Understanding The Wider Context of Romans 6,7,8

Romans 7:24-25 "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin."

Introduction: The 4 R's Of Romans 6, 7 and 8 as shedding light on the wider context of Romans 7:7-25

In today's post we want to gain a clearer understanding of Romans 7:7-25. In order to understand Paul's main points in this passage, we need to approach it from ever-narrowing circles of context. To do this, I will simply refer to what I'm calling the "4-R's" of Romans 6-8.

Realities and Responsibilities of the Christian life - Romans 6:1-7:6

First, we see the first two "r's" in Romans 6, namely the realities and responsibilities of the Christian life. The realities are what Bible-teachers call "Gospel indicatives" , which is to say: those realities of one's position in Christ that describes "who I am" and "whose I am". Such statements as "united with Him" in Romans 6:5; "crucified with Him" in Romans 6:6 and "consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus" in Romans 6:11 are samples of Gospel indicatives. The second "r" deals with the responsibilities or "gospel imperatives" that urge the Christian to take heed to the commands or imperatives set forth in the Bible. So for instance, a Gospel imperative like, "Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body" follows from the Gospel indicative or reality of me being dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ. Realities and responsibilities follow as cause and effect in the Christian life. To reverse these first two "r's" is to short-circuit one's Christian growth. The Christian is given freedom to enjoy Christ's Lordship (Romans 6:20-22); Christ's life on the inside of them (Romans 6:23; Colossians 1:27) and Christ's love having rescued them from the old former "spouse" of their former union with sin and condemnation (Romans 7:1-6).

The Internal Wrestlings Experienced By The Christian In Romans 7:7-25

So we see the first two "r's" of Romans 6 as having to do with the "realities" of one's Christian identity and the responsibilities that follow in Romans 6:1-7:6. So what about the third "r"? In Romans 7:7-25 we find the "wrestlings" experienced by the believer. Inside every Christian there ensues a wrestling match between the "old-man" and the "new-man" or between "who I was" in Adam vs "who I am" in Christ. Romans 7 deals with the "rubber-meets-the-road" aspect of the Christian life. Author John Hart in his study of Romans 7 notes in volume 170 of the 2013 July-September edition of the theological journal "Bibliotheca Sacra", page 318:

"One presupposition of the present study is that the interpretation that best explains the contents of chapter 7 in light of the Roman Christian readers and their life circumstances is probably the correct interpretation."   

In future posts, this blogger hopes to devote further treatment to the interpretation and application of Romans 7:7-25.

Rights Of Sonship In Romans 8

Years ago one old preacher told me that only when we understand the reality of Romans 6 and the conflict of Romans 7 will we be able to enjoy our inheritance laid out in Romans 8. We've considered three "r's" thus far in our exploration of the wider context of Romans 6-8. We've observed the realities and responsibilities of the Christian in Romans 6:1-7:6 followed by the description of the wrestlings each Christian has in Romans 7:7-25. 

It is when we come to Romans 8:1-2 that we find out why it is we have realities, responsibilities and wrestlings: so that we can taste and live in the rights we have as children of God. Romans 8:1-2 states - "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Now notice the seven inherited rights or privileges we have as Christians:

a. New Position. Romans 8:1-4

b. New Guest, The Holy Spirit. Romans 8:5-13 

c. New Home. Romans 8:14-17

d. New Expectation. Romans 8:18-25

e. New Prayer-life, Helper. Romans 8:26-27

f.  New Assurance. Romans 8:28-37

g. New Goal For Life. Romans 8:38-39

This of course scratches the surface of this amazing chapter in Paul's magisterial letter to the church at Rome.  

Closing Thoughts:

The four "r's" expounded above proceed in a cycle in both Christian experience and from what follows from the logic of Romans 6-8. As we come to know the realities of our identity in Christ, and the responsibilities that follow, we will find ourselves wrestling and come to a deeper awareness of our rights as sons and daughters by adoption into the family of God in Christ. May these thoughts serve to make more accessible the rich contents of Romans 6,7,8. To God be the glory!

