Romans 7- Fruits of the Flesh or Spirit?

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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. Romans 7:5-6

Jesus said “You will be known by your fruits” (Matthew 7:16) So what did Jesus mean by this? And what fruit are you producing? When people see your life, do they recognize you are a Christian? Or do you look just like the rest of the world? When I hear Christians say “My neighbors or coworkers had no idea I was a Christian” I wonder how can this be? How can you claim to live for Christ and Christ is not seen through you? Fruits are evidence of your conversion, Christ said he can tell by how you are living your life. Are you producing fruits of the flesh or fruits of the Holy Spirit?

As the Apostle Paul states “when we were in the flesh, we bear fruit of death” When we live by the flesh, we are carnally minded and produce fruits of the flesh. The fruits of the flesh, which lead to death by The Law, as we can’t find a way to get out o, f this cycle of sin. As the proverbs says “like a dog that returns to its vomit” (Proverbs 26:11) This is what the carnally minded are like human animals, looking to gratify the flesh and reaping more judgement upon themselves daily

So how can we break this cycle? As Jesus said “You must be Born Again” (John 3:3) Until you are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, you can’t overcome the flesh. As the Apostle Paul states here “serve in the newness of the Spirit” What is the newness of the Spirit? Paul mentions this in Romans 6, “walk in the newness of life” (Romans 6:4) This is regeneration of the Holy Spirit, you have been released by the bondages of the flesh and The Law, you will produce fruits of the Holy Spirit now, the newness of life

This is why Jesus said “a good tree will produce good fruit”, “a bad tree will produce bad fruit” (Matthew 7:17-20) If the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you will produce fruits of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit doesn’t live inside of you, then you will continue produce fruits of the flesh, you are still dead in your sins and not alive in Christ (Ephesians 2)

Through Christ, “we are now delivered from The Law having died to what we were held by” Your old self has been buried with Christ, your new self has been risen with Christ, we are now Born Again in Christ, as a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:7) led by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Romans 7- Freed From The Law

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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. 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. Romans 7:1-4

Jesus said “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36) But what has Christ set us free from? Many don’t realize they are held in bondage under the law, there are only 2 options in this life, you are under the law or you are under grace. But the person will say “I don’t believe in God’ and “I don’t believe in the law” Regardless of what you believe, the reality is “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)  You are under the law, and will be judged by the law unless you are reconciled through Jesus Christ

Why do you think Jesus died on that cross? The sinless lamb of God didn’t die for himself, Christ became flesh to die for the sins of the world (John 1:29) Christ became sin, so we can be declared righteous before God the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus took your place on that cross, yet most people cure and blaspheme the name of The Lord on a daily basis. As the Apostle Paul states “Do you not know brethren, The Law has dominion over a man as long as he lives”

The Apostle Paul , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then uses the example of the covenant of marriage with The Law. As long as a husband or wife is alive, they are legally bound under God to their spouse. Remember what Jesus said “Two become one flesh, let no man separate” (Matthew 19:6) Its the same the unsaved person is bound to The Law. The sinner can deny God all they want, but they are bound to The Law, and when they die they will be judged by The Law, which The Law equals death (Romans 8:2)

So here is the good news (the gospel) as the Apostle Paul states “you have become dead to The Law through the body of Christ” When Jesus said on the cross “It Is Finished” (John 19:30) This is the Greek word “Tetelestai” which mean the debt is paid, paid in full, meaning Jesus paid the penalty of your sins on the cross, it is finished, its a done deal. 

Jesus Christ is the only One who can pay that penalty, this is why Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) Repent of your sins, put your faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, be filled with the Holy Spirit,  and you are free indeed! Amen!

Romans 6- Wages of Sin Is Death

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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 life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:20-23

Why did Jesus die on the cross? At first glance, it doesn’t seem to make sense, the sinless Son of God needs to become flesh and be nailed to a tree. Why would God do this? Well to understand this question, we need to understand our depravity as humans. Jesus willingly became human to be the Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world (John 1:29) Jesus came to save us, because we are unable to save ourselves

As the Apostle Paul states “The wages of sin is death” Go back to the beginning of humanity, Adam and Eve in paradise, God warned them not to partake of the forbidden tree of good and evil, or they will die. (Genesis 2:17) But what was Satan’s response, who has been a liar since the beginning (John 8:44), “You surely won’t die” (Genesis 3:4) The lie that Adam and Eve believed, and is still deceiving the world today. But as God said “The wages of sin is death”

