SCRIPTURE: Romans 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus pointed out that in order to change the fruit of a tree, you have to change the tree: “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” [Matthew 12:33]. As long a the SOURCE is tainted, the FRUIT will be tainted. As long as our primary identity is the sin nature, the FRUIT of our life will be sin.
Jesus’ death and resurrection has resulted in a change in our SOURCE. Using the illustration of a marriage covenant, death nullifies the agreement. Jesus’ death (and our death with Him) nullifies the relationship between us and the sin nature – it is not longer our primary identity. At the center of our new being, the Spirit of God and Jesus now shapes and directs our lives. Sure, the sin nature still lives in me, but that is not my primary identity. Sure the law of sin and death wars against my mind to deny my new identity – but I am still free. Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, I am free from this body of death. It is not who I am. It’s there like virus, an alien presence that is no longer welcome; but as far as God is concerned, it’s not who I am.
Paul talks about how the law actually provokes the sinful nature. When that is the center of my being, then it doesn’t matter how many times I hear God’s will for my life, I cannot change. The harder I try to fight sin myself, the more I reinforce it. As long as my self-improvement is self-help, it will not work. I cannot beat it myself. Like the law of gravity, sin nature naturally pulls us down. The only way we can overcome the law of (sin) gravity is to overcome it with another law, the laws of thrust and aerodynamics (the Spirit). Like a airplane, it is able to overcome the law of gravity by another law. Doesn’t matter how hard I flap my arms, I cannot fly; but harnessed to this external source of power, I can fly, I can change, I can be free.
Through Jesus, my SOURCE (tree) has been made good. He is in me, therefore I am “good” in Him. Through my union with Him, my sins have been punished, the sinful nature has been crucified. I am free from sin as my master, Jesus is now my Master. I have been empowered by His Spirit, I am with His help able to overcome the lingering effects of sin.
Who am I? I am free, I am forgiven, I belong to Jesus, nothing can separate me from His love. With the confidence and power I take on the law of sin and death still living in me.
PRAYER:
Lord, I am forgiven, I am free. Thank You for this new identity in You!
I am free. I am a new me! I am forgiven. I have been given a new life in Christ Jesus. I am reborn because Christ Jesus has taken away my old self and has given me a new self. It is Christ Jesus I am serving each and every day. I am planted by the streams of living waters as the Psalmist states and He nourishes my whole being to the very core of my life. All for Jesus. May all those who see me be able to read me that it is He whom I serve this day and all of my days – I will serve the living God – who resides within me. WoW!
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.