Extract from our Weekly Bulletin

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February 14, 2016

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1

This is one of the most beautiful and impressive passages of the Word of God. It’s not in vain that it has been called the “Golden Rule.”

He gives us the assurance that if we walk according to the Spirit there is no condemnation for us.

However, as in all the Word of God, there is a conditional “If.” We can cite this verse and well there is no condemnation for us, but we must also read what continuous after this, to “those that walk according to the flesh.”

If we go to Galatians 5:16-21 we read about the fruits of the flesh and the spirit;
“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
But if the Spirit leads you, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, faction and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

In these times of so much apostasy (within the church), if we could only comprehend that this law lives within us (the law of the flesh) and as the apostle Paul says: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! 

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

There are works that “WE” must make die.

The Lord is not going to send an angel to us so that He will make the works of the flesh within us die.

But instead He will help us because it says in His Word that “it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose,” but it is us that must be sincere with ourselves and tell the Lord, look at this area, my character, my pride, my wisdom (human), my idolatries (my wife, my husband, my children, my grandsons, my house, my car etc.).

Idolatry is not just about worshipping saints.

There are many things in our lives, which can be an idol and therefore occupies the place that only belongs to God.

To those who have enemies and don’t get along with   people, the Word tells us in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

What a tremendous word!

Are we able to say that my Brother or Sister in Christ is superior to me?

God Bless You,
Ps. Marisa Varjabedian