Grace Abounds: Abba Father Is Our Cry

Grace abounding brings us the right to cry our Abba, Father! What sweet communion God has provided for His children.

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Grace Abounds: Abba Father Is Our Cry

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Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

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How great is the grace of God! From no condemnation to an “Abba, Father” relationship. God’s divine influence upon the heart brings this sweet fellowship with God. True salvation is always rooted in true fellowship with God! The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set the believer free from the spirit of bondage and the chains of fear that bind. Salvation’s quality, Jesus saves us to the uttermost.

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Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

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Freedom from sin and condemnation is so great! Our righteousness that is like filthy rags is traded for the righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself.

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2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

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We are changed from slaves of sin to becoming a member of the household of faith. Sons and daughters which belong in the house.

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John 8:35 "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

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If the Son has set you free you are free indeed! Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace.

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Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

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This grace message that brings us to adoption where by we can cry “Abba Father” brings us great hope. The true gospel message is the reconciliation between God the Father and man. Because of Jesus and the work of Calvary we too can cry out “Abba Father” Abba is a word that is an expression. Have you ever been around a newborn with her child. By the expression of the babies cry the mother knows what to do. The Father has such a heart for you that your very expression and sigh moves the Father’s heart. Some have said that we may cry daddy, daddy. It is the intimacy that can not be missed between a loving God and one He has made His own.

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Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

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The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit! We must learn to renew the mind to be in agreement with what the Spirit of God witnesses to our spirit! The greater degree we renew our mind will be the greater degree we will know how to walk as heirs and joint heirs with Christ. Just as Christ suffered in the body we to must reckon our bodies dead indeed to sin and alive unto God.

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Does this speak of sinless perfection for every believer? Yes, the perfect sinless perfection of Jesus Christ and there is no other! However, we as believers, as long as we have these mortal bodies, will have the propensity to sin. It goes back to rightly dividing the Word of God! The spirit of man joined back to the Spirit of God, the soul of man begins the process of renewing the mind, and the body of man waiting for the final redemption. Reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin and alive unto God, based upon the eternal work of Jesus Christ.

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Ephesians 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

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Victory over sin is not elusive! We must learn to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ! The Spirit of the Lord always leads us into triumph. We have been joined back to God, Spirit to spirit for the very purpose of following the leading of the Spirit of God. Our decision making in life must be based upon the truth that Jesus has set us free from sin! Knowing freedom from sin is the abundant life Jesus said He came to bring. Belonging to God gives you the right to cry out Abba Father; this brings a confidence over every ploy of the enemy.

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1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

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Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

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Grace abounds: we can cry out Abba Father! We have access into the throne room of God itself. However that does not guarantee a trouble free, no problem life. However it does promise us a great payment with the greater glory of God in due time.

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2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

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While the redemption of our spirit is complete and there will always be a work in progress in our soul, our bodies are indeed waiting for that great final redemption. This promise of glory far outweighs any troubles or heartaches this life may bring. We have God’s Word on it!

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Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

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Those of us who have been born again eagerly are waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our bodies. What a day it will be when our mortal bodies shall put on immortality.

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1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Our mortal bodies will one day put on a new body. The perfected work in our spirit will be matched with the final redemption of a incorruptible body. We shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Your victory is in Jesus Christ. It always has been and always will be!

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This grace abounding gives us the liberty to cry out Abba Father! The blessed hope we have is because of the Father’s love for us.

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Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

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We serve a good God who has plans of great success and hope for you! Us leaning to lean upon His everlasting arms brings Him pleasure. Grace abounding was God’s plan to over turn the powers of darkness. Grace abounding is our security and anchor for our soul!

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Grace Abounds; No Condemnation

Grace abounds; No Condemnation. The grace of God is so great it can break every bondage the enemy may have over you it begins with the no condemnation message.

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Grace Abounds; No Condemnation

Romans 7:25 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. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

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Sometimes chapter numbers and verse numbers can be cumbersome to our understanding to the Word of God. We should always we remember the chapter and verse numbers were added hundreds of years later. One should never assume verse and chapter separation is the way to gain understanding of the Word. In fact, this is one case I believe if relying upon the numbering we could very well miss the whole of the message.

