We are in the struggle between humanity's deliverance and man-kinds bondage as seen through the eyes of Paul to converted Jewish Pharisee and lawyer. The perfect subject of GOD's choosing for this purpose, for remember that none of Jesus' disciples were among the elites higher echelon of Judaism at that time. We are about to come into the area of humanity's joint heir-ship as Christ ones, and the objects of scorn, slander and ridicule the world over to the point of their being put to death because of their individual witness, just as foretold by Jesus himself. When he said, "'They hated Me they'll hate you even more for My names sake!'" Why? Because GOD has judged the world's sin on the old wooden Cross where His Blood was spilled for the world's redemption.
Romans 8:9-11 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26-27; John 3:6). Now if any man have [G2192] not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if [G1487 from G1490] Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." (KJV)
Romans 8:9-11 "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you (Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26-27; John 3:6). Anyone who does not have [G2192] the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if [G1487 from G1490] Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (ESV)
Romans 8:9-11 "But you are not ruled by a flesh-consciousness, (Law of works), but by a spirit-consciousness, (of faith); GOD's Spirit is [1; G2192] at home in you (Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26-27; John 3:6). Anyone who does not see [2] themselves fully [1] clothed and identified in the Spirit of Christ, cannot be [2] themselves. (If anyone does not embrace the Spirit of Christ, they are not themselves. The word [1; G2192] echo means to have in hand, to hold, in the sense of wearing like a garment, to possess in mind, to be closely joined to a person, and [2] hauto is from heauto, means a reflexive relation, himself, themselves. In James 1:24, "for they away from what the mirror reveals, and immediately forget what manner of person they are." also in Romans 1:23, "losing sight of GOD, made themselves lose sight of who they really were. In their calculation the image and likeness of GOD became reduced to a corrupt and distorted pattern of themselves." Look also at Luke 15:17, "The prodigal son came to himself....." [same word is used here, [2]heauto].) The revelation of [1; G1487] Christ in you [1; G1487 from G1490] declares that your body is as good as dead to sin's demands; sin cannot find any expression in a corpse. You co-died together with him. Yet your spirit is alive because of what righteousness reveals. (The word translated, "if" [1; G1487, G1490] de ei , as in "if Christ is in you...." can either be a condition or a conclusion, which makes a vast difference. [1]"If GOD be for us" (v 31) is most certainly a conclusion of the revelation of the Gospel; all of GOD's actions in Christ confirms this fact that He is for us and not against us. Thus, [1]"because GOD is for us...." in the same context this verse reveals that Christ is in us. Look at Galatians 1:16, "it pleased the Father to reveal his Son in me, in order that I might proclaim him in the nations." Look also at Romans 10, "Righteousness by faith says...." ) Our union with Christ further reveals that because the same Spirit that awakened the body of Jesus from the dead inhabits us, we equally participated in his resurrection. In the same act of authority whereby GOD raised Jesus from the dead, he co-restored your body to life by his indwelling Spirit. (Your body need never again be an excuse for an inferior expression of the Christ life, just as it was reckoned dead in Christ's death, it is now reckoned alive in his resurrection. Look at Ephesians 2:5.) We owe flesh nothing." (The Mirror)
Because the last post was so long i am keeping this one short. The LORD willing in our next visit we shall continue into the depth of the "Christ in you," revelation.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Friday, February 8, 2019
The saga of "The Secret of GOD", taken from Romans 7.1 and 8, the renewed mind and our victory as foretold.
We lift off just before entering the struggle between mans natural propensity of sin and the taking over of grace by faith in Love's operations. One of my study Bibles labels this next area as "the conflict of two natures," and rightly so. Just as the parable of the prodigal son has within him his own struggles so does Saul of Tarsus before he became Paul. He states that he went into the wilderness area for a short time of two to three years but does not elaborate on his teachings that he received while there. This leaves us to only guess on his experience, when he discovers the essence of Christ within him. And, oh by the way this chapter also bleeds over into chapter 8 just a bite.
I might warn you this could be quite lengthy.
Romans 7:14-20 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold [G4097] under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." (KJV)
Romans 7:14-20 "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold [G4097] under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." (ESV)
Romans 7:14-20 "We agree that the law (of faith) is spiritual, but because I am [1; G4097] sold like a slave to sin, I am reduced to a mere carnal life. (Spiritual death. The word, [1; G4097] piprasko comes from perao, and means to transport into a distant land in order to sell as a slave. Sin is a foreign land.) This is how the sell-out to sin affects my life: I find myself doing things my conscience does not allow. My dilemma is that even though I sincerely desire to do that which is good, I don't, and the things I despise, I do. It is obvious that my conscience side with the (new) law; which confirms then that it is not really I who do these thins but sin manifesting its symptoms in me. (Sin is similar to a dormant virus that suddenly breaks out in very visible symptoms.) It has taken my body hostage. The total extent and ugliness of sin that inhabits me, reduced my life to good intentions that could not be followed through. Willpower has failed me; this is how embarrassing it is, the most diligent desision that I make to do good, disappoints; the very evil I try to avoid, is what I do. (If mere quality decisions could rescue humanity, the Law would have been enough. Good intentions cannot save someone. The revelation of what happened to us in Christ's death is what brings faith into motion to liberate from within. Faith is not a decision we make to give GOD a chance, faith is the realization of our inclusion in what happened on the Cross, the old wooden stake of the curse, and in the resurrection of Christ! Look again at Romans 3:27.) If I do the things I do not want to do, then it is clear that I am not evil, but that I host sin in my body against my will." (The Mirror)
Romans 7:21-8:8 "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched [G5005] man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (KJV)
Romans 7:21-8:8 "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched [G5005] man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (ESV)
