Faith building!

People struggle with many things, and some worse than others. If we are not careful about the way we approach sin, we will destroy rather than build faith. Remember, Jesus took away the sins of the world; He did not temporarily appease God until we sin again. The epistles clearly demonstrate that we have been entirely removed from the principle of sin. That we are to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ. This is the liberating and victorious message of the gospel. This is the power of God unto salvation. If we live the Christian life in an attempt to manage sin, we are working against the very principle God initiated in Christ to set us free. Which says to those under this persuasion that Christ died in vain.

Of course there are temporal consequences for sin because sin itself is punishing. However, this has nothing to do with God, and everything to do with us. And I can assure you that if you are living the Christian life in an attempt to manage sin, it will only get worse. The flesh minds no man, not me, not you, not anybody! Our only hope is in the spirit; in placing our entire faith in complete submission to the finished work of Christ and His righteousness.

'But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are lead by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received a spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.'

Authors note:

The use of the word flesh in Romans chapter 8 points directly at fleshly obedience concerning the Mosaic law. The carnal mind is the legal mind which is still under subjection to that law; rather than being free by the law of the spirit of life in Christ. My friends, which are you?

Commentary by:

G.L. Miller