Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Romans part 96 - Victory Over Sin 35

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Romans 8:12-13 So then, brothers and sisters, we do not owe anything to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Ruach you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live.

Just in case you may not have understood his writing to this point, Paul provides a recap of what he's been saying for the last 2 1/2 chapters. I just did a search of the entire Bible for the phrase "The Flesh Is Death, In The Spirit We Have Life." Of the top 10 responses, 6 of them are from Romans, chapter 8. The other four are from Galatians. Here is number 3 of the top 10.

Galatians 6:8 For the one who sows in the flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But the one who sows in the Ruach will reap from the Ruach eternal life.

With the message being painfully obvious, how is it that we still don't get it? The flesh and the spirit are still in a battle for our souls. As Paul admonished his son in the faith, Timothy ... 1 Timothy 6:12a Fight the good fight of faith! Take hold of the eternal life - you were called to it. The "good fight of faith" is a spiritual battle between the temptation of this world and the goodness of God. Sure it is being waged on a global basis, but it will be won when one heart at a time turns to God and His purposes.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments and every high-minded thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah.

We are all impoverished debtors, but to whom (or Whom)? Romans 8:12a So then, brothers and sisters, we do not owe anything to the flesh. And then there is this ... Romans 6:23 For sin's payment is death, but God's gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord. That "gracious gift" of eternal life deposits within us a debt of gratitude. May we never grow weary of thanksgiving to God for all He has done.

Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore as you received Messiah Yeshua as Lord, so continue to walk in Him - rooted and built up in Him and established in your faith just as you were taught, overflowing with thankfulness.

Shalom shalom.