Note for 20241107 - Romans - Part 08 - A Change of Masters

 

Romans - Part 08

A Change of Masters

The Audio Version of today’s note is advised

The House of Bread · Voice Note for 20241107 - Romans - Part 08 - A Change of Masters

Romans 7:1-25 KJV

[1] 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? [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] 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. [7] What shall we say then? Is the 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. [8] But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. [9] For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. [10] And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. [11] For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. [12] Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. [13] 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. [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] 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. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] 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. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] 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.

Note for 20241107

Let us just quickly clear a word that might be problematic for some. According to the NMV the word, "concupiscence" means a strong lust; passion... (Romans 7:8)

I have written before, there is in us (that is our flesh) that which we must resist, because it does not align with the Spirit of GOD in us. Our conscience thus serves to aid us in the knowledge when we stand in the wrong. The conscience working, usually, in hindsight, while resisting evil that we find in us, aids us to make a different choice than what we may have made in times past. It is when we stand without conscience and without restraint that we are truly on severe perilous ground. For without restraint we might just be given over to sin, even a strong delusion that the wrong we do, is of no harm. As Paul so clearly demonstrates here in the text, in us there are thus two forces at work that are against one another. The one we feed, is the one that will win in us. 

Friends, I have been somewhat concerned about this teaching of Paul for a while, not that it is in error at all, but that in misunderstanding it, the hearer of it might assume that it is okay to sin. Yes, we all fall short of the Glory of GOD, but it should not give rise in us to continue on in wickedness. It is here where we must have a firm grip on the statement of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we must resist the devil and then he shall flee from us. Do we struggle with the devil in a face to face kind of way? No! Thank GOD for that. The struggle is within, giving rise to a force working for our peril in ourselves. As Paul writes, it is in the members of his body, where the flesh demands that which he rather would not do. Maybe now, it will be easier to understand that no flesh can enter into the Kingdom of GOD, and that the Salvation of GOD is of our souls. Which master then will we give occasion to rise in us, sin or Jesus Christ? 

I know, for many like me, the language here may seem complex. But, when we run into such a complexity, it is on us to search out the meaning of the language in the text. This is done best of course, when we lay it in prayer before the Lord, admitting our shortcomings and requesting understanding by the Holy Spirit. To trust, that GOD will lead us to such understanding according to His Will for us. And just to refresh ourselves, it is GOD'S will that none be lost, but all be saved in Jesus Christ. By the Holy Spirit of GOD, we are led in righteousness. 

The comfort in this scripture for me, is that I can read how it is not just me who struggles with this. Paul explains it well. The title, "A Change of Masters" is thus so fitting, because we resist that which the flesh yearns for, by obeying that which comes by the Holy Spirit. 

There is always a rule within us. For the wicked, that rule runs uncontested after this "concupiscence" in the flesh. Understand? There is no remorse in them, that is, until that reckless living leads them into all kinds of trouble. By observance then, we can see the regret not coming for the sin itself, but that they were caught in the acts of sin and now face the consequence of that. Sadly, if there is no change in the masters, much of the sins go uncontained. That leads the Wicked down a path of sin unto death. I always remember the words in the book of Revelation, "...and they repented not..." 

Now, we are not perfect yet, but that day will come for those that trust in the Lord our God and His Son Jesus Christ, our Messiah. A day when we will be brought into perfection and be saved from the sinful nature that is found in the flesh. In other words, the day we leave this flesh of sin behind, and take up the heavenly garments given to us by GOD. We cannot have that then, without walking after it now, here on earth, striving for the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Understand yet? 

The law made demands on man, which man could not perform. So Christ fulfilled the Law, laying His flesh down in atonement for sin. He paid the price of sin, which is death. Now, we can live by our faith in Christ Jesus, that He paid the price for us as the sacrificial Lamb of GOD, our High Priest made the everlasting atonement for us of sin. In that, our sin is forgiven, and confirmed by the fulfillment of the entire law of GOD. That is, that our sin is no longer accounted to us. You see, that is only available to the repenting sinner, the one who knows this struggle within that Paul writes on here. He that gives himself over to sin, goes after the way of the goat that is sent out into the wilderness to Azazel, as we learned in the Law. Those are the ones who rejected the sacrifice by Jesus Christ for their sin. Unrepentant, they cannot have a share in the sacrifice, for they have no faith in the sacrifice for their sin. So will they walk in the wilderness of this world, having no part in the forgiveness of sin. They rejected it. They rejected Christ. They chose a different master, and they will go the way of their master. They are seeds of a different kind, they are led by a contrary and rebellious spirit. 

Now, what is it to love our enemy? Is it not to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all? To declare to all that they do not have to die, for there is Salvation available to all in Jesus Christ. How strange is it then, that those that can afford to sin, have no will for it. They hate it even in themselves. But those who cannot afford to sin, for they are refusing the offering of Jesus Christ, they love sin and hate righteousness, walking in a love of pleasure and this world, without any form of repentance. If you thus love sin, then there is some repenting to be done. Do not be counted among those who would not repent of their iniquity, for that is the way to the second death. 

It is indeed a choice that we have to make. Not just once but every single day, enduring this world until we are redeemed by Christ Jesus our Lord, for the Kingdom of GOD, when we will be perfected and taken to where Christ is.

Now, read Revelation 21 and 22 again. That is the end of the righteous ones of GOD. It starts here though, in the choices that we make each day. There is a change of masters that must occur within us. We can no longer walk after the flesh. No, we must walk after the Holy Spirit of GOD in us. We must make a choice for Christ. 

They that love this world and these fleshly things, they do not want to hear this message. They want a message that permits them to live as they please. They do not know this inner-struggle, because they are living their best life now, here in this world, according to this world and in agreement with all of that which pleases them, unrestrained. 

There must be a change of masters within. Else, we are still heading in the wrong direction. It is my sincere hope that this will help you to make all the right choices we are called to make while we are here in the world. 

Shalom

The House of Bread

Verse of The Day

From the YouVersion Bible App

Romans 8:1 KJV

[1]  There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Note on the Verse

How remarkable is this? This is literally the next verse we will read tomorrow in our reading through Romans.

Do you think there is confirmation then? We live with miracles each day, it just requires us to pay attention to notice them.

How great is our GOD?

Selah, Shalom.