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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Grace Abounds-Slaves of Righteousness

Romans 6:11-23 Grace abounding brings freedom from sin and the privilege of being a slave to righteousness.

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Grace Abounds-Slaves of Righteousness

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Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

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Jesus died to sin once for all; likewise you also reckon your self dead indeed to sin, but alive to God. In Christ there is truly victory over sin. Verse 12 starts with “therefore”. Because of the truths shared do not let sin reign in your mortal body. Believer the directive is clear; you are no longer a slave to obey every lust in the body. The greatness of the grace of God, Jesus died for sin once for all and now lives unto God giving you liberty over sin. Jesus death atoned for your sin; Jesus life will keep you from the wrath of God. Did the Lamb of God succeed at taking away the sin of the world?

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Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, butpresent yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

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It is time for the church of Jesus Christ to learn to present our members as instruments of righteousness. Present yourself to God as being alive from the dead. Come on into the throne room of God as though you are alive, justified, and righteous. You can only do this if you have reckoned your self dead to sin and alive unto God.

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Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!

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If sin has dominion over your life you need to come to grace for the first time or you need a greater revelation of the grace you did receive. One reason some believers struggle in sin is because they have never learned the depth of liberty of grace. When the Son Jesus Christ sets you free from sin you are free indeed. This liberty is only found under grace! If you got set free from sin you are not under law but under grace. Shall we go on sinning because of the fact we are not under law but under grace? No, way; no how! Certainly not!

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Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

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It boils down to 2 groups of people; slaves of righteousness and slaves of sin. If you obeyed the gospel by putting your faith in Jesus Christ you are a slave of righteousness. The supernatural happens when you surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. At the point you are set free from sin you become of slave of righteousness. If you have never been set free from sin you must be born again. There is no other way to get free from the grasp of sin. Jesus is the exclusive and only hope; whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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Romans 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

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If you truly have received grace, present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. If you are still enslaved to sin, it is time to come to the fullness of Jesus Christ’s grace.

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A sinner is slave to sin and keeps on sinning. Is a sinner capable of an act of righteousness? Yes, but that does not make the sinner righteous. Righteousness for a sinner can only come exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ! Jesus obedient act has the power to make a repentant sinner righteous.

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A righteous man is a slave of righteousness and keeps on walking in righteousness. Does a righteous man have the ability to do an act of sin?. Yes, but his Advocate has the last word. If Jesus demonstrated His love by dying for the sinner how much the more will Jesus save the righteous man from God’s wrath. (Romans 5:9-10)

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Becoming a slave of righteousness is a supernatural work of God’s grace.

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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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Here is Ephesians 4 we have a picture of the spirit, soul and body of a believer. You put off the “old man” this is what you died to when you came to Jesus. The only way to put off the old man is by reckoning him dead through faith in Jesus Christ. Then you have the soul being renewed. Your soul is your mind, intellect, and emotions; this is where battle is fought for walking in victory. Renewing your mind will always be a work in progress. You are bringing your thinking and your emotions in line with the Word of God. There is no other way to renew your mind. Put on the new man. If you don’t have a new man you have never been born again. Don’t miss the truth presented in verse 24. The new man was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. You can see the picture clearly in these verses; you have a perfected spirit, you have a soul which is a work in progress, and you have a old man or body which we need to reckon dead.

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Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

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Someone who has not been born again is absolutely free from righteousness. The work of grace is so great that when one has surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ you are a new creation which brings true righteousness and holiness to the believer.

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2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

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So great is the work of grace Jesus said a truth about the least in the kingdom of God .

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Luke 7:28 "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

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Jesus affirmed John the Baptist as the greatest prophet that ever came; however, he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist. Why? It is because of the greater work of grace! It is directly related to Jesus Christ came full of grace and truth! Righteousness imputed to all who genuinely place faith in Jesus is so great, it exceeds the greatness of all the prophets who have gone on before.

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Romans 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

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What a privilege to become a slave of righteousness! We are no longer our own we have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus. We can put on the new man because of Jesus atoning work. God calls us to bring our soul in line with what He has already done in our spirit.

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1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

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How do we know how to possess our vessels in sanctification and honor? Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive unto God! Present your members as instruments of righteousness.

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Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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There is no middle ground! If God is your Father you are a slave to righteousness; if the devil is your father you are a slave to sin!

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John 8:23 And He said to them, "You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

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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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John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 "Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 "You are of your father the devil,

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I say it often and it is ever true. What you think about Jesus determines your destiny. Jesus came to set you free from sin; when the Son sets you free from sin you are free indeed. Slaves of righteousness is the liberty so many are looking for; the enemy of our soul would have us reject this truth. Are we talking sinless perfection? Yes, Jesus is the sinless perfection that we need. He is the perfect Advocate for every believer who has sinned and for every believer who ever will sin. What Jesus did at the cross is great enough. He was wounded for our transgression and He was bruised for our iniquity, the punishment of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed!

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Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

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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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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. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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Those who have come to Jesus have received from the fullness of His grace; they have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their soul.

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