Run The Big Race

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

Introduction:

Life has been very busy as of late. Since 2014, I have been a very active runner. I may not be the fastest guy around, but, I do find running. Running is an enjoyable physical and spiritual activity. This coming Saturday will be the biggest race up to this point in my fledgling running experience - a half-marathon. Over the last three years I have ran in 5Ks (3.1 mile races) and 10Ks (6.2 mile races). Each one has been enjoyable and the Lord has enabled me to net a some medals and win some races. None though have been more challenging in preparation than what I'm deeming "big-race" on Saturday. On Saturday, the half-marathon I'll be running will be through the rolling hills, streets and country-sides of a Northern New York town.  In lieu of thinking about what the Lord has taught me thus far as a runner, I thought I'd share some reflections on Paul's challenge of running the race called the Christian life.

Just as the beginning of one's running must include important disciplines for there to be improvement, Christian salvation must include spiritual disciplines to improve in one's sanctification.

What the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 very much captures what is involved in preparing for a running competition. There is much preparation and discipline that goes into preparing for any race of any size. Whenever I ran my first race three years ago, I had no preparation. I had turned "40" and on a whim, decided to enter a 5K race. When I finished the race, I remember laying on the ground for quite a while, regretting the decision. I had no experience and I had not a clue on what "training" involved. I almost gave-up and said to myself: "if one feels like they're going to die after every run, then running surely cannot be all that it is cracked-up to be." Thankfully, that would not be the last time I ran. I learned over-time the necessity of training and weekly exercise. 

The imagery of "training", "exercise" and "running" are applied to illustrating the Christian life. Whenever we talk about the Christian life, we first and foremost must begin with the miracle of the New Birth in saving faith (John 3:3-5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23). At the event of saving faith, the Holy Spirit enters into the human spirit (that inner-most part of one's immaterial nature) and begins the process of changing the sinner into more and more of a saint. The process following from the new birth is what the New Testament deems "sanctification" (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Sanctification is the cooperative effort between the Holy Spirit and the Christian that enables the Christian to become more like Jesus in thought, word and deed.

An effective Christian life involves both training (the spiritual disciplines, like Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, partaking of the Lord's supper or baptism if one is a new convert) and running (the daily Christian life). Notice again 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." It was only when I talked to other, more experienced runners, that I learned what training involved. Over time, I have purchased books on running, researched proper dietary needs of runners and have entered into various races. What one puts into the body makes a difference in how well one can endure in running days and race days. The indwelling Holy Spirit in the Christian makes all the difference in stirring the Christian to run the race of faith. In between race seasons, I try to run over 20 miles a week. By attending to all of these various disciplines, I have developed a lifestyle of running. When the Christian attends regularly to the Christian disciplines listed above, they will find the Christian life to be more enjoyable, doable and powerful. 

Like running and racing, all those naming the name of Christ must run so as to win.

As I said earlier, I may not be the fastest runner in town, but, when race day comes, I plan on giving it all I got. The Apostle Paul is very fond of athletic imagery - and rightly so. In first century Greco-Roman life, especially Corinth, the Isthmian games were highly popular. In mimicry of the great Olympic games of Athens, such athletic competitions were central to Corinthian life. To run in such races involved running so as to win (since in some cases, losers could lose their lives)! 

There was plenty of motivation, but more important than even one's life was the goal of pleasing people like the Emperor of Rome or some other high ranking official present at such competitions. All of these details of first-century life are flowing through Paul's mind as he applies pen to paper. I know when race day comes, I will run as to win. We read in 2 Timothy 2:5 "Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules." The author of Hebrews 12:2 (if he be the Apostle Paul), capitalizes on the imagery above - "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

In my first half-marathon, all competitors will get a medal. All who run the race of faith will receive rewards when they appear before Christ at His return

The one thing that encourages me about my pending race is the fact that all participants in the half-marathon will get a medal. Certainly, for those who place overall or finish first through third in their age group, there will be additional medals. Still, to know that there will be medals for all makes running the race worth it. As a runner, I certainly strive for the medal, but I also want to run as hard as possible to perhaps get one of those other rewards! All true followers of Jesus are urged to adopt a similar attitude in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable." Anyone who has a lifestyle of running wants to do all they can to place and maybe even win. Anyone who is a true follower of Jesus ought to be eager to run the race of the Christian life and bring pleasure for their Lord. 