Romans 7:21-8:8 "It has become a predictable principle; I desire to do well, but my mere desire cannot escape the evil presence that dictates my actions. The real person that I am on the inside delights in the (new) law of GOD. (This law proves to be consistent with my inner make-up.) There is another law though, (foreign to my design) the law of sin, activating and enrolling the members of my body as weapons of war against the Law (of works in the conscience of sin) of my mind. I am held captive like a prisoner of war in my own body. It doesn't matter how I [1; G5005] weigh myself I just do not measure up to expectations! The situation is absolutely desperate for humanity; is there anyone who can deliver them from this death trap? (The word [1; G5005] talaiporos occurs only twice in the NT - Romans 7:24 and Revelation 3:17, and both times it is translated wretched!? It has two components [G5007], talanton, which is the word for a scale of balance; that which weighed, a talent; and [G4008 from G3984] poros from peira, to test as in testing the weight of something.) Thank GOD, this is exactly what he has done through Jesus Christ our LORD; he has come to our rescue! I am finally freed from this conflict between the Law (the of works) of my mind and the law of sin in my body. (In the Incarnation, in a human body exactly like ours, Jesus balanced the scales! He is the true measure of the life of our design - he revealed and redeemed the image and likeness of GOD within us as a mirror! Look at Romans 1:16-17, 3:24 and 27.) Now the decisive conclusion is this: in Christ, every bit of condemning evidence against us is cancelled. ("Who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." This sentence was not in the original text, but later copied from verse 4. The person who added this most probably felt that the fact of Paul's declaration of humanity's innocence had to be made subject again to a person's conduct. Religion under the Law felt more comfortable with the condition of personal contribution rather than the conclusion of what faith reveals. The "in Christ" revelation is the key to GOD's dealings with humanity. It is PIN-code of the Bible. Look at 1Corinthians 1:30 and Ephesians 1:4.) The law of the Spirit is the liberating force of life in Christ. This leaves me with no further obligation to the (old) law of sin and death (consciousness). Spirit has superseded the sin enslavement senses as the principle law of our lives. (The law of the spirit is righteousness by faith verses the Law of personal effort and self righteousness which produced condemnation and spiritual death which is the fruit of the DIY tree.) The (Mosaic) Law failed to be anything more than an instruction manual; it had no power to deliver us from the strong influence of sin holding us hostage in our bodies. GOD disguised himself in his Son in this very domain where sin ruled us, in flesh. The body he lived and conquered in was no different to ours. Thus sin's authority in the human body was condemned. (Hebrews 4:15, As High Priest he fully identifies with us in the context of our frail human life. Having subjected it to close scrutiny, he proved that the human frame was master over sin. His sympathy with us is not to be seen as excusing weaknesses that are the result of a faulty design, but rather as a trophy to humanity. he is not an example for us but of us.) The righteousness promoted by the Law is now realized in us. Our practical day-to-day life bears witness to spirit inspiration and not flesh domination. Sin's symptoms are sponsored by the senses, a mind dominated by the sensual. Thoughts betray source; spirit life attracts spirit thoughts. Thinking patterns are formed by reference, either the senual appetites of the flesh and spiritual death, or zoe-life and total tranquillity flowing from a mind addicted to spirit (faith) realities. A mind focused on flesh (the sensual domain where sin held me captive) is distracted from GOD with no inclination to his life-laws. Flesh (self-righteousness) and spirit (faith righteousness) are opposing forces. (Flesh no longer defines you; faith does.) It is impossible for those immersed in the flesh to at the same time accommodate themselves to the opinion, desire and interests of GOD." (The Mirror)
In our next visit, the LORD willing, we shall look at our call to walk in GOD's Faith and Righteousness as restored sons and daughters.
I might warn you this could be quite lengthy.
Romans 7:14-20 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold [G4097] under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me." (KJV)
Romans 7:14-20 "For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold [G4097] under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me." (ESV)
Romans 7:14-20 "We agree that the law (of faith) is spiritual, but because I am [1; G4097] sold like a slave to sin, I am reduced to a mere carnal life. (Spiritual death. The word, [1; G4097] piprasko comes from perao, and means to transport into a distant land in order to sell as a slave. Sin is a foreign land.) This is how the sell-out to sin affects my life: I find myself doing things my conscience does not allow. My dilemma is that even though I sincerely desire to do that which is good, I don't, and the things I despise, I do. It is obvious that my conscience side with the (new) law; which confirms then that it is not really I who do these thins but sin manifesting its symptoms in me. (Sin is similar to a dormant virus that suddenly breaks out in very visible symptoms.) It has taken my body hostage. The total extent and ugliness of sin that inhabits me, reduced my life to good intentions that could not be followed through. Willpower has failed me; this is how embarrassing it is, the most diligent desision that I make to do good, disappoints; the very evil I try to avoid, is what I do. (If mere quality decisions could rescue humanity, the Law would have been enough. Good intentions cannot save someone. The revelation of what happened to us in Christ's death is what brings faith into motion to liberate from within. Faith is not a decision we make to give GOD a chance, faith is the realization of our inclusion in what happened on the Cross, the old wooden stake of the curse, and in the resurrection of Christ! Look again at Romans 3:27.) If I do the things I do not want to do, then it is clear that I am not evil, but that I host sin in my body against my will." (The Mirror)
Romans 7:21-8:8 "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched [G5005] man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (KJV)
Romans 7:21-8:8 "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched [G5005] man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (ESV)
Romans 7:21-8:8 "It has become a predictable principle; I desire to do well, but my mere desire cannot escape the evil presence that dictates my actions. The real person that I am on the inside delights in the (new) law of GOD. (This law proves to be consistent with my inner make-up.) There is another law though, (foreign to my design) the law of sin, activating and enrolling the members of my body as weapons of war against the Law (of works in the conscience of sin) of my mind. I am held captive like a prisoner of war in my own body. It doesn't matter how I [1; G5005] weigh myself I just do not measure up to expectations! The situation is absolutely desperate for humanity; is there anyone who can deliver them from this death trap? (The word [1; G5005] talaiporos occurs only twice in the NT - Romans 7:24 and Revelation 3:17, and both times it is translated wretched!? It has two components [G5007], talanton, which is the word for a scale of balance; that which weighed, a talent; and [G4008 from G3984] poros from peira, to test as in testing the weight of something.) Thank GOD, this is exactly what he has done through Jesus Christ our LORD; he has come to our rescue! I am finally freed from this conflict between the Law (the of works) of my mind and the law of sin in my body. (In the Incarnation, in a human body exactly like ours, Jesus balanced the scales! He is the true measure of the life of our design - he revealed and redeemed the image and likeness of GOD within us as a mirror! Look at Romans 1:16-17, 3:24 and 27.) Now the decisive conclusion is this: in Christ, every bit of condemning evidence against us is cancelled. ("Who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit." This sentence was not in the original text, but later copied from verse 4. The person who added this most probably felt that the fact of Paul's declaration of humanity's innocence had to be made subject again to a person's conduct. Religion under the Law felt more comfortable with the condition of personal contribution rather than the conclusion of what faith reveals. The "in Christ" revelation is the key to GOD's dealings with humanity. It is PIN-code of the Bible. Look at 1Corinthians 1:30 and Ephesians 1:4.) The law of the Spirit is the liberating force of life in Christ. This leaves me with no further obligation to the (old) law of