King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Monday, December 09, 2024
Chapters: Romans Chapters 5-8
Message: Justified And Committed
Hello My Friend,
There is three kinds of strength; physical (stamina, muscular, energy), mental (pride, determination, intellect), and spiritual (bravery, courage, virtue). Strength is what gives one the ability to get up out of bed, to stand up to pressure, and to have the determination to keep going no matter how difficult things get. There is also a strength that comes from pride, one in which we do not want to have, it is that very strength that gets us into trouble because we take credit for what we accomplished. It is also the strength from pride that keeps one from receiving Christ as their Saviour, [2 Chronicles 26:16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.]
Do not misunderstand, God, wants us to be strong in virtue, courage, and determination to seek His strength to see us through, but what He does not want is for us to just get saved and live our lives just any way. Why? While God does promise eternal life by grace through our faith in Christ alone that does not mean that we will never face any more until we get there.
[Romans 8:31-34 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.]
Perhaps the bravest thing we will ever do is admit that we are a sinner and need Jesus to save us. The grace that God grants us is not the same as what we receive from man. God’s grace goes well beyond what we are capable of in our own human comprehension and is available to us twenty-four/seven. Yes, we will have to face some trials and tribulations as they are what grow is in our faith as we patiently endure them. As we continue in the reading of Romans, Paul, points out that while the Law was the front runner of their faith, our faith in Christ is the justifier.
[Romans 5:1-7 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.]
[Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God] [Justified; Pardoned and clear form guilt; Absolved or acquitted from guilt and merited punishment, and to accept as righteous on account of the merits of the Saviour, or by the application of Christ’s atonement] Just think about the state we were in before we knew Christ as our Saviour or maybe you do not know Him and what state you are in, we were not only separated from God, we were enemies with Him as well. The second we receive Him, all of that has changed and even on our worst day we are still justified.
[we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.] The appointed time in which Jesus would suffer and die on the cross came at just the right moment. In order for Jesus to do His best work in us we need to realize that we cannot do everything by ourselves and give it over to Him, [Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.]
[For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:] Have you met anyone willing to die for you? This actually reminds me of the secret service or soldiers who put their lives on the line for the safety of others. Jesus, literally stood in the line of fire to save our soul when He hung on the cross, [Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.]
[we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,] I tell you what, the more you walk with Christ the less you want from the world, and yet the more God gives you. And I am not just talking about provisions here, I am talking about protection, peace, and His presence every where you go. You see, while sin abounded in that it made us enemies with God, grace abounds much more in that God, through our faith in Christ, not only forgives us for our sin, He reconciles with us and even has a relationship with us. None of that was possible before Christ. Paul, explains this further.
[Romans 5:13-17 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)]
[but sin is not imputed when there is no law.] [Imputed; Charged to the account of.] In other words, before the Law was even given to Moses by God sin had already had the charge of condemnation upon ones soul. We do not have to intentionally sin, it comes naturally to us, but there does come a time where we will be accountable for sin even if we do not know it to be sin. And that is where Jesus comes in, [Romans 5:18-21 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.]
[might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ] While the Law did not bring sin, it did open their eyes to sin, well, I should say, their conscience as it does ours. Think about the lawlessness of people today, how they just do as they please without any fear of consequence. It is actually God’s Word that convicts us by exposing sin for what it is, which is why they despise Jesus since the mere mention of Him is a reminder that they are sinners. I know that as much as I fail Him, He much rather me fail under His watch then not know Him at all. Paul, reminds us that we who are saved are dead to sin.
[Romans 6:1-5 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:]
[even so we also should walk in newness of life.] The second we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour our soul is made alive through Christ because we now have the Spirit of God living inside us. There is nothing we could ever do, unless we have believed in vain, to lose our salvation because we are solely trusting in Jesus to save us. That does not mean that our flesh is off the hook and we should not remove sin from our lives. All sin that we intentionally commit even after we are saved comes with consequence.
[Romans 6:9-11,15-17 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.]
[ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine] The doctrine that those who receive Christ as their Saviour obey from the heart is the Gospel. Just because we get saved that does not mean that we lose this sin nature of ours and for that reason the Holy Spirit in us actually does get us to gravitate to the Law to some extent. That is if we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, if we do not and sin does have dominion over us then we will have a hard time while we are here, [Romans 6:20-23 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.]
[What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?] It is the Holy Spirit that lives inside us that gives us the conscience that what we use to do is no longer acceptable to us. It is the Holy Spirit that lives inside us that gives us the conscience that what we use to do is no longer acceptable to us. However, that does not mean that we always obey Him. Since Christ now lives in us we no longer want to do those things, or we ought not to want to do them anymore. Therefore, if we continue in the sin, and this is knowingly living in sin and have become servants of that sin, we would still become bound to the law.
[Romans 7:1-2,4-5 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.]
[ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead,] In this odd illustration, except for adultery [Matthew 19:9], if a woman marries a man she is bound to the marriage unless he dies [Numbers 30:7-8]. The same applies to our receiving Christ as our Saviour. When we receive Him, we join in a marriage union with Him, and are no longer bound to the Law, which is why we need to let go of anything that binds us to the Law. Paul, admits that he too suffered with this.
[Romans 7:14-19,24-25 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.]
[I am carnal, sold under sin.] [Carnal; Pertaining to flesh; Being in the natural state;] If Paul, even after his conversion and unparalleled faith, still called himself a wretched man just imagine what we must think of ourselves? The closer we get to Jesus the more wretched we feel in our flesh, especially when tribulation comes. There is not one day that I do not feel like I have failed God. I am constantly asking God why He even bothers with me, even right now, I believe all that I am facing right now is what I deserve because of how wretched I am in my carnal state, but thanks to Jesus I am no longer under condemnation.
[Romans 8:1-4,7-8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 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 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.]
[it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.] By nature we gravitate to sin, people do not need the Bible to learn morals, our conscience teaches us what it is right and wrong as we are taught. The Law however, is our guide to teach us even further by showing us what God sees as right and wrong. Much of what we do after we are saved comes down to allowing the Holy Spirit to direct us from the Law as we learn to understand that God’s thoughts are His, and not our own. Since our flesh is prone to sin that is why we must learn to die to our flesh and live through the Spirit.
[Romans 8:12-17 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: 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. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.]
[if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:] If you are not saved, then none of this applies to you, that does not mean you escape condemnation, in fact, you will be condemned. If you are saved, that means the Spirit of God dwells in your soul, and it is made alive through Christ. With that said, we cannot escape tribulation no matter how many commands we obey, but we can endure it.
[Romans 8:22-25 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.]
[the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.] Oh yes, we groan, and mope, and we feel sorry for ourselves, at least, for a moment until God tells us to stop our groaning and reminds us of why we must go through these things in the first place.
[Romans 8:27-30 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.]
[he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.] The Holy Spirit does this. There is something about Jesus that no matter what you are going through you can rejoice, you can be glad, you can exalt Him, even though every other minute you may be in tears. How? Because you know He is with you. They can reject us, mock us, even accuse us, but we are more than conquerors, [Romans 8:36-39 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your giving us the Greatest Gift, there is no greater joy that comes from knowing that by grace I am saved and not of my own works. I am more than justified, I am reconciled with You, Amen! I have great joy in knowing where I am going, and I have great joy in knowing what You have done for me over the years, I know I never want to be where I was before I dedicated my life to You, but trials and tribulations want to strip me of that joy. Lord, walk with me, talk with me, fill me with Your mercies and grace, Your power and might, Your wisdom and instruction, let me never lose sight of the joy that comes from knowing You as my Saviour. Let me not walk in the strength of pride, but with determination in Your strength. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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