Closing thoughts

As time passes, all the medals that I've acquired will lose their luster. To be honest, when the day comes where I may not be able to run anymore, I'll likely give the medals to our children. They're neat little trinkets that bring back memories of past races, however, they are perishable nonetheless. The Christian's true prize - seeing the face of God in the face of Jesus Christ - is the "imperishable" crown alluded to by Paul. The ultimate prize of seeing Jesus' face and his words: "well-done good and faithful servant" is what drives the Christ-follower to run-so-as-to-win (Matthew 25:21; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Timothy 4:7-8; 1 John 3:1-3). May all who name the name of Jesus run the Big race of the Christian-life for the glory of Jesus!

We Need More Than A Miracle - We Need The Glory Of Jesus Christ

John 11:21-27 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”

Introduction:

How often in life do you and I find ourselves in need of a miracle? Perhaps a provision? Someone’s salvation? A healing? What is it that we need? Not a miracle, but Christ in His glory. The glory of Christ is the truth of His power and Person made known. In this post, we will contend that when the glory of Jesus is understood as our need, all other needs will be more clearly understood or received. We will focus our attention today on Jesus' miracle of the raising of Lazarus. What kind of glories of Jesus are revealed by the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead? We will first consider this miracle in light of the other "sign miracles" recorded in John's Gospel, and then draw out the various glories of Jesus Christ that issue forth from Jesus' performance of the miracle.

Seeing the miracle of Lazarus brought back to life in the context of John's other signs

Most New Testament scholars divide John's Gospel into two divisions: John 1-12 is called "The Book of Signs" and John 13-21 is termed "The Book of Glory". In brief, we find the following seven signs or miracles recorded in John's Gospel:

1. Water to Wine - John 2:1-11

2. Nobleman's son healed - John 4:46-54

3. Healing at Bethesda - John 5:1-17

4. Feeding of 5,000 - John 6:1-14

5. Walking on water - John 6:15-25

6. Healing of the blind man - John 9:1-41

7. Raising Lazarus - John 11:17-46

All of these "signs" are designed to point us to a particular truth about Jesus Christ - namely, as stated in John 20:31 "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." If we had more time and space, we could catalogue how each of these signs demonstrate John's two-fold point: first, of revealing to us how Jesus is the Christ (the "chosen-one" or "anointed one" who came to be man), the Son of God (i.e truly Divine) and then second, by trusting in this Divine and human Savior, we can have eternal life. 

Undoubtedly, Martha's confession of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world" in John 11:27 together with the response of faith from Jesus' audience in John 11:45 demonstrates how the raising of Lazarus contributes to John's overall case. 

The raising of Lazarus represents the final sign recorded in the first part of John's Gospel in chapters 1-12. Jesus' power over life and death culminates what the other six signs have already communicated to us about Jesus. In the water to wine miracle, Jesus introduced Himself as the Mediator of the New Covenant and the Initiator of God's in-breaking kingdom. The raising of the Nobleman's son reveals Jesus' power communicated over a distance. In terms of the lame man at Bethesda, we find Jesus' ability to bring deliverance and healing, a central trait of the Christ or Messiah (see Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18). The feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water miracles remind us of Jesus' authority over the physical creation. Then the healing of a man with congenital blindness shows how Jesus possesses unprecedented power and authority (no examples exist in the Old Testament of people blind from birth being healed). The bring back of Lazarus from the dead sets the stage for what will be the two focal events of John 13-21 - Christ's cross and resurrection from the dead. 

So having surveyed how the raising of Lazarus from the dead fits with the other six signs recorded in John's Gospel, lets consider briefly how Jesus' glory is revealed in that particular miracle.  