sin and death (consciousness). Spirit has superseded the sin enslavement senses as the principle law of our lives. (The law of the spirit is righteousness by faith verses the Law of personal effort and self righteousness which produced condemnation and spiritual death which is the fruit of the DIY tree.) The (Mosaic) Law failed to be anything more than an instruction manual; it had no power to deliver us from the strong influence of sin holding us hostage in our bodies. GOD disguised himself in his Son in this very domain where sin ruled us, in flesh. The body he lived and conquered in was no different to ours. Thus sin's authority in the human body was condemned. (Hebrews 4:15, As High Priest he fully identifies with us in the context of our frail human life. Having subjected it to close scrutiny, he proved that the human frame was master over sin. His sympathy with us is not to be seen as excusing weaknesses that are the result of a faulty design, but rather as a trophy to humanity. he is not an example for us but of us.) The righteousness promoted by the Law is now realized in us. Our practical day-to-day life bears witness to spirit inspiration and not flesh domination. Sin's symptoms are sponsored by the senses, a mind dominated by the sensual. Thoughts betray source; spirit life attracts spirit thoughts. Thinking patterns are formed by reference, either the senual appetites of the flesh and spiritual death, or zoe-life and total tranquillity flowing from a mind addicted to spirit (faith) realities. A mind focused on flesh (the sensual domain where sin held me captive) is distracted from GOD with no inclination to his life-laws. Flesh (self-righteousness) and spirit (faith righteousness) are opposing forces. (Flesh no longer defines you; faith does.) It is impossible for those immersed in the flesh to at the same time accommodate themselves to the opinion, desire and interests of GOD." (The Mirror)
In our next visit, the LORD willing, we shall look at our call to walk in GOD's Faith and Righteousness as restored sons and daughters.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
The saga of "The Secret of GOD", taken from Romans 7, the renewed mind and our victory as foretold.
We have arrived at the turning point of humanity's greatest resistance to GOD's program of Grace verses the Law of self works, as expressed by Paul, in his using of himself to reveal the struggle that he had within himself. Not knowing the story of the prodigal son. He starts this off like any good lawyer would do by presenting the case of what he believed that Christ accomplished and then working foreword by using himself, to drive his point home. he starts by using the figure of a wife loosing her husband, as the means of separation of the Law from the flesh, to get the ball rolling. All of this is because he began with the Law of Moses as the most pressing of issues then as it remains to this very day because of mans religious blindness. And his not acknowledging that there are indeed two sets of law at work just as there are two covenants. Over the next few days we shall see just how all of this played out for both him and then ourselves. Where they are selves are those who have been baptized by GOD with His Spirit, of promise.
Romans 7:1-3 "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the Law,) how that the Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." (KJV)
Romans 7:1-3 "Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the Law—that the Law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress." (ESV)
Romans 7:1-3 "I write to you in the context of your acquaintance with the Law; you would agree with me that laws are only relevant in this life. A wife is only bound by law to her husband while he lives; any further legal claim he has on her ends with his death. The law would call her an adulteress should she give herself to another man while he has the first husband is still alive. Yet, once he's dead, she is free to be another's wife." (The Mirror)
Romans 7:4-6 "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (KJV)
Romans 7:4-6 "Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the Law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code." (ESV)
Romans 7:4-6 "The very same finality in principle is applicable to you, my Friends and sisters. In the body of Christ you died to the system of the (old Mosaic) Law; your inclusion in his resurrection brought about a new union. Out of this marriage, (faith) now bears children unto GOD. (The first marriage produced sin; righteousness is the child of the new union. In the previous chapter Paul deals with the fact that our inclusion in Christ in his death broke the association with sin; now he reveals that it also broke the association with the system of the Law of works as a reference to righteousness.) At the time when the flesh ruled our lives, the subtle influences of sins which were ignited by the Law, conceived actions within us that were consistent in character with their parent and produced spiritual death. But now we are fully released from any further association with a life directed by the rule of this Law, we are dead to that which once held us captive, free to be slaves to the newness of spirit-spontaneity rather that age old religious rituals, imitating the mere face value of the written code. (The moment you exchange spontaneity with rules, you've lost the edge of romance.) (The Mirror)
Romans 7:7-12, 13 "What shall we say then? Is the (of faith and love) law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the Law: for I had not known lust, except the Law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the Law sin was dead. For I was alive without the Law once: but when the commandment (to Love) came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law (of faith and love) is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." (KJV)
Romans 7:7-12, 13 "What then shall we say? That the (of faith and love) law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the Law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment (to Love) that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law (of faith and love) is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. " (ESV)
Romans 7:7-12, 13 "The Law in itself is not sinful; I am not suggesting that at all. Yet in pointing out sin, the Law was in a sense the catalyst for sinful actions to manifest. Had the (faith and love) law said, "Thou shalt not covet," I would not have had a problem with lust. But the commandment triggered sin into action, suddenly an array of sinful appetites were awakened in me. The (Mosaic) Law broke sin's dormancy. Without this Law I was alive; the (faith and love) law was introduced, sin revived and I died. Instead of being my guide to life, the commandment (to love) proved to be a death sentence. Sin took advantage of the (faith) law and employed the commandment to seduce and murder me. I stress again that the (faith and love) law as principle is holy and so is every individual commandment it contains; it consistently promotes that which is just and good.
How then could i accuse something that is that good to have killed me? I say again, it was not the (faith) law, but sin that caused my spiritual death. The purpose of the (Mosaic) law was to expose sin as the culprit. The individual commandment ultimately serves to show the exceeding extent of sin's effect on humanity." (The Mirror)
The LORD willing, we shall look at the war of conflict between the new law of faith and the sin nature or the conscience's knowledge of good and evil. The very thing that we are admonished to change through the acquired knowledge of the LORD, by eating of the bread of life. For in Deuteronomy 8:3 it states: "He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (ESV) This Jesus repeated as recorded in two synoptic gospels, Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 which read; Matthew 4:4 "But he answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'" and Luke 4:4 "And Jesus answered him, saying, "'It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" both in the ESV.
