JC Blog

“The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God” ( Hebrews 7:18-19 )

The solution to the chasm that sin created is not the Law. As this passage clearly declares using it in this way is weak, useless and ineffective. Paul called the Law the ministry of death ( II Corinthians 3:7 ). So relying on it to bring us into fellowship with God, bridging the gap caused by sin, only brings us death and condemnation.

On the other hand, if it is used in accordance to its true purpose then we will be justified by it. “the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law” ( Galatians 3:24-25 ). The Law was set aside when Jesus ushered in the New Covenant because it was useless in bringing a person into perfect fellowship with God ( Hebrews 7:11 ). The Law defined our sin in relation to God’s holiness. So in essence it accused us before God, bringing further separation instead of reconciliation. Which is why Paul told Timothy, the Law was not made for the righteous man, but for sinners ( I Timothy 1:8-9 ). It showed us the need for a savior. So trusting in Christ to save us is the better hope that this passage is describing by which we draw near to God for reconciliation.

Paul made this very observation about the purpose of the Law in Romans 7, “What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “Do not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. ( Romans 7:7-13 ).

The main point that the writer is making is that to draw near to God we must set aside the Law, because the Law strengthens sin in our lives increasing its hold on us instead of bringing us the reconciliation we need.  Instead we should cling to the better hope by which we have full access to God.

This blessed hope is in the person of Jesus Christ who has paved the way for us to enter blamelessly into the God’s very presence ( Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19-22 ).  His blood has completely wiped away the effects of sin in our lives once for all ( Hebrews  9:12, Hebrews  9:14, Hebrews  9:26, Hebrews  9:28, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 10:18, Hebrews 10:22 ). This is why we have this access. Jesus imputed His righteousness to us when we believed; the righteousness required to fulfill the entire law. Adherence to the law couldn’t make us righteous because of our sin nature ( Galatians 3:21 ). However Jesus fulfilled it because He was sinless. Then He gave us His Spirit to replace that sin nature when we were born again, which is how He imputed His righteousness to us. This is why He is the better hope by which we can come before God.

When we understand this, it gives us boldness and confidence before God instead of uncertainly and fear. Under the Law, the High Priest was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies and into the presence of God once a year when he made atonement for the people. However, when Jesus was crucified on the cross the curtain that had separated the people from God’s presence was torn entirely in two from top to bottom ( Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:24 ). This was done by God himself showing us that Jesus paved the way for us to come with full assurance of faith and clean consciences ( Hebrews 10:22 ). His body is now the curtain by which we can freely enter at will ( Hebrews 10:20 ).

This is why the law is set aside when we are saved, because its purpose has been fulfilled in bringing us to Christ to be justified by faith. Now that Jesus is our High Priest, He assures this access eternally. “For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever” ( Hebrews 7:28 ). Jesus is the better hope which gives us confidence before God.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” ( Hebrews 4:15 )

One of the things that helps us relate to Jesus as a personal savior is that He has been there and can relate to us on the basis of humanity. Philippians tells us that he emptied himself of everything and entered into mankind in human form ( Philippians 1:6-7 ). He stripped himself of all divine privileges and dignity and assumed the guise of a slave born under the dominion of Satan’s kingdom. He did this so He could rescue us.

Jesus started with nothing. He was born in the most humble of circumstances. Born to teenage parents in a lowly manger, reserved for animals. Not exactly the place for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And yet Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus grew in wisdom, and the grace of God was on Him ( Luke 2:40 ). Even from an early age, Jesus pursued and prepared for His role as the Savior of the World.

During His time on earth Jesus underwent temptation and trials so He would be fully equipped to serve as our High Priest. He deal with difficult people and faced situations that are common in humanity and yet the Bible says that He was without sin. This is incredibly important because to defeat death we needed a perfect sin substitute. By conquering the grasp sin had on mankind He was able to free us from what held us captive. Since He emptied himself of all divine privileges and experienced the fullness of humanity He is able to understand and empathize with us in our weaknesses. There is no one better equipped to serve before God as our High Priest than Jesus.

The previous verse in Hebrews says, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess” ( Hebrews 4:14 ). Since this is a past event and Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father, we can cling to this confession of faith in Jesus when trials and temptations seem to close in around us. He is there to provide help exactly when we need it. All we have to do is ask and believe that He will deliver us. Paul told us, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” ( I Corinthians 10:13 ). He is able to do this because He has been there and understands the common temptations that mankind faces.