1. The Glory of Jesus’ Deity.
John 11:17-27

Jesus' claim to be the resurrection and the life is His way of saying that He possesses the power to bring people back from the dead. Old Testament texts repeatedly testify to Yahweh, Jehovah God raising the saints to glory and immortality at the end of history (see Job 14:14; 19:25-26; Psalm 16:8-11; Isaiah 25:6-9; Daniel 12:1-2). Jesus Himself alludes to His inherent power to raise people from the dead (John 5:24-25). With this statement to Martha, Jesus is asserting His glorious Divine power. The glory of Christ's Deity is revealed in this text. All who attach themselves to Jesus have immediate access to all that is the hidden and revealed treasures of God revealed in the Person of the Son, sharing in co-equality with the Father and the Spirit. 

2. The Glory of Jesus’ Humanity. John 11:28-37

John not only is arguing quite forcefully for Jesus' deity, but equally so for His true humanity. We switch from an exalted view of the Divine Christ to the true humanity of a very human Jesus. As man, Jesus had to travel (John 11:30); had feet (11:32); had a human spirit (11:33); wept (11:35) and of course is identified clearly as a man (11:37). Why is this so glorious? The Son of God can empathize. Passages throughout the New Testament such as Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 2:13; 4:12-16; 7:24-25 and others praise the Son as man, as God incarnate. The Son's incarnation results in Him being just as glorious in His humanity as He has been eternally with respect to His deity.

3. The Glory of Jesus’ Power. John 11:38-46

The power over death lies in the hands of God alone. Certainly we see instances of people resuscitating or bring other people back to life by God's power (see 1 Kings 17:17-24; 2 Kings 4:32-36; 2 Kings 13:20-21; Acts 9:36-43). However, only Jesus brings people back to life with unprecedented Divine authority, declaring His certainty of the person coming back to life as if it is an already done deal (see Luke 8:49-56; John 11:38-46). Jesus didn't just resuscitate others from death to life by the power of God, He did so with His power as God incarnate (as well as in conjunction with the Holy Spirit Who empowered Him in His humanity as Messiah). Just as God alone could make dead bones come to life, take on skin and flesh and become a mighty marching army and nation in Ezekiel 37-39; so only Jesus can re-animate what was dead. Jesus alone can do this physically and of course spiritually in the miracle of the new birth.

4. The Glory of Jesus’ Cross. John 11:47-57

The raising of Lazarus from the dead seemed to be the catalyst that broke the proverbial camel's back for the Jewish leaders. When we look into John 12, we find the Jews not only plotting to kill Jesus, but also Lazarus. This miracle provided the context in which the high priest Caiaphus would prophesy the substitutionary work of one man dying for the people (John 11:49). Lest the glory of the cross be included in our reckoning of how we behold Jesus' glory in the New Testament, we are then no longer speaking of the Jesus' of the New Testament. We need more than a miracle, we need Him. On then in Jesus Christ can we have clarity on either what we truly need or receive from His hand what He deems necessary for us.  

Reflections On Seeking God In Prayer During The National Day Of Prayer 2017

Daniel 9:19 "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

1 Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men."

Introduction:

Today is set aside by many people in America by what is called: "The National Day of Prayer". In the above opening passages, we find two men, separated by six centuries of time, bearing the same message: seeking God on behalf of their respective situations, countries, cities and governments. 

The prophet Daniel is the first of these men. He is the one who wrote Daniel 9:19, which is the theme verse for the 2017 day of prayer. For those interested, the entire event - including its history, videos and other resources -can be found at the following website: http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org. Daniel sought the Lord in his day. He had been in a foreign land - Babylon - for some seventy years. He knew what it was like to be desperate for God.

The second man, the Apostle Paul, wrote a letter to a young pastor named Timothy some six centuries after Daniel. His concern was about making sure Timothy knew what it took to pastor the church of the living God. Among his important instructions, we see Paul urging this young pastor to lead the church to seek God in prayer. On this National Day of Prayer 2017, I thought it would be appropriate to consider what it means to seek God in prayer.  We will glean our observations from what Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2. For this special "National Day of Prayer" post, we will utilize the acrostic s.e.e.k to discover how we can seek God in prayer.