Romans 7:1-3 "Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the Law,) how that the Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." (KJV)
Romans 7:1-3 "Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the Law—that the Law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress." (ESV)
Romans 7:1-3 "I write to you in the context of your acquaintance with the Law; you would agree with me that laws are only relevant in this life. A wife is only bound by law to her husband while he lives; any further legal claim he has on her ends with his death. The law would call her an adulteress should she give herself to another man while he has the first husband is still alive. Yet, once he's dead, she is free to be another's wife." (The Mirror)
Romans 7:4-6 "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the Law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the Law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." (KJV)
Romans 7:4-6 "Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the Law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code." (ESV)
Romans 7:4-6 "The very same finality in principle is applicable to you, my Friends and sisters. In the body of Christ you died to the system of the (old Mosaic) Law; your inclusion in his resurrection brought about a new union. Out of this marriage, (faith) now bears children unto GOD. (The first marriage produced sin; righteousness is the child of the new union. In the previous chapter Paul deals with the fact that our inclusion in Christ in his death broke the association with sin; now he reveals that it also broke the association with the system of the Law of works as a reference to righteousness.) At the time when the flesh ruled our lives, the subtle influences of sins which were ignited by the Law, conceived actions within us that were consistent in character with their parent and produced spiritual death. But now we are fully released from any further association with a life directed by the rule of this Law, we are dead to that which once held us captive, free to be slaves to the newness of spirit-spontaneity rather that age old religious rituals, imitating the mere face value of the written code. (The moment you exchange spontaneity with rules, you've lost the edge of romance.) (The Mirror)
Romans 7:7-12, 13 "What shall we say then? Is the (of faith and love) law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the Law: for I had not known lust, except the Law had said, "Thou shalt not covet." But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the Law sin was dead. For I was alive without the Law once: but when the commandment (to Love) came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law (of faith and love) is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." (KJV)
Romans 7:7-12, 13 "What then shall we say? That the (of faith and love) law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the Law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment (to Love) that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law (of faith and love) is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure. " (ESV)
Romans 7:7-12, 13 "The Law in itself is not sinful; I am not suggesting that at all. Yet in pointing out sin, the Law was in a sense the catalyst for sinful actions to manifest. Had the (faith and love) law said, "Thou shalt not covet," I would not have had a problem with lust. But the commandment triggered sin into action, suddenly an array of sinful appetites were awakened in me. The (Mosaic) Law broke sin's dormancy. Without this Law I was alive; the (faith and love) law was introduced, sin revived and I died. Instead of being my guide to life, the commandment (to love) proved to be a death sentence. Sin took advantage of the (faith) law and employed the commandment to seduce and murder me. I stress again that the (faith and love) law as principle is holy and so is every individual commandment it contains; it consistently promotes that which is just and good.
How then could i accuse something that is that good to have killed me? I say again, it was not the (faith) law, but sin that caused my spiritual death. The purpose of the (Mosaic) law was to expose sin as the culprit. The individual commandment ultimately serves to show the exceeding extent of sin's effect on humanity." (The Mirror)
The LORD willing, we shall look at the war of conflict between the new law of faith and the sin nature or the conscience's knowledge of good and evil. The very thing that we are admonished to change through the acquired knowledge of the LORD, by eating of the bread of life. For in Deuteronomy 8:3 it states: "He humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." (ESV) This Jesus repeated as recorded in two synoptic gospels, Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4 which read; Matthew 4:4 "But he answered and said, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'" and Luke 4:4 "And Jesus answered him, saying, "'It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" both in the ESV.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
The saga of "The Secret of GOD", taken from Romans 6.2 the renewed mind and our victory as foretold.
We are into Romans 6 where Paul sets himself up for what he reveals in chapter 7 about our own struggles of flesh verses a renewed spirit life within us. So without delaying I will jump right in at verse 12 and continue on as all seems normal and without much comment needed. Keep in mind that by our association with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial, dissension into our hell, resurrection and ascension, we are Now the Righteousness of GOD!
Romans 6:12, 13-14 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield [G3936] ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield [G3936] yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (KJV)
Romans 6:12, 13-14 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
Do not present [G3936] your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present [G3936] yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (ESV)
Romans 6:12, 13-14 "You are under no obligation to sin; it has No further rights to dominate your dead declared body. Therefore let it not entice you to obey its lusts. (Our Union with his death broke our former association with sin. [Colossians 3:3].)
Do not let the members of your body lie around loose and unguarded in the vicinity of unrighteousness, where sin can seize it and use it as a destructive weapon against you; rather place yourself in [1; G3936] readiness to GOD, like someone resurrected from the dead and present your whole person as a weapon of righteousness. (Thus you are reinforcing GOD's grace claim on humanity in Christ; [1; G3936, from G3488 and G2476] paristemi, to place in readiness, in the vicinity of.) Sin was your master while the Law was your measure; Now Grace rules. (The Law revealed your slavery to sin, now grace reveals your freedom from it.) (The Mirror)
Romans 6:15-19 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form [G5179] of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." (KJV)
Romans 6:15-19 "What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard [G5179] of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." (ESV)
Romans 6:15-19 "Being under grace and not under the law most certainly does not mean that you now have a license to sin. As much as you once gave permission to sin to trap you in its spiral of spiritual death and enslavement of you in its dictates, the obedience that faith ignites now, introduces a new rule, rightness with GOD; to this we willingly yield ourselves. (Righteousness represents everything that GOD restored us to---in Christ.) The content of teaching that your heart embraced has set a new [1; G5179] standard to become the [1; G5179] pattern of your life; the grace of GOD ended sin's dominance. (The word, [1; G5179] tupos, means from, a mold. The Doddrich translation translates it as, "the model of doctrine instructs you as in a mold.) Sin once called the shots; now righteousness rules. I want to say it as plainly as possible: you willingly offered your faculties to obey sin, you stained your body with unclean acts and allowed lawlessness to gain supremacy in all your conduct; in exactly the same way, I now encourage you to present your faculties and person to the supremacy of righteousness to find unrestricted expression in your lifestyle. (The Mirror)
Romans 6:20-23 "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting [G166] life. For the wages [G3800] of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal [G166] life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (KJV)
Romans 6:20-23 "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal [G166] life. For the wages [G3800] of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal [G166] life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV)
Romans 6:20-23 "You were sins' slaves without any obligation to righteousness. I know you are embarrassed now about the things you used to do with your body; i mean was it worth it? What reward or return did you get but spiritual death? Sin is a cul-de-sac. (Sin is the worst thing you can ever do with your life!) Consider your life now; there are no outstanding debts; you owe sin nothing, No nothing at all! A life bonded to GOD yields the sacred expression of his character, and completes in your experience [1; G166] what life was always meant to be. (Literally, The life of the Ages, [1; G166] ainios; traditionally translates, "and the end, eternal life.") The reward of the Law is death the gift of grace is life! The bottom line is this: sin employs you like a soldier for its cause and rewards [G3800] you with death; GOD gifts you with the highest quality of life all wrapped up in Christ Jesus our Leader. (A soldier puts his life on the line and all he gets in the meantime is a meager ration of dried fish for is efforts! [G3800, from G3795, which is the base of G3702] opsonion, a soldier's wage, is from opsarion, a piece of dried fish.) (The Mirror)
In our next visit we shall, the LORD willing, start our look at Paul's self evaluation as he reveals it in chapter 7.