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If you remember last week’s Bible Study we showed the difference between spirit, soul, and body of man. At salvation we gained a new creation in us, being joined to God Spirit to spirit. Our souls begins a transformation that never ends and our bodies await that final redemption. Paul in Romans 7:25 talked about the two laws. One is the law of Moses and one is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. When we have come to Jesus we have been set free from the law of sin and death. We are now joined to Christ Jesus; being joined to Jesus brings us into the covenant of no condemnation!

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John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

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Believing in the precious name of Jesus Christ is where the condemnation is lifted. The bible has set the standard high for the defining of “believe”. It is greater than recognizing Jesus as Messiah; it is surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If the object of your faith is exclusively in Jesus and His atoning work at the cross you have found the way to victory. Those who truly believe have passed from death unto life. He who believes in Jesus is not condemned! He who believes in Jesus is not condemned. Repeated purposefully! Condemnation is lifted at faith in Jesus Christ.

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Paul testimony in Romans 7:25 was he found his victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 8:1 starts with “There is therefore…” We must consider the therefore to understand the stated truth. The therefore was all of the building blocks laid in the letter from Romans 1 to Romans 8. The just shall live by faith, righteousness can only come through faith in Jesus Christ, sin is not imputed to those who have entered this covenant of faith, through faith we have the how much the more covenant, we are slaves to righteousness, and we are married to Jesus. Because of the these truths there is now no condemnation.

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Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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Now no condemnation! At the point of faith in Jesus the condemnation is lifted. Who are the ones who do not walk according to the flesh? Let’s go to the Word itself to define the who!

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Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

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1 Corinthians 12:3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

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The confession of faith that Jesus is our Lord, is a work of the Holy Spirit in us.

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1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

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At a genuine confession of faith the Spirit of God abides in a man; this is where the man is separated from the condemnation. There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus!

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Those who are walking in the flesh have not been born again; they are under the condemnation because they have not believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

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There is a greater glory than the glory of the law of Moses. 2 Corinthians 3 called the law of Moses the ministry of condemnation and death. However the greater law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. Sin has been condemned in the flesh! We are joined to God Spirit to spirit but sin has been condemned in the flesh! Whose flesh, at what point, and where in the flesh is sin condemned?

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Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity,

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1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

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Jesus was the sin bearer with His own body on the tree! The law of Moses could never do what Jesus did with His body on the tree. That is why we have been made free from the law of sin and death!

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Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law…15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

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There is an annulling of the former commandment… for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Jesus came setting us free from the former so we might walk in the better hope. This better hope is the greater glory by which we live. The grace abounding is so great that there is NOW no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!

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Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

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Those who walk in the flesh in this passage are those who have never surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. There is a strong measuring stick here. If one’s pursuit is the flesh and the things of the flesh that one does not belong to God. Those who live according to the Spirit the things of the Spirit is their pursuit. You are either one or the other. The carnal mind is enmity against God and can not be subject to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus! This is not the up and down of a Christian! This is a measuring stick of genuine faith in Christ. The next verses show beyond shadow of a doubt that is the truth.

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Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

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If you are in the flesh the Spirit of God does not dwell in you; if the Spirit of God does not dwell in you, you do not belong to God! If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If you are in the flesh you have no salvation; if the Spirit of God dwells in you the body is dead because of sin. This is either you are saved with no condemnation or you are in the flesh and you still need set free from that condemnation.

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Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

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If you have been born again you are not a debtor to the flesh in any way! He who the Son sets free from sin is free indeed. What did Paul through the Holy Spirit teach us in Romans 6? Likewise, reckon yourself dead indeed to sin and alive unto God.

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Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

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The abounding grace of God gives the believer power by the Spirit to put to death the deeds of the body! The grace of God is so strong it causes us to be lead by the Spirit of God. Another very strong measuring stick, if one is not lead by the Spirit of God they are not the sons of God. That one still needs to be born again!