Start with God.  1 Timothy 2:1
The Holy Ghost says through Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men." Four Greek words for prayer are used by Paul in this first verse. Without going into the details, the four terms speak of a progressive effort to desperately seek God. As you study the subject of prayer, you discover that prayer is born of God in the context of need.  So why pray? Because only God can control outcomes.  He desires Christians to participate in prayer for the bringing about of His will in those outcomes.  When you start with God in prayer, you will also end with Him in prayer (Matthew 6; Luke 11).  So to "seek" God in prayer means you start with God. But notice secondly....

Expect God to respond. 1 Timothy 2:2-3
Paul continues on in 1 Timothy 2:2, noting that as we pray on behalf of kings, authorities and all people, we pray "so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." Why do God's people and churches get so discouraged in prayer? we often do not expect God to respond. Prayers with no expectations lead to no results.  Leonard Ravenhill, a long-time evangelist and advocate of prayer, writes: 

"The lightbulb for us Christians is prayer and God has the power.  But it is faith that makes the connection."  

Expect great things from the Great God and watch the Great God do great things.  So you need to start with God, and expect God to respond. Notice thirdly....

Express prayers for non-Christians. 1 Timothy 2:4-6
We read these words in 1 Timothy 2:3-6 "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time." So why mention Christ's Person and Accomplishment of salvation in the middle of a section on prayer? Because the cross is the ground of prayer.  

Furthermore, Paul is reminding His people that a praying people must not just pray for themselves but beyond themselves.  Praying for the lost means your are not just seeking the face of God, but also the heart of God.  Before you ever thought about your unsaved loved ones and friends - God had them on His mind before time began.  Prior to any tears the church of God may shed for the unconverted, God ordained the Son to assume humanity to shed His blood on their behalf. Prayer is the sail to which faith is attached.  The Good Gospel Ship is born along by the winds of the Spirit blowing into the sail of prayer.  

As Paul already wrote, praying on behalf of all people will ensure the necessary conditions for proclaiming the Gospel to those who would or could oppose it.  So when you seek God, start with God, expect Him to respond and express prayers for non-Christian people, but notice finally....

Keep Praying, stop complaining.  1 Timothy 2:7-8
Paul writes these words in 1 Timothy 2:7-8 "For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." Why would Paul tell this young pastor to warn the people not to pray in "wrath and dissension".  Why? Because the church to often is known more for fighting one another rather than fighting the good fight of faith.  The three underlined words (faith, truth and pray) signal to us how it is we must keep praying, and truly stop complaining.  

Faith, rather than fear, will ensure that we pray rather than complain.  Truth, rather than error, will encourage us to pray rather than complain.  Then prayer itself, rather than picking on one another, characterizes the church who is praying rather than complaining.  Paul's preaching in 1 Timothy 2:7 and the exhortation to pray in verse 8 go hand in hand.  

God has blessed us more than we deserve.  Churches who truly seek God in prayer and are about His kingdom work find far less to complain about.  In fact, I would suspect that the complaining that you and I find ourselves doing is a sure sign that we are not praying as we should nor sharing the Gospel as we ought.

Closing thoughts
Lord help us as your church in America and throughout the world to be a people who s.e.e.k you in prayer not only for this day, but everyday.

P2 Freed From An Old Life To Live A New Life - Romans 7:1-6

Romans 7:1-6 "Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter."

Introduction:

Years ago my wife and I had purchased a car that ended up being a true lemon. No matter what we did, the car would break down almost every week. We should had known better when we got nine miles from the dealership on the day of purchase and had to call them to tow the car back. Although they weren't happy about it, they had to fix the problem. The whole time we owned the car, things were breaking. The ceiling even fell in and when I would drive it to work, I would be coughing on the flecks of glue holding up the ceiling. The day we sold it (for $300), was a happy day indeed! We were free from the garage bills, free from the hassle. The next car we purchased was far better. We could once again enjoy owning an automobile that was hassle free. This illustrates our current subject: "freedom". Paul is advocating in his argument from Romans 6:20 into Romans 7:1-6. To those verses we turn once again to see how we are, in Jesus Christ, freed from and old life to live a new life.