Romans 6:12, 13-14 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield [G3936] ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield [G3936] yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (KJV)
Romans 6:12, 13-14 "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.
Do not present [G3936] your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present [G3936] yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (ESV)
Romans 6:12, 13-14 "You are under no obligation to sin; it has No further rights to dominate your dead declared body. Therefore let it not entice you to obey its lusts. (Our Union with his death broke our former association with sin. [Colossians 3:3].)
Do not let the members of your body lie around loose and unguarded in the vicinity of unrighteousness, where sin can seize it and use it as a destructive weapon against you; rather place yourself in [1; G3936] readiness to GOD, like someone resurrected from the dead and present your whole person as a weapon of righteousness. (Thus you are reinforcing GOD's grace claim on humanity in Christ; [1; G3936, from G3488 and G2476] paristemi, to place in readiness, in the vicinity of.) Sin was your master while the Law was your measure; Now Grace rules. (The Law revealed your slavery to sin, now grace reveals your freedom from it.) (The Mirror)
Romans 6:15-19 "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form [G5179] of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." (KJV)
Romans 6:15-19 "What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard [G5179] of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." (ESV)
Romans 6:15-19 "Being under grace and not under the law most certainly does not mean that you now have a license to sin. As much as you once gave permission to sin to trap you in its spiral of spiritual death and enslavement of you in its dictates, the obedience that faith ignites now, introduces a new rule, rightness with GOD; to this we willingly yield ourselves. (Righteousness represents everything that GOD restored us to---in Christ.) The content of teaching that your heart embraced has set a new [1; G5179] standard to become the [1; G5179] pattern of your life; the grace of GOD ended sin's dominance. (The word, [1; G5179] tupos, means from, a mold. The Doddrich translation translates it as, "the model of doctrine instructs you as in a mold.) Sin once called the shots; now righteousness rules. I want to say it as plainly as possible: you willingly offered your faculties to obey sin, you stained your body with unclean acts and allowed lawlessness to gain supremacy in all your conduct; in exactly the same way, I now encourage you to present your faculties and person to the supremacy of righteousness to find unrestricted expression in your lifestyle. (The Mirror)
Romans 6:20-23 "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting [G166] life. For the wages [G3800] of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal [G166] life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (KJV)
Romans 6:20-23 "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal [G166] life. For the wages [G3800] of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal [G166] life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (ESV)
Romans 6:20-23 "You were sins' slaves without any obligation to righteousness. I know you are embarrassed now about the things you used to do with your body; i mean was it worth it? What reward or return did you get but spiritual death? Sin is a cul-de-sac. (Sin is the worst thing you can ever do with your life!) Consider your life now; there are no outstanding debts; you owe sin nothing, No nothing at all! A life bonded to GOD yields the sacred expression of his character, and completes in your experience [1; G166] what life was always meant to be. (Literally, The life of the Ages, [1; G166] ainios; traditionally translates, "and the end, eternal life.") The reward of the Law is death the gift of grace is life! The bottom line is this: sin employs you like a soldier for its cause and rewards [G3800] you with death; GOD gifts you with the highest quality of life all wrapped up in Christ Jesus our Leader. (A soldier puts his life on the line and all he gets in the meantime is a meager ration of dried fish for is efforts! [G3800, from G3795, which is the base of G3702] opsonion, a soldier's wage, is from opsarion, a piece of dried fish.) (The Mirror)
In our next visit we shall, the LORD willing, start our look at Paul's self evaluation as he reveals it in chapter 7.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
The saga of "The Secret of GOD", taken from Romans 6.1, the renewed mind and our victory as foretold.
We are now set up to look at Paul's revelation of our being con-joined to Christ Jesus in the execution of sin in our mortal flesh and indeed that of all of GOD's human forms or humanity, and not just one religious group or sect of humanity. In his approach he by the Holy Spirit sets himself and all to follow in order to come face to face with our unknown slavery to sin, in all of its ugly forms. This is where our victory comes into play by way of a deep revelation of Christ's essence restored within or restored innocence.
Romans 6:7, 8-11, 12 "For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Just as a wife is freed from her husband once he has died.)
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once [G2178]: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (KJV)
Romans 6:7, 8-11, 12 "For one who has died has been set free from sin.(Just as a wife is freed from her husband once he has died.)
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once [G2178] for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." (ESV)
Romans 6:7, 8-11, 12 "If nothing else stops you from doing something wrong, death certainly does. (Just as a wife is freed from her husband once he has died.)
Faith sees us joined in his death and alive with him in his resurrection. It is plain for all to see that death lost its dominion over Christ in his resurrection; he need not ever die again to prove a further point.His appointment with death was [1; G2178] once-off. As far as sin is concerned, he is dead. The reason for his death was to take away the sin of the world; his life now exhibits our union with the life of GOD. (The Lamb of GOD took away the sin of the world; [1; G2178 from G1909 and G530] efapax, once and for all, a final testimony, used of what is so done to be of perpetual validity and never needs repetition. This is the final testimony of the fact that sin's power over humanity is destroyed. In Hebrews 9:26, "But Jesus did not have to suffer again and agian since the fall (or since the foundation) of the world; the single sacrifice of himself in the fulfillment of history now reveals how he has brought sin to naught." "Christ died once, and faced our judgment! His second appearance (in his resurrection) has nothing to do with sin, but to reveal salvation unto All who eagerly embrace him [Hebrews 9:28]." ) This reasoning is equally relevant to you. [1] Calculate the Cross; there can only be one logical conclusion: he died your death; that means you died to sin, and are now alive to GOD. Sin-consciousness can never again feature in your future! You are in Christ Jesus; his Lordship is the authority of this Union. (We are not being presumptuous to reason that we are in Christ! "[1] Reckon yourselves therefore dead to sin." The word, [1] logitsomai, means to make a calculation to which there can only be one logical conclusion. [Look at Ephesians 1:4 and 1Corinthians 1:30].
