|
Walking in the Spirit by Bertie Brits www.dynamicministries.com
|
 |
This is a piece of scripture that can easily be used to condemn people. Paul encourages people to walk by the power of the Spirit and not the power of the flesh. In this he also gives us the key on how to walk in the Spirit. It is all about believing right and not trying to do right in order to please God. I believe that right living is good but the moment we connect conditions to right living we are in trouble like for instance “if you live right then…..”. The moment you connect “if and then” to anything that he spoke in the Word of God you most likely will step into a law mentality. Let's read the scripture and see what Paul has said.
|
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 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.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
|
If we look at verse 12 we can easily be condemned. In our own power we will never get that got it will be almost impossible and bring forth frustration the more we try. The answer lies in verse 14. Paul was writing to people and told them not to have sin reign over their mortal bodies by submitting themselves to grace and not the law.
|
Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
|
In verse 15 the power of the scripture is actually explained. Paul asked if we will sin if we are under grace. Then he made this powerful statement. He said God forbid. If we are under grace we walk by the power of God and not our power. When we are under the law we can walk under our own power and we will have to resist sin by our own power. When you walk under grace the power of God is working in us and through us.
God forbid
|
G1096
Thayer Definition:
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen
|
If we are under grace, God would forbid sin. He will see that it will not find its existence or receive its being in your life. This is absolutely wonderful. Imagine Gods power in your life resisting sin. If you are under the law you are the one that is resisting sin but if you are under grace God is the one that resist sin through you. Shall we continue in sin now that we are under grace? No way because God would forbid it. Amen.
|
Rom 6:16 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?
|
We need to give obedience unto righteousness and not unto sin. This may sound impossible to do but it's actually very easy. The context of this is not that of the law. Obedience in the New Testament is more than just obeying the 10 Commandments. It's all about having faith in Jesus Christ. I believe obedience is necessary in the kingdom of God as long as we don't direct our obedience to the 10 Commandments but the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
|
Rom 6:17 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.
|
You can see in verse 17 what I'm talking about. Are you going to be obedient to the doctrine of grace or the doctrine of do's and don'ts? Obedience is directed to a form of doctrine, a form of teaching. It's all about giving yourself to the doctrine of grace and believing that you have been made righteous by the obedience of Jesus and not your obedience. I am not saying that we are not to walk a holy life. But let holiness be an outflow of the Spirit which indwell you. Don't let it be your human effort to satisfy God.
|
