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Romans 7:5-6
The Apostle Paul teaches us in Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV), “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” In today’s passage of Romans 7:5 Paul teaches us that these are the things in which the sinful nature/passions lead us to do. These things only lead to death.
But the good news that Paul teaches us in Romans 7:6 is that, in Christ, we have been delivered from these things/this way of life. He teaches us that we have died to the way of life led by the sinful nature, and have been given a new life in Christ. This new life in Christ Jesus is a Holy Spirit filled/led life which teaches/leads us to live not in the sinful nature but in the newness of the Spirit (Romans 7:6) which has fulfilled the law and set us free from it – in Christ.
This is the transition from the old life in the sinful nature to the new life in the Holy Spirit of God.
We have learned that we have died to the sinful nature with Christ and have been raised to a new life with Him that we declare through baptism (Romans 6:4). We should now be living a life that is reflective of Jesus. Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV), “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” We should no longer be reflective of the sinful things in which we once lived in bondage/slavery to, but be reflective of the new life in which God has given us His Holy Spirit to guide/lead us in. Paul teaches us in Galatians 5:22-25 (HCSB), “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.”
Dear LORD,
Thank You for the new life that You have given us through salvation in Christ Jesus. Thank You for giving us Your Holy Spirit to guide us to living in reflection of Christ Jesus. Please help us to see that in Christ, we are to live a new life renewed in Your Holy Spirit and reflective of things such as, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-25). In Jesus name I pray, amen.