"From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; GOD speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to GOD. That's what Jesus did!" )
You are under no obligation to sin; it has no further rights to dominate your dead declared body. Therefore let it not entice you to obey its lusts. (Your union with his death broke the association with sin [Colossians 3:3] ) (The Mirror)
Until next time, the LORD willing, when we shall look again at verse 12 before moving on.
Romans 6:7, 8-11, 12 "For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Just as a wife is freed from her husband once he has died.)
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once [G2178]: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof." (KJV)
Romans 6:7, 8-11, 12 "For one who has died has been set free from sin.(Just as a wife is freed from her husband once he has died.)
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once [G2178] for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." (ESV)
Romans 6:7, 8-11, 12 "If nothing else stops you from doing something wrong, death certainly does. (Just as a wife is freed from her husband once he has died.)
Faith sees us joined in his death and alive with him in his resurrection. It is plain for all to see that death lost its dominion over Christ in his resurrection; he need not ever die again to prove a further point.His appointment with death was [1; G2178] once-off. As far as sin is concerned, he is dead. The reason for his death was to take away the sin of the world; his life now exhibits our union with the life of GOD. (The Lamb of GOD took away the sin of the world; [1; G2178 from G1909 and G530] efapax, once and for all, a final testimony, used of what is so done to be of perpetual validity and never needs repetition. This is the final testimony of the fact that sin's power over humanity is destroyed. In Hebrews 9:26, "But Jesus did not have to suffer again and agian since the fall (or since the foundation) of the world; the single sacrifice of himself in the fulfillment of history now reveals how he has brought sin to naught." "Christ died once, and faced our judgment! His second appearance (in his resurrection) has nothing to do with sin, but to reveal salvation unto All who eagerly embrace him [Hebrews 9:28]." ) This reasoning is equally relevant to you. [1] Calculate the Cross; there can only be one logical conclusion: he died your death; that means you died to sin, and are now alive to GOD. Sin-consciousness can never again feature in your future! You are in Christ Jesus; his Lordship is the authority of this Union. (We are not being presumptuous to reason that we are in Christ! "[1] Reckon yourselves therefore dead to sin." The word, [1] logitsomai, means to make a calculation to which there can only be one logical conclusion. [Look at Ephesians 1:4 and 1Corinthians 1:30].
"From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; GOD speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to GOD. That's what Jesus did!" )
You are under no obligation to sin; it has no further rights to dominate your dead declared body. Therefore let it not entice you to obey its lusts. (Your union with his death broke the association with sin [Colossians 3:3] ) (The Mirror)
Until next time, the LORD willing, when we shall look again at verse 12 before moving on.
Monday, February 4, 2019
The saga of "The Secret of GOD", taken from Romans 5.2, 6, the renewed mind and our victory as foretold.
Now for the understanding that is fostered by religious men the world over but remains a puzzle to them, a believer is dead to sin yet alive to GOD. Not taking GOD at His word is the crux of the problem. That said lets finish chapter 5 and move on into 6 at the same time.
Romans 5:18-6:7 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made (G2525) sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the Law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (KJV)
Romans 5:18-6:7 "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made (G2525) sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin." (ESV)
Romans 5:18-6:7 "The conclusion is clear: if one offence condemns the entire human race; then in principle, the righteousness of one vindicates the entire human race. The disobedience of the one [1; G2525] exhibits humanity as sinners; the obedience of another exhibits humanity as righteous. (The word, [1, G2525, is from G2596 and G2476] kathistemi, means to cause to be, to set up, to exhibit. We were not made sinners by our own disobedience; neither were we made righteous by our own obedience.) The presence of the Law made no difference, instead it merely highlighted the offence; but where sin increased, grace superseded it. Death provided sin its platform and power to reign from; now grace has taken over sovereignty through righteousness to introduce unthreatened life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ over us. It is not possible to interpret grace as a cheap excuse to continue in sin. It sounds to some that we are saying, "Let's carry on sinning then so that grace may abound." (In the previous chapter Paul expounds the heart of the gospel by giving us a glimpse of the far-reaching faith of GOD; even at the risk of being misunderstood by the legalistic mind he does not compromise the message or its meaning.) How ridiculous is that! How can we be dead and alive to sin at the same time? What are we saying then in baptism, if we are not declaring that we understand our union with Christ in his death? Baptism pictures how we were co-buried together with Christ in his death; then it powerfully illustrates how in GOD's mind we were co-raised with Christ into a new lifestyle. (Hosea 6:2) We were like seeds planted together in the same soil, to be co-quickened to life. If we were included in his death we are equally included in his resurrection. (2Corinthains 5:14-17) We perceive that our old lifestyle was co-crucified together with him; this concludes that the vehicle that accommodated sin in us, was scrapped and rendered entirely useless. Our slavery to sin come to an end. If nothing else stops you from doing something wrong, death certainly does." (The Mirror)
Next time, the LORD willing, we shall look further into our recognition of sins deadness.
