Grace Abounds; Joined To Another
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We have studied through Romans chapters 1-6 in the last 9 Bible studies. As I have mentioned before Romans is a building block book. The foundation is laid in the first 5 chapters; moving forward Paul begins to teach how to live in victory over sin all of the time! Minus the foundation you have nothing to build on. The just living by faith in Jesus Christ; not trusting in any works of the law or flesh, is the foundation of which I speak. Three great keys shared in the last two weeks: 1. Where sin abounds grace does much more abound. 2. Reckon yourself dead indeed to sin and alive unto God. 3. True believers are slaves of righteousness. Romans 7 begins to build a beautiful picture based upon these truths we have learned. Every believer can live with complete victory over sin!
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Romans 7:1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives? 2 For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
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The law has dominion over a man as long as he lives. If one has not died to sin, as Romans 6 taught us, the law rules over him! If one has surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus, sin does not have dominion over him because he is not under law but under grace. Again a lesson from Romans 6. At first glance chapter 7 seems to wonder off and starts speaking of the marriage of a woman and a man. At a closer look we see building block truths that provide a greater understanding how and why we can walk with victory over sin.
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In God’s economy a wife and husband are bound together for life. It is a covenant entered into before God! As shared in this passage only death releases the woman from her husband. If she joins to another she will be called an adulteress while her husband lives. However, if her husband dies she is free to marry another there is no covenant preventing her to take another husband.
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How does covenant for life apply to us? A man is joined or married to the law as long as he lives; however if that man will die to himself and sin he is freed to be married to another. What every man needs is a legal way to break covenant with the law so he might be married to Jesus. A believer has become dead to the law through the body of Christ
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John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
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Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
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Jesus is the only exclusive way to become dead to the law and alive unto God We as believers are members of Jesus Christ body, of His flesh and of His bones! Notice the tense of the verse in Ephesians 5:30. We become one with Jesus. This whole passage speaks of marriage between a husband and wife yet Paul points out a underlying truth greater than marriage between man and woman. If you are a believer you are in a covenant or shall we say a marriage with Jesus Christ. Those who understand the truth of being joined to Christ are in a position to bear godly fruit. Please understand it is through the body of Christ and what He did at Calvary that brings reconciliation to God.
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Colossians 1:18 And He (Jesus Christ) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight; 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul , became a minister.
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We as believers have victory over sin because Jesus has preeminence! Reconciliation has been given and peace was made through the blood of His cross. Continuing in the faith has a great outcome. Bible faith is the object of your faith being in the work of the cross of Jesus Christ. If the object of your faith is anything else it is not faith built upon the Word of God. Jesus reconciled us in the body of His flesh. There is no other source of reconciliation. If another source is presented to you count it as an accursed doctrine! It is Christ alone! Do not be moved away from the source of reconciliation Jesus Christ! What you believe about Jesus and His finished work at Calvary will determine your destiny!
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Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. 6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
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True believers have been delivered from the law! We died to what we were held by so we could serve in the newness of the Spirit! The greatness of the sacrifice of Jesus can not be over emphasized. The Spirit of God is free to work where the blood of Jesus has been applied!
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Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
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We must eat from the altar of grace and truth. Not the blood of lambs, goats, and bulls, but the blood of the One all the animal sacrifices pointed to! The precious blood of Jesus alone; oh what great and precious sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus must be properly valued and treasured and we dare not offer strange offering upon the alter.
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Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
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Leviticus 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace.
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The Old Testament showed that a great sacrifice was coming. God had a prescribed order to offer sacrifice unto God. Nadab and Abihu offered strange and profane fire of their own making and God’s judgment came upon them. Their offering was not pointing to the one great offering of the Lamb of God; they did not hold God’s prescribed order as important. May we as believers not offer strange fire upon the alter of God. If we sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One. He is the propitiation for our sin and yes the sin of the world. Never approach God with any other offering except the one He has provided for us!
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Genesis 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD." 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
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Both Abel and Cain brought an offering to God; however God only respected one of their offerings. Cain, no doubt, offered the best of his fruits; however it was not God’s prescribed order. It was Cain offering man’s best. God told Cain clearly “If you do well, will you not be accepted?”. Abel brought the animal sacrifice which pointed to a perfect lamb of God coming; Cain brought a sacrifice of fruit of the ground. It was man’s best labor being offered. If your victory over sin is not found in the Lamb of God, sin lies at your door and you will not rule over it.
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1 Samuel 2:17 Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD, for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
1 Samuel 2:29 'Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?'
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Eli was the High Priest. His sons Hophni and Phinehas were doing priestly duties outside of God’s prescribed order. The sacrifice was holy unto the Lord and was to be handled in God’s prescribed way. The young men appropriated the offering of the Lord for their own use. They handled the sacrifice in whatever way they choose to. Their father knew of his son’s ways and did nothing but give them a light rebuke. Eli had the power to remove them from their priestly office but choose not to. God called all three of them into account! “Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offerings”? Their way was making themselves rich yet it was not ministering to the people. They departed from God’s prescribe order for offering sacrifices and offering upon His alter. Things have not changed so much. Religious people have made themselves rich from God’s people. They have left God’s prescribed order for victory; their actions have caused men to abhor the offering and alter of God. This is very dangerous ground to walk on!
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Our covenant has a prescribed order and way to walk in victory. We must ever remain in the blood of the covenant that bring us salvation; it will mold us into His image and by His glory change us. We must worship from the alter from which we have been birthed.
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Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Abounding grace has brought us into a marriage with Jesus Christ. We have been joined by covenant to Him, we are of His flesh and of His bone. Come to His alter be washed with the water of His Word; He loves His bride.
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