What a marvelous truth knowing that Jesus was chosen as our High Priest. One who has been tempted and tried in every way imaginable and yet remained sinless throughout His course in life. He is able to run to our side and assist us in every circumstance because He has been there. And now He is in heaven in a position to help us in every way because He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death to rescue us from the dominion of darkness. Because of this we can have boldness and confidence to enter into the throne room of God to find grace and mercy when we need it.

Tomorrow we will look at Hebrews 4:16; Approaching the Throne of Grace with Confidence. 

Since we have been freed from the sin nature, Paul is telling us to live accordingly. This is what he is saying in today's verse, if you live by the previous nature you will die. But on the other hand if you live according the Spirit you will experience life right here and now on this earth. He is speaking about living in the natural realm. The death he is talking about is not eternal separation from God, but instead it is the things that become death to us and keep us subservient to them, when we were designed to be completely free.

Galatians 5 gives us a good portrait of these things that he wants us to be free of. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires" ( Galatians 5:19-23 ). The things that flow out of living contrary to your new nature will produce death in your life, your relationships, your workplace and your home. These things are evident by behavior. If we live like this, then we give ourselves over to be ruled and controlled by these things even though Jesus purchased our freedom from them.

However the contrast to these things exist in our born again spirit, these things are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These things describe Jesus. He has gifted us with these fruits and by allowing these things to operate in our lives, then we will experience true life in our relationships, our workplaces and our homes. This is how we were designed to live. But it takes a choice. You have to decide to live this way, which is contrary to the world around you. These things were provide for you at salvation and you are fully equipped to live this way if you choose to. Paul said, "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" ( Romans 8:6 ).

It is the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of you that equips and enables you to live according to your new nature fashioned after Jesus in true righteousness and holiness ( Ephesians 4:24 ). The problem arises because our minds are so deadened to this amazing truth. The world has deceived us into thinking that this should be a struggle. We are so in tuned with everything around us that this becomes reality to us instead of renewing our mind to this wonderful Word and letting that truth sink into our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit has given us the power to live fresh and anew everyday and by allowing him control in our lives we will experience these things in our entire existence.

Why did God provide this power and freedom for you? It was a testament to how much he loves you. The Holy Spirit inside of you give evidence that you are a child of God. No longer a slave, but an heir. And as an heir He wants you to have all of the benefits of being his child. He loves you so much that He did everything to reconcile you unto himself. He wants you to experience His love every day of your life. Today, it is my prayer that you understand how free you are in Christ Jesus. May you get a revelation of his love and experience true victory in life living by the Spirit of God. Amen.

Did you know that our obligation to the Lord stems out of love. We have a love debt with the Lord because of everything he has done for us. In verse 15 of the very same chapter, Paul tells us that we received 'the Spirit of sonship', not a spirit that makes us slaves again to fear ( Romans 8:15 ). So in today's verse Paul is simply reminding us that we do have an obligation, but it is not an responsibility ground in our previous nature, it is an obligation to our new nature in Christ Jesus.

In our previous study of Romans we learned that we have been completely freed of the sin nature. This freedom exists in our born again spirit. Paul told us that experiencing this freedom in our natural self is a choice. "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" ( Romans 6:16 ). Through Christ, we are not obligated to obey the desires of the sin nature, it should have no authority over us.

If what Paul says is true, then why, as Christians do we struggle so intensely with this. One of the reasons I believe is because we haven't fully understood everything that the Lord provided for us in our redemption. Maybe we've read these truths but we haven't let them soak into our brains and become foundation. I was praying about this the other morning and I got a picture in my mind of this very thing. I saw a person in heaven, clothed like royalty. And in the same instance I saw this person on earth bound and hog tied to the ground and they were immobile by these bonds. It was the very same person in two different states at the very same time. As Christians, this could be true of us if we don't understand how to live by the spirit. In the spiritual realm we have been blessed with all blessings in Christ. We are sons and daughters of the most high God. We are raised up and seated in the heavily realms with Christ Jesus. And yet on earth, we experience multiply things that hold us in constantly in chains, unable to break free. What is reality? The world would tell you that it is your physical existence. But the Bible tells us that it is your spiritual existence that trumps the natural realm. That is why Jesus provided everything for you in your born again spirit. To experience this freedom, Paul tells in today's passage that our obligation is not to live according to the sinful nature, because we belong to Christ. We are his heirs, his people and his royal priesthood. He gave us the Holy Spirit to testify to this very fact.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the world around us, but we have a choice in how we will respond to all of these things. In my own life, discouragement will keep me passive and ineffective. Things people say to me, even well meaning people, tend to make me immobile. I take their words and ponder them and play on them until they become hindrances to me. To break free of this vicious cycle I have to stop thinking on those things and turn my mind towards heavenly things. Paul said, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" ( Philippians 4:8-9 ). Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to take the focus off the situation or self and turn it where it belongs, on the Lord. Remember, our obligation is not according to the flesh, but to the spirit. Paul said, when you do these things, then you will experience the peace of God. Even if you are experiencing turmoil in your life, you can also experience the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It is yours for the taking and it is a natural byproduct of your born again spirit. But it takes effort on your part to experience in your natural state.