Romans 5:18-6:7 "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made (G2525) sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the Law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (KJV)
Romans 5:18-6:7 "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made (G2525) sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin." (ESV)
Romans 5:18-6:7 "The conclusion is clear: if one offence condemns the entire human race; then in principle, the righteousness of one vindicates the entire human race. The disobedience of the one [1; G2525] exhibits humanity as sinners; the obedience of another exhibits humanity as righteous. (The word, [1, G2525, is from G2596 and G2476] kathistemi, means to cause to be, to set up, to exhibit. We were not made sinners by our own disobedience; neither were we made righteous by our own obedience.) The presence of the Law made no difference, instead it merely highlighted the offence; but where sin increased, grace superseded it. Death provided sin its platform and power to reign from; now grace has taken over sovereignty through righteousness to introduce unthreatened life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ over us. It is not possible to interpret grace as a cheap excuse to continue in sin. It sounds to some that we are saying, "Let's carry on sinning then so that grace may abound." (In the previous chapter Paul expounds the heart of the gospel by giving us a glimpse of the far-reaching faith of GOD; even at the risk of being misunderstood by the legalistic mind he does not compromise the message or its meaning.) How ridiculous is that! How can we be dead and alive to sin at the same time? What are we saying then in baptism, if we are not declaring that we understand our union with Christ in his death? Baptism pictures how we were co-buried together with Christ in his death; then it powerfully illustrates how in GOD's mind we were co-raised with Christ into a new lifestyle. (Hosea 6:2) We were like seeds planted together in the same soil, to be co-quickened to life. If we were included in his death we are equally included in his resurrection. (2Corinthains 5:14-17) We perceive that our old lifestyle was co-crucified together with him; this concludes that the vehicle that accommodated sin in us, was scrapped and rendered entirely useless. Our slavery to sin come to an end. If nothing else stops you from doing something wrong, death certainly does." (The Mirror)
Next time, the LORD willing, we shall look further into our recognition of sins deadness.
Sunday, February 3, 2019
The saga of "The Secret of GOD", taken from Romans 5.1, the renewed mind and our victory as foretold.
Picking the flow back up with verse 6 in Chapter 5 of Romans with "the results of our justification" or "peace with GOD through our faith," as this area has been subtitles in two of my study Bible translations, before we look at "death by Adam and Life in Christ." Oh, the power of suggestion at times is so overwhelming.
Romans 5:6-11 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled (G2644) to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (KJV)
Romans 5:6-11 "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled (G2644) to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (ESV)
Romans 5:6-11 "GOD's timing was absolutely perfect; humanity was at their weakest when Christ died their death. (We were bankrupt and naked in our efforts to save ourselves.) It is most unlikely that someone will die for another person, even if they are righteous; yet it is remotely possible that someone can brave such devotion that one would actually lay down one's own life in an effort to save the life of an extraordinary good person. Herein is the extremity of GOD's Love gift: humanity was rotten to the core when Christ died their death. If GOD could love us that much when we were ungodly and guilty, how much more are we free to realize his love now that we are declared innocent by his blood? (GOD does not love us more now that we are reconciled to him; we are now free to realize how much he loves us all along! [Colossians 2:14 and Romans 4:25] ) Our hostility and indifference towards GOD did not reduce his love for us; he saw equal value in us when he exchanged the life of his Son for ours. Now that the act of [1; G2644] reconciliation is complete, his life in us saves us from the gutter-most to the uttermost. (Reconciliation, is from [1; G2644, from G2596 and G236] katallasso, meaning a mutual exchange of equal value. The Thrayer's definition: to exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."---RSV ) Thus, our joyful boasting in GOD continues; Jesus Christ has made reconciliation a reality.: (The Mirror)
Romans 5:12-14, 15-17 "Wherefore, as by one man sin [G266] entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law (Genesis 4:7-11, 6:5-6, 6:11, 8:21, 13:13, 18:20, 19:4, 19:32, 19:36, 38:7, 38:10) sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 4:15; 1Corinthians 15:56; 1John3:4, 14). Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression [G3847], who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence [G3900], so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead [G599], much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" (KJV)
Romans 5:12-14, 15-17 "Therefore, just as sin [G266] came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression [G3847] of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass [G3900]. For if many died [G599] through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." (ESV)
Romans 5:12-14, 15-17 "One person opened the door to [1; G266] sin. Sin introduced (spiritual) death. Both sin and death had a global impact. No one escaped its tyranny. (The word translated sin, is the word [1; G266, from G264, from G1 and G3313] hamartia, and it is from ha, a negative and meros, portion or form, thus to be without your allotted portion or without form, pointing to a disorientated, distorted identity; the word meros , is the stem of morphe, as in 2Corinthians 3:18. Where the word [change, G3339 is from G3326 and G3445 with G3444] metamorphe, is used with form, is the opposite of hamartia - without form. Sin is to live out of context with the original blueprint of one's design; to behave out of tune with GOD's original harmony.) The Law did not introduce sin; it was just not pointed out yet. In the mean time death dominated everyone's lifestyle, from Adam till Moses, (2500 years before the Law was given) no one was excluded; even those whose sins were different from Adam's. The fact is that Adam's [1; G3847] deviation set sin into motion - what happened to humanity because of one man, Adam, is in principle typical of what was about to happen to the same humanity because of the one man, Jesus! (Paul now employs a word that only he uses in his epistles [x9] (G3847) parabasis instead of the usual word for sin, hamartia - parabasis has two components, (G3844 and G939) para, which points to a close proximity/union and bainos, step, footprint - in this sense, a deviation; out of step - out of sync. In Adam humanity became out of sync with their true identity but didn't know it until the Law revealed it - in Christ the same humanity became exceedingly righteous but humanity does not realize it until the gospel reveals it.)
The only similarity in the comparison between the [1; G3900] crash-landing and the gift, is that both Adam and Christ represent the masses. However, the grace gift lavished upon humanity in the one man Jesus Christ supersedes the effect of Adam's failure by far and is beyond comparison in significance to the idea of [2; G599] death and separation. ( Now Paul introduces the word [1; G3900, from G3844 and G4098] paraptoma, which is from para closest possible proximity and pipto, to descend from a higher place to a lower - to stop flying. No wonder he urges us in Colossians 3:1-3 to engage our thoughts with the things that are above, where we are co-elevated and jointly enthroned in the heavenliest together with Christ! The word [2; G599 and G575] apothnesko, death, suggests a separation; and it is from apo, meaning any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed; also of a state of separation and distance. The word [G2348], thnesko means death.
