Everyone knows about the law of gravity. If you jump off a building, you can be sure you WILL fall straight down to the ground. But we also know about the law of aerodynamics. This law is HIGHER than the law of gravity. I admit I don't understand it, and can't explain it, but I have been in airplanes and I KNOW this law is higher and makes the law of gravity of no effect!

     In Romans chapter 7 Paul is describing the law of sin and death. Because of this law we can't seem to consistently do what we know we should and we keep on doing what we know we shouldn't. The will (desire) to do right is in us, but we lack the ability (power) to follow through. This is the law of sin and death at work.
 
     BUT!!!
 
     In Romans chapter 8 Paul explains the law of grace which is the law of the Spirit. This law is higher.  If we walk after the spirit the law of sin and death will not reign over us. But if we walk after the flesh we will still be under the power of the lower law.

     "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  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:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit." (Romans 8:2-5)

     Many people defer to Romans chapter 7 as an excuse, or a defense for the sin and disobedience in their life. They say "Even Paul couldn't stop sinning!" They don't comprehend that he isn't describing himself at the time, he was describing a law using himself as the example. It was rhetorical.
Walk after the spirit not after the flesh....because...

     "For to be carnally (fleshly) minded is death; Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (examine yourself!!)...For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:"  (Romans 7:6-9,13)

But as for walking by the spirit...(Romans 8)

1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

6 "but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."

9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. "

11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also *quicken your mortal bodies* (enable you to live by the spirit) by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

13 "but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Paul taught the same exact thing about the flesh and the spirit to the Galatians...

(Galatians 5)

16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

17 "For the flesh lusteth (fights) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." (just as described in Romans ch 7)

25 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Galatians 6:8 "For he that soweth to (lives after) his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to (lives after) the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

If we belong to Christ and have his spirit we will live by the higher law....
the law of gravity will have no power over us and we will fly!!!

03/2013

 
 

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