The writer of Hebrews gave the most amazing piece of advice concerning this. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" ( Hebrews 12:1-3 ). If you really want to experience the victory in life then start throwing off everything that hinders you. It may be painful at first, but once you realize how fast you can run without all the extra baggage you will be looking for chains to remove. Our obligation isn't to the sinful nature, but it is to Christ. When we focus on him and his example then the perfect goal lays before us. Remember Jesus as your example. If he would have gotten bogged down in the natural realm then he would never had undergone the pain and suffering of the cross. But he could see past that and look forward with joy at what he was going to do. Think about this as you run your race and run in such a way to win! Amen.

When a person gets married amazing things happen. Not only do you have a new identity as a married couple, but the wife is now identified by her husbands name. Her maiden name has been exchanged for a new one. With it comes an incredible honor of belonging to another person, of sharing ones life in an intimate way. When this event takes place, vows and rings are exchanges and people gather to witness and give approval. This covenant relationship is marvelous in every way imaginable.

Just like our example of marriage, when we were united to Christ we also underwent an amazing change as the bride of Christ. He gives us his name, his spirit, his righteousness and his unconditional love. In exchange we give up our guilt, our shame, our burden of sin and our old nature bound to the law. It is an amazing transformation. This newness is a sign that we do not belong to the world, but that we belong to Christ.

Paul has just been describing how the carnal mind and the mind controlled by the flesh is opposed to God. It cannot please God in anyway because to please God it takes faith. Faith is a response to God's grace. When we focus on the natural realm or set our minds according to the world's desires then the result will be heartache and death. However if we set our mind upon what the Holy Spirit reveals to us then Paul say in this chapter that we will experience life and peace ( Romans 8:6 ).

By living according to the Spirit, then Paul tells us that the righteous requirements of the law are fully met in us ( Romans 8:4 ). This is because Jesus transferred his righteousness to us when we received this new born again spirit. Today, Paul is reminding us that we are not controlled by the sinful nature that has been put to death, but we are led by the Spirit if God lives in us. This new spirit is the guarantee of our perfect covenant with the Lord. It shows the world that we belong to Christ. It testifies that we are his children. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" ( Romans 8:14 ).

Like our example of marriage, this transformation is incredible. The old is gone and the new has come. Our association is not tied to the old nature of sin, but we are one and the same with Christ. This impact is so profound upon our entire beings that evidence of the Holy Spirit is evidence that we belong to Christ. And if we belong to Christ, then we no longer are controlled by the sinful nature.

Today on this Thanksgiving morning I am thankful for Jesus. I am thankful that he freed me and bestowed upon me the gift of his love and His Holy Spirit to testify that I belong to him. I am thankful that he lives in me to guide and direct my every step. Today may this revelation of how intimately you belong to him bless you and how much this associate effects your entire life. Amen!

My sister commented the other day that she didn't know that we were suppose to have a relationship with the Lord until well into her twenties. This came as quite a shock to her and since then, her life hasn't been the same. This is because, growing up in a mainline denomination we learned rules, regulations and doctrines. We never learned the full extent of God's love towards us. Nor did we learn faith or that God wants a personal intimate relationship with us. Instead, learning rules at a young age only propelled us into the category of those who cannot please God, because when we live a life of works, controlled by the flesh, we will never be acceptable on that basis.

Paul is contrasting the difference between living in the world, bound by the fleshly desires or living according to the Spirit of God, to experience the freedom that was given us in Christ Jesus. If we are living in the flesh catering to the appetites and impulses of our carnal nature we will never satisfy God. While this is true for unbelievers, this is also true for Christians. If we are focused on what we can do for God then our works takes the focus off Jesus and what he did and put the balance upon us. It is impossible to be acceptable this way, because we are living once again according to our