"But GOD's free gift immeasurably outweighs the transgression. For if through the transgression of the one individual the masses of humanity have died, infinitely greater is the generosity wherewith GOD's grace, and the gift given in his grace which found expression in the one man Jesus Christ, have been bestowed on the mass of humanity."---Weymouth, 1912. ) The principle of the gift speaks a different language and brings a radically different equation to the table. Whereas a single sin resulted in a judgment that concluded in condemnation; grace translates countless deviations into acquittal and innocence. Death no longer has the final say. Life rules! If the effect of one man's crash-landing engaged humanity in a death-dominated lifestyle how much more advantage is the very same humanity now that they are the recipients of the boundless reservoir of grace, empowering them to enjoy the dominion of life through the gift of righteousness because of that one man, Jesus Christ. Grace is out of all proportion in superiority to the transgression. (No, grace is not something you qualify for by receiving it! Grace already belongs to humanity without their permission! The words oi lambanontes do not mean, to believing accept, but simply the recipients! [the Present Active Participle Nominative] The word persseia, means super abundantly; that which exceeds all boundaries. Of course it doesn't take faith out of the equation! It gives context to faith! Look at verses 1&2. Faith isn't what you do in order to; it's what happens to you because of it!)
Until next time where we shall finish the last few verses the LORD willing.
Romans 5:6-11 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled (G2644) to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (KJV)
Romans 5:6-11 "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled (G2644) to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (ESV)
Romans 5:6-11 "GOD's timing was absolutely perfect; humanity was at their weakest when Christ died their death. (We were bankrupt and naked in our efforts to save ourselves.) It is most unlikely that someone will die for another person, even if they are righteous; yet it is remotely possible that someone can brave such devotion that one would actually lay down one's own life in an effort to save the life of an extraordinary good person. Herein is the extremity of GOD's Love gift: humanity was rotten to the core when Christ died their death. If GOD could love us that much when we were ungodly and guilty, how much more are we free to realize his love now that we are declared innocent by his blood? (GOD does not love us more now that we are reconciled to him; we are now free to realize how much he loves us all along! [Colossians 2:14 and Romans 4:25] ) Our hostility and indifference towards GOD did not reduce his love for us; he saw equal value in us when he exchanged the life of his Son for ours. Now that the act of [1; G2644] reconciliation is complete, his life in us saves us from the gutter-most to the uttermost. (Reconciliation, is from [1; G2644, from G2596 and G236] katallasso, meaning a mutual exchange of equal value. The Thrayer's definition: to exchange, as coins for others of equivalent value. "For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."---RSV ) Thus, our joyful boasting in GOD continues; Jesus Christ has made reconciliation a reality.: (The Mirror)
Romans 5:12-14, 15-17 "Wherefore, as by one man sin [G266] entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law (Genesis 4:7-11, 6:5-6, 6:11, 8:21, 13:13, 18:20, 19:4, 19:32, 19:36, 38:7, 38:10) sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 4:15; 1Corinthians 15:56; 1John3:4, 14). Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression [G3847], who is the figure of him that was to come.
But not as the offence [G3900], so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead [G599], much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)" (KJV)
Romans 5:12-14, 15-17 "Therefore, just as sin [G266] came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression [G3847] of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass [G3900]. For if many died [G599] through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." (ESV)
Romans 5:12-14, 15-17 "One person opened the door to [1; G266] sin. Sin introduced (spiritual) death. Both sin and death had a global impact. No one escaped its tyranny. (The word translated sin, is the word [1; G266, from G264, from G1 and G3313] hamartia, and it is from ha, a negative and meros, portion or form, thus to be without your allotted portion or without form, pointing to a disorientated, distorted identity; the word meros , is the stem of morphe, as in 2Corinthians 3:18. Where the word [change, G3339 is from G3326 and G3445 with G3444] metamorphe, is used with form, is the opposite of hamartia - without form. Sin is to live out of context with the original blueprint of one's design; to behave out of tune with GOD's original harmony.) The Law did not introduce sin; it was just not pointed out yet. In the mean time death dominated everyone's lifestyle, from Adam till Moses, (2500 years before the Law was given) no one was excluded; even those whose sins were different from Adam's. The fact is that Adam's [1; G3847] deviation set sin into motion - what happened to humanity because of one man, Adam, is in principle typical of what was about to happen to the same humanity because of the one man, Jesus! (Paul now employs a word that only he uses in his epistles [x9] (G3847) parabasis instead of the usual word for sin, hamartia - parabasis has two components, (G3844 and G939) para, which points to a close proximity/union and bainos, step, footprint - in this sense, a deviation; out of step - out of sync. In Adam humanity became out of sync with their true identity but didn't know it until the Law revealed it - in Christ the same humanity became exceedingly righteous but humanity does not realize it until the gospel reveals it.)
The only similarity in the comparison between the [1; G3900] crash-landing and the gift, is that both Adam and Christ represent the masses. However, the grace gift lavished upon humanity in the one man Jesus Christ supersedes the effect of Adam's failure by far and is beyond comparison in significance to the idea of [2; G599] death and separation. ( Now Paul introduces the word [1; G3900, from G3844 and G4098] paraptoma, which is from para closest possible proximity and pipto, to descend from a higher place to a lower - to stop flying. No wonder he urges us in Colossians 3:1-3 to engage our thoughts with the things that are above, where we are co-elevated and jointly enthroned in the heavenliest together with Christ! The word [2; G599 and G575] apothnesko, death, suggests a separation; and it is from apo, meaning any kind of separation of one thing from another by which the union or fellowship of the two is destroyed; also of a state of separation and distance. The word [G2348], thnesko means death.
"But GOD's free gift immeasurably outweighs the transgression. For if through the transgression of the one individual the masses of humanity have died, infinitely greater is the generosity wherewith GOD's grace, and the gift given in his grace which found expression in the one man Jesus Christ, have been bestowed on the mass of humanity."---Weymouth, 1912. ) The principle of the gift speaks a different language and brings a radically different equation to the table. Whereas a single sin resulted in a judgment that concluded in condemnation; grace translates countless deviations into acquittal and innocence. Death no longer has the final say. Life rules! If the effect of one man's crash-landing engaged humanity in a death-dominated lifestyle how much more advantage is the very same humanity now that they are the recipients of the boundless reservoir of grace, empowering them to enjoy the dominion of life through the gift of righteousness because of that one man, Jesus Christ. Grace is out of all proportion in superiority to the transgression. (No, grace is not something you qualify for by receiving it! Grace already belongs to humanity without their permission! The words oi lambanontes do not mean, to believing accept, but simply the recipients! [the Present Active Participle Nominative] The word persseia, means super abundantly; that which exceeds all boundaries. Of course it doesn't take faith out of the equation! It gives context to faith! Look at verses 1&2. Faith isn't what you do in order to; it's what happens to you because of it!)
Until next time where we shall finish the last few verses the LORD willing.
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