Upon saving trust in Jesus Christ, the sinner's bonds to the condemnation of Old Adam and the old life are severed. A bad marriage comes to an end

In our last post, we probed into Paul's illustration of how the bonds of marriage are dissolved upon the passing of a former spouse. This truth is illustrated in the Old Testament in 1 Samuel 25:39-42 - "When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept back His servant from evil. The LORD has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife. 40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, “David has sent us to you to take you as his wife.” 41 She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”     42 Then Abigail quickly arose, and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife."

If you read the back story of Abigail's marriage to Nabal, you find that Nabal was a mean-spirited controlling man, given oftentimes to fits of rage. His maltreatment of David resulted in David almost launching an all-out attack on Nabal. Due to Abigail's pleading for mercy, David chose to stay his hand. Nabal (whose name means 'fool') was feasting and drinking. The next morning, Abigail told him of how he narrowly missed being ambushed by David and his small band of men. Great fear seized Nabal and in ten days time, he was dead. 

Upon Nabal's death, Abigail was free to marry David, which is testified of in scripture as a "man after God's own heart" (Acts 13:22). Abigail was set free from the tyranny of her first husband and could now enjoy the blessings associated with David - God's man for that hour, the heir apparent to the throne of Jerusalem and the human ancestor of Christ's humanity (see Romans 1:1-3).
  
When I embrace the cross, my so-called marriage to unbelief in Christ is over.  The former husband or spouse dies at the cross. At that point I'm set free to embrace Christ. 

Why being in union with Jesus Christ is the perfect marriage, full of freedom and enjoyment

Now what kind of spouse is Christ in contrast to that old, former spouse of sin? Romans 7:4 explains "Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God." He brings me new life. He brings you flowers in the form of righteous living. He brings to light His love letters called the scriptures (see Ephesians 5:22-25). He clothes you in new garments called His righteousness. He is building for you a new home in Heaven (John 14:1-6). He loves you no matter what (Romans 8:32-37). 

Romans 7:6 sheds even more light - "But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter." The New Husband, Christ, makes all things new. The shame, regret and hurt of your former "marriage" to sin is erased. Now that old husband will attempt to come back through your thoughts and memories, habits and behaviors, old associations and current ones, to convince you that you need to go back to it. However, you need to say to your old self that you are Christ's, and that Christ is yours, and that you are in no way going back! The believer in Jesus Christ can truly say: I am His, and He is mine! As Jesus says in John 8:36 "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

P1 Freed From An Old Life To Live A New Life - Romans 7:1-6

Romans 7:1-4 "Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God."

Introduction:

When I was growing up as a child, we had a dear neighbor, an older lady and her husband, that lived next door. As a child, I would often see this dear lady cultivating her small flower garden and also witness her husband cultivating his rather large vegetable garden. The husband, as we came to find out, did not like his wife's flowers getting in the way of either his yard or his garden. So, he had her grow her flowers underneath their porch. My parents, in the nicest way possible, told me that the husband limited what his wife could do, and that he was very particular about what went on with their property. Over time, as we got to the know the couple, the husband would be rather gruff and un-neighborly at times; whilst the wife would exercise hospitality and warmth toward whomever came to their door.

The time came when we got word that the lady's husband had passed away due to a long-standing illness. After mourning his passing, the lady moved to a different house - an apartment. My parents and the lady had gotten to know one another, and so we would visit her. When we went to her home, I noticed she had flowers everywhere! In her former house, conditions were such that she was restricted. But now she was enjoying her new found freedom. She had flowers in her windows, decorative flowers outside her apartment door, flowers on her end-tables - flowers everywhere! No longer was she under the thumb of her controlling husband. She was free to enjoy her love of flowers.

