Romans…Paul had it going on!

We are in the book of Romans this week in our bible study. Chapters 6 through 11 to be exact.

As I read and studied there was just so much to chew on in just a few short chapters.

RO 7:14 – 19

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

This happens to me all the time. How bout y’all? The very thing I do not want to do is the thing I end up doing. I will say to myself before I go to be that I will get up early and go down the the workout room and get my 45 minutes in on the treadmill, then the morning comes and it is so warm and snuggly in my bed and the house is cold and dark and I tell myself just five more minutes, I’ll get up then. Needles to say did I do it this morning. I think you can guess what happened.

RO 8:5 – 8

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

This one really spoke to me. Living according to the spirit or living according to what my bent towards sin dictates. “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

If I allow my sinful nature free reign in my life I can never please God.

RO 8:22 – 27

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Like I said, Romans is jam packed with verse after verse that bring a huge spiritual impact.

I go from looking at my sinful nature to examining my hope in Christ. Paul's words are so very true. I do not hope for things that I already have. More to the point I am usually disregarding them and looking to what I want next. 

Then there is the part about patiently waiting. I can honestly say that patient waiting is not always the easiest thing to do. Especially when things seem to maintain the status quo for a very long time. As believers we (or me) must maintain that hope and continue to pray because He who searches our heart knows what is best.

And then comes Romans 8:26.

It has been a standing stone for me for more years that I can count. Too many times have I been at a place were words failed and I was wrapped in the assurance that the Holy Spirit would intercede for me with groans that words can not express.

Thank You Jesus!

So I will close with these verses.

RO 8:28 – 39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

  "For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Y’all God is so good!

and like it says in 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Blessings

Robin