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Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

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Grace abounding brings no condemnation; grace abounding releases you from fear. Grace abounding cause us to receive the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father.” Grace abounding brings the Spirit Himself to bear witness with our spirit that we are the children of God!

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John 1:12 But as many as received Him (Jesus as the Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 3 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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Grace Abounds Empowered For Living

But now we have been delivered from the law! We are empowered to live by the leading of the Spirit of God!

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Grace Abounds; Empowered For Living

Romans 7:6 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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Grace is the divine influence upon the believer’s heart. God’s grace empowers believers to live in the newness of the Spirit. Walking with God is a supernatural lifestyle. Salvation can not be behavior modification of the sinner; salvation is a newly created spirit of man renewing his soul by cooperating with the work of the Holy Spirit. We have been brought into union with Christ!

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2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves,but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.

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Grace brings us to a complete reliance upon God. Grace leaves no room for self sufficiency! The law is holy and serves its divine purpose in a awesome way. The law was created to expose sin and make sin exceeding sinful. Here is in 2 Corinthians the law is called the ministry of death and the ministry of condemnation. The law has glory but don’t miss the point, there is a greater glory. Being joined to Christ brings the greater glory. In fact this chapter 3 ends with an awesome truth about the greater glory.

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2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

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Because of the new covenant the glory of the Lord provides transformation power; this transformation power brings power over every sin, bondage, and strong hold in the believers life. Learning to live in the greater glory found in the Lord Jesus Christ is our only source of victory over every weight and sin that might holds us.

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Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

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The law exposes sin and makes sin exceeding sinful. Romans 7:6 “But now we have been delivered from the law”. The law in and of itself is not sin. When the commandment of the law comes it stirs up the power of sin. The law was never intended to set you free from sin; that is what Jesus did. He who the Son sets free from sin is free indeed.

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1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Those who try to walk with victory over sin by the performance of the law or some religious rules and regulations are doomed to failure over and over. Why? The strength of sin is the law! Preaching the lesser glory stirs up sin and gives sin strength; preaching the greater glory of grace brings freedom for transformation!

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Romans 7:9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

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Here is Paul ’s testimony and how God shared the grace message with him. Paul came to Christ and was free from the law. He begin to try and serve God by the commandment of the law. Paul put it bluntly “sin revived and I died”. The law is holy and good but it can never bring life. The strength of sin is the law. To completely understand Paul ’s testimony you must rightly divide between the spirit, soul, and body of the man.

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When Paul came back under the law the old man he died to gained strength. Yes I understand I am repeating this truth! The law comes to make sin exceedingly sinful! At this point, Paul was not reckoning himself dead to sin and alive unto God. Thank God the message does not end here!

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Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

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The minute we put ourselves under the law we are forgetting the new creation God has made us and we are walking in the weakness of the old man. The law is holy the old man is not; the law will give sin strength in our life 100% of the time! In verse 17 Paul concludes it is no longer I (new creation) who do the sin, but the sin that dwells in me (old man).

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Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

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Paul is dividing between his spirit, soul, and body making it very clear. In his flesh, the old man, no good thing dwells! In Paul ’s spirit and soul he wanted to live right; however he found in his old man no way of doing that which he wanted to practice. In verse 20 Paul repeats his words of verse 17. The old man can’t perform no matter how much effort is applied. Salvation is not behavior modification of the old man; salvation is learning to walk in the newly created man.

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Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 will deliver me from this body of 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.

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We the believers delight in the law of God according to the inward man. That is the perfected work done in our spirit. However the other law (the law of Moses) is warring against the law of the mind. If any man be in Christ He is a new creature. Which law will you serve? That which marries you to Jesus or that which keeps you bound to the law of Moses. There is only one way of victory.

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We have seen in 2 Corinthians the law of Moses is called the law of condemnation and the law of death. When we come up under that law we find no way of victory, we give sin strength by living our lives in the lesser glory. Victory over this body of flesh is found in Jesus Christ alone. Paul taught us to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive unto God.

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Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

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We are under the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus! This is the empowering grace of God. Hallelujah we are free, free, free!

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Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

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Grace Abounds; Joined To Another

Grace Abounds; We are joined to Jesus Christ!

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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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