Sin - the Horrible Husband (Spouse)
Romans 7 explores the conflict that exists in the life of the Christian.  Before getting to that main theme, Paul chooses to illustrate the reality of sin and the reality of Christ through the illustration of marriage and how its bonds are severed upon the passing of a spouse.  The theme of "freedom" that we saw in the last post carries on into Romans 7:1-6. In contrast to freedom, Paul lays forth the concept of "slavery". We saw already in Romans 6:20-22 his illustration of these two concepts in the context of the world of slavery, followed by a second illustration of these contrasting principles by way of wages paid to an employee or a soldier in time of service. Paul's point in his contrasting "slavery" and "freedom" is to show the "bad news" (6:20-21) in contrast to "good news (6:22-23)". Remember: the Gospel always begins with the bad news before proceeding to the good news. 

When you and I are born into this world, we are, as it were, wedded to sin.  As we grew and developed, this spouse comes to more and more dominate your life.  In using the analogy of marriage, Paul states that as long as unbelief operates in the human heart, the marriage to the sinful self will become more and more loveless.

Sin's chief function in the life of the unbeliever is that of dominion.  By tracing the argument back to Romans 6:14, we discover that the Christian is set free from the "dominion" or the "necessity" to only sin.  Like a bad marriage, sin abuses, takes over and demands.  In the life of the unbeliever, self is always crying "I want" and never "I'll give".  Sin shouts "mine" and never "His".  Sin will gladly wear a three-piece suit and go to church and be religious, just as long as the cross is not mentioned. 

Christ the Good Husband (Spouse)
Paul teaches that as long as the first "husband" of unbelief is alive in my heart, I am bound to that "bad marriage".  A loveless, lifeless marriage is like a walking death.  This is Paul's point - to show His readers that Good Husband - Christ.  Therefore whenever the Spirit comes calling, I by grace through faith believe and the former life - the former "husband"- is declared legally dead by God.  Death can only be declared at the cross.  

More next time....

True Freedom - Romans 6:20-23

Romans 6:20-7:3 "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Introduction:

Paul's main section on the post-conversion Christian life begins with a preliminary statement on our union with Jesus Christ, the New Adam, in Romans 5:12-21. In Romans 6, we get introduced to the main theme of union with Christ by way of the realities of our Christian identity (a.k.a "Gospel Indicatives") and the responsibilities that follow (a.k.a "Gospel Imperatives"). Paul lays out our Christian identity, our position in Christ, by building up the firm foundation of Gospel indicatives. He uses the language of "in Christ", "through Christ", "into Christ" and so forth to reinforce to his readers who they are and Whose they are. The imperatives (such as "reckon yourselves dead to sin and alive unto God" in Romans 6:11) follow from the indicatives to build our growing experience in Jesus Christ. All of this is Paul's supreme case for the process of sanctification which he will further expound in Romans 7 and 8. 

In today's post, we want to see how Paul layers on another key theme and contrast in his exposition on the post-conversion Christian life - namely "freedom" in Christ as having rescued the Christian from "enslavement" to sin. Paul will develop this key theme by three ways: illustrating such from the world of 1st century Roman slavery (Romans 7:20-22); illustrating the contrast between spiritual freedom and sin's tyranny by way of the world of employment and wages (Romans 6:23) and then thirdly, by how a spouse is freed to marry again once her first husband has passed away (Romans 7:1-6). We will focus upon the first two of these illustrations of true spiritual freedom in contrast to sin's tyranny.
Today's post will consider what it means to have true freedom in Christ, and why being tied to Jesus is the greatest form of freedom there is. 

True Freedom is found under the Lordship of Jesus Christ

It has been said that: "the one who is a slave to the compass will become lord of the seas; but the one who abandons the compass will become a slave to the shoreline." How many of us, if we're truly honest, like being told what to do? None of us do. However, one of the counter-intuitive truths of Christianity is that the more I'm under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the greater amount of spiritual freedom I will have. When we talk of spiritual freedom, I liken it to the amount of enjoyment one has of being a follow of Jesus. 

