So now there is no condemnation for those
Who belong to Christ Jesus!
Romans 8:1 NLT
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at My hands. Put your hand into the wound in My side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” John 20:26-27 NLT.
The number eight implies new beginnings, regeneration, and resurrection, all of which connect Christians to God through the Spirit of Life. God saves us, not because of any works we deem as good, but because of His compassion and mercy. He saves us by the cleansing of the new birth – regeneration – and the renewing of the Spirit of Life, which He has poured out so richly upon us through Christ Jesus our Savior (Titus 3:5-6 AMP).
The Spirit of God gives Life. Our body is of no value for that (John 6:63a ERV). What has been handed down to us and our children is an empty way of life. But God, Who judges each person’s work impartially, chose the Lord from the creation of the world, to redeem His people.
For no one could redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them. Though rich as kings, no one can be ransomed from the penalty of sin with perishable earthly wealth, for a soul is far too precious. Anyway, God’s forgiveness does not come that way. And actually, there is not enough wealth in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul, to keep it out of hell (Psalm 49:708 TLB).
God paid our ransom! Our heavenly Father procured redemption for His people with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect. Through Christ we believe in God, whose Resurrection Power raised Jesus from the dead and glorified Him, so our faith and hope can be found resting securely in our heavenly Father (1 Peter 1:17-21).
At the resurrection of the dead, our mortal body sown perishable, will be raised imperishable; sown in dishonor, but raised in glory; sown in weakness, but raised in power; sown a natural body, but raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. As it is written: The first man Adam became a living being. However, the last Adam, Christ Jesus, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second Man from heaven. Just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the Man from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:42-49).
These things God’s Word tells us are from the Spirit, so they give life (John 6:63b ERV). Therefore, hold firmly to the Word of Life (Philippians 2:16 NLT), for Christ has said, “If you trust Me, you are trusting not only Me, but also God Who sent Me. For when you see Me, you are seeing the One Who sent Me. I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in Me will no longer remain in the dark.”
“I will not judge those who hear Me but don’t obey Me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject Me and My message will be judged on the Day of Judgment by the Truth I have spoken. I don’t speak on My own authority. The Father Who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. And I know His commands lead to eternal life, so I say whatever the Father tells Me to say,” John 12:44-50 NLT.
And we, the children of God, purify ourselves by obeying the Truth so that we have sincere love from the heart. Because we’ve been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God (1 Peter 1:22-23).
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, this fateful dilemma is resolved: When I decide one way, and then act another, at times doing things I absolutely despise. I just don’t understand this about myself. I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it. It becomes obvious God’s command is necessary.
But I need something more! For I know God’s law, but I still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize I don’t have what it takes. I can will it but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it. I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me.
It happens so regularly it’s predictable, The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
The answer, thank God, is that Jesus can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Again, this fateful dilemma is resolved for those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us. We no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of Life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing us from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death (Romans 7:15-8:2 Message).
The mistakes in judgment that we make are meant to reveal to us we need help, we need a Savior! I share God’s Word not only to make Truth known, but so we believe and our soul will trust more and more in the Lord. I can’t tell you how many times I told Jesus I trusted Him, only to take back what I gave Him time and time again.
There are steps that must be taken. Like the first one – Detachment. Letting go of our issues of control by admitting we are powerless over our learned behaviors, over our addictions to people or money or things…, over our compulsions. They cause life and our inner life – thoughts and emotions – to become unmanageable.
The second step brings us Hope: We come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can and will restore order in our life. We can know and experience the peace of God – peace of mind and heart.
Step number three is “God and us.” We have made the decision to turn our life and our will over to the care of God. Though we have many weaknesses of character, God will help us become more and more like His Son. This is not a race to the finish but a marathon until we enter through the Gate of heaven.
Knowing God’s Word, experiencing His kindness and grace and love will open our eyes to the Truth – God is for us! Every good and perfect gift we have in our lives has come to us from our heavenly Father (James 1:17).
There are twelve steps that need to be taken with God, His Word of Truth an His Spirit of Life. The number twelve represents God’s governing power and His divine order. Scripture tells us our heavenly Father is a God of peace and order not confusion and disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33 AMP).
When the Word of Truth is not only known but followed, yes, it will be difficult to retrain ourselves, but the rewards are amazing. God will give us everything we need to help us govern our thoughts and emotions. He brings order into chaos. He brings Hope into hopelessness. He brings joy into despair. He brings forgiveness into condemnation. He brings acceptance into rejection. He works diligently to transform our way of thinking.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6