People ask “Why is there so much evil and suffering in the world today”? Well the reason is because of our sin, your sin, my sin, (Romans 5:12) We are living in a fallen world because of the consequences of our sin, not only has sin destroyed our souls but it has destroyed the entire world. “From dust you are, and dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19)

You need to understand the severity of sin and its consequences, the whole world and humanity is under the curse of sin and death. As Jesus said “He who doesn’t believe (In Christ) is condemned already” (John 3:18) Many people like to quote John 3:16, but go a few verses and understand the world needs Jesus, our only hope is in Christ and what He accomplished at the cross

So now that you know the bad news, what is the good news? The rest of the verse “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” In order to understand why Jesus is good news (gospel) we have to understand the bad news. As going back to the garden, God already prepared the way, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed;He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”(Genesis 3:15) 

Jesus said “I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15) Christ gave his life for you, will you live for him today? Amen!

Romans 6- Slave to Sin?

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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 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. Romans 6:15-19

Since we are now saved by Grace, does that mean we can continue to live in sin? This is the hypothetical question the Apostle Paul poses, of course Paul answers “God forbid” or “Certainly Not”. If we have died with Christ, how can our old selves continue to live in sin? As the Apostle Paul states “you are that one’s slave to whom you obey” So who are you a slave to? Christ or Sin? We can’t be slaves to both, you are either living for Jesus or you are living for this world

This idea, that we can be a “Christian” and continue to live as our old self, is a lie and contradiction. Let me ask you, why are you a Christian? Do you want the golden ticket into Heaven? Or have you been called and sanctified by God? I fear there are many false converts in the world, many who claim to be “Christians” yet have never been Born Again, they never have repented of their sins, they never had a relationship with our Lord. As Jesus said “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23)

As the Apostle Paul states “Thanks be to God, though you used to be slaves to sin” This is past tense, as a Christian you are no longer a slave to sin but free in Christ. So what did Jesus save you from? You might say Hell , and that’s true, but Jesus delivered you from all forms of slavery including your sins. Did Jesus free you from drugs and alcohol? Did Jesus free you from sexual immorality? Or are you still slaves to the same sins when you became saved? As Jesus said “If the Son has set you free, you are free indeed” (John 8:36)

Paul continues , under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Having been set free from sin, you become slaves of righteousness” You have been set free from sin in Christ, so why are you still dead in your sins? This should not be brothers and sisters, if the Son (Jesus) has truly set you free, you are free indeed! You are no longer a slave to any of these sins in Christ. Don’t be like Lots wife, who looked back and was destroyed (Genesis 19:26) You are a New Creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7) Sin no longer has dominion over you!

“Offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness which leads to holiness” This is the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, working in and through you, to conform you into the image of Christ, to overcome sin and be obedient to The Lord, Amen!

Romans 6- Who Is Your Master?

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Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield 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. Romans 6:12-14

Why do the Liberals hate the Apostle Paul so much? Well because they hate the One True Living God. The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit states “Don’t let sin reign in your mortal body” This statement alone destroys Liberal Christianity, where there is no mention of sin, no mention of repentance, no mention of the cross, no mention of regeneration. As the Apostle Peter states “Abstain from the desires of the flesh” (1 Peter 2:11)

What does the world tell you? What does the fake liberal Christianity of today tell you? You are born this way, keep living the same lifestyle, God wants you this way. These are all lies from Satan himself. As Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) Do you understand as a Christian, you are crucified with Christ? (Galatians 2:20) If you are crucified with Christ, how can your old man continue to reign?

The Apostle Paul continues “Don’t present your members (body) as an instrument of unrighteousness of sin” If you are a Christian, you belong to The Lord, we were bought with a price! (1 Corinthians 6:20) But you believe you can still present your body for sin with the devil, you are deceived! You can’t partake at The Lords table and sit at the table with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:21) You are doubled minded and unstable in all your ways (James 1:8) Either you are Born Again in Christ, or you a spiritually dead (Ephesians 2)

The Carnal Church wants to feed the flesh, but as a Born Again Christian we must crucify the flesh daily (Galatians 5:24) As the Apostle Paul continues here “Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead” Are you Born Again? Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16) A bad tree cannot produce good fruit, a good tree cannot produce bad fruit (Matthew 7)

Sin shall no longer be your Master (v14) Who is your Master? Is Jesus Christ truly your Lord or is sin your Master? Do you identify in Christ or do you identify in your sin? You are not under the law but under grace! Amen!