Jesus Himself talked early on about spiritual freedom in John 8:32 "and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” In Paul's other letters, we find this wonderful theme of spiritual freedom in 2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Or again in Galatians 5:13 "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Again, spiritual freedom has to do with one's level of enjoyment in being a follower of Jesus Christ. Matthew 11:28-29 records Jesus talking about this in the following command: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

Now these passages speak of the interrelationship between Christ's Lordship and spiritual freedom. The more bound I am to Jesus Christ's Lordship, the more enjoyment of the Christian life I will have. To illustrate, lets consider the first-time a man broke the sound barrier.

Chuck Yeager - The first man to break the sound barrier

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager flew an aircraft named "Bell X-1" to break the sound barrier at a velocity of 700 m.p.h. To achieve this feat, Yeager's aircraft was drop launched from the belly of a modified B-29 Superfortress plane, pictured below:



What would had happened if Yeager's plane had not been attached to the much larger one? Yeager's range of freedom in breaking the sound-barrier would had been hindered. 

In the Christian life, the follower of Jesus must be bound-over to the authority of Jesus and His Word if he or she is to ever break the barriers of growth and progress in Christian faith. The gravity of sin and the old life will attempt to drag on us. This is why we read in Romans 6:22-23 "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We must be aware of the enticement and false-advertisements of sin

Paul repeatedly warns us not to give into the beckoning call to the old way of life from whence we were redeemed. The world, the flesh and the devil promise all sorts of freedom. After all, the unbelieving world is convinced that if we would but sever ourselves from the authority of God, we would be free indeed. Psalm 2:1-4 perfectly captures this attitude of sinful man, and God's response to it: "Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them." In the prophetic tapestry of the Bible, Psalm 2 functions as a so-called "Messianic Psalm", meaning that even though the term "anointed" speaks in the immediate context to King David, the ultimate referent is "The Anointed One", i.e - The Lord Jesus Christ. What unbelievers find most objectionable is the claim Christ has on everything. 

However, Paul utilizes the simple imagery of earning wages at a job. We've already seen his use of this in Romans 6:22-23. The Bible Exposition Commentary on Romans 6:20-23 notes the following: 

"If you serve a master, you can expect to receive wages. Sin pays wages—death! God also pays wages—holiness and everlasting life. In the old life, we produced fruit that made us ashamed. In the new life in Christ, we produce fruit that glorifies God and brings joy to our lives. We usually apply Romans 6:23 to the lost, and certainly it does apply; but it also has a warning for the saved. (After all, it was written to Christians.) “There is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:17). “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep” (1 Cor. 11:30, NASB). Samson, for example, would not yield himself to God, but preferred to yield to the lusts of the flesh, and the result was death (Jud. 16). If the believer refuses to surrender his body to the Lord, but uses its members for sinful purposes, then he is in danger of being disciplined by the Father, and this could mean death. (See Heb. 12:5–11, and note the end of v. 9 in particular.)"

Years ago I heard the following saying: "sin will keep longer than you intended to stay and it will cost you more than you intended to pay". Righteousness in Jesus Christ has its wages, its payment, its outcome; and sin has its payday too. In Christ, there is eternal life; when we sin as Christians, a little part of us dies. Only the grace of the Gospel and genuine repentance can rescue us from the snares of sin (see 2 Timothy 2:24-25; 1 John 1:9). 

True spiritual freedom comes by staying lashed to the mast of Christ's Lordship and keeping one's eye on the compass of His Word. As the great commentator John Gill notes in his commentary:

"....a life of the utmost perfection and pleasure, and which will last for ever: and as the grace of God, which justifies and sanctifies them, is through Christ, so is the eternal life itself which it brings unto: this is in Christ, comes through his righteousness, sufferings, and death; is bestowed by him, and will greatly consist in the enjoyment of him."

Indeed, to be bound to the compass of the Master and His authority will afford me the ability to truly enjoy the Christian life, no matter how hard it may get.