. Jesus was also sent "for sin" (as a sacrifice) 4. When Jesus died on the cross He condemned sin in the flesh. 5. Because Christ condemns sin in the flesh, the believer has the power to fulfill the righteousness of the Law. 6. This is done through the power of the Holy Spirit, in those who walk according to the Spirit. This tallies closely with Paul's teaching in Galatians: Galatians 5:16-18 MKJV I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. So the believer has two helpers in his/her battle against "sin in the flesh" and they are: a) The work of Christ in His incarnation and death which condemned sin in the flesh. b) The inner working of the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Christian has no reason to be a slave to sin, but instead can become a slave to righteousness fulfilling the whole Law in one commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" for love is the fulfillment of the Law. Sin may always be within our members until we die or are resurrected to meet the Lord in the air - but we need not surrender to its power. Sin may be present, but it is not inevitably controlling. Sin is not a part of your true character. Sin will not be part of you in eternity. In eternity you will be holy, sanctified, spotless, blameless, spiritual, eternal, immortal and incorruptible (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-55). This pernicious intruder called sin may seem "part of human nature" but it is not part of your nature as a child of God, as one "born from above", born of God, by the imperishable seed of the Word. The following verses indicate the spiritual state of a person who is born of God. Please read them carefully: John 3:5-8 MKJV Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. (8) The Spirit breathes where He desires, and you hear His voice, but you do not know from where He comes, and where He goes; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. 1 Peter 1:22-23 MKJV Purifying your souls in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, love one another fervently out of a pure heart, (23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living Word of God, and abiding forever. 1 John 3:9 MKJV Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 1 John 4:7 MKJV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves has been born of God, and knows God. 1 John 5:1 MKJV Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. And everyone who loves Him who begets also loves him who has been born of Him. 1 John 5:4 MKJV For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. 1 John 5:18 MKJV We know that everyone who has been born of God does not continue to sin, but the one born of God guards himself, and the evil one does not touch him. Our bodies are not "born of God" they are born of the flesh, "born of woman" as John says. They become sin-indwelt over time. We become "dead in trespasses and sins" then grace appears and we are born-again by the Word of God and behold all things become new. A new man, anew inner person is created, who is righteous and holy in the image of Him who created him. This new man is born of God and cannot sin. While the new man is eternal and sinless, the old man is corrupt and is perishing. We have eternal life in earthen vessels. If I was to shoot a born-again believer the body would die but the spirit would live and they would find themselves as sinless and holy in the presence of God. They would fully discover the nature of the new man within them. They would be fully ware of Christ in them the hope of glory. So when the apostle John says "Everyone who has been born of God does not commit sin, because His seed remains in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." he is talking about the new man within us, our real eternal selves. Our new man is sinless, and does not want to sin, and cannot sin, because he is born of God and made in the image of Jesus Christ. Thus sin in the flesh is temporary, and has been defeated and will not ever be part of us in eternity and is alien to our true selves which are indeed slaves of righteousness. Now we do not yet fully understand what God has done in us in Christ. Indeed the glory of it will only be revealed on the Last Day: 1 John 3:1-2 MKJV Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Romans 8:18-19 MKJV For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. Colossians 3:3-4 MKJV For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Born-again believers are sons of God, new creatures, full of glory, whose lives are hidden in Christ with God. On the Last Day we will be revealed with Christ Jesus and this will result in the liberation of the entire natural order from bondage (Romans 8:18-21). You were a sinner, you were saved by grace, now you are a saint, which means a holy one, and you are destined for holiness. Sin in the flesh may plague you now and then but it is not part of your spiritual identity any more. Christ has crucified sin in the flesh and the Spirit opposes it and you are no longer attached to it. You are to live a higher life of love as is appropriate for the children of God. You are to live by your new nature, not your old nature and you are to walk in the Spirit. When you walk in the Spirit you will not carry out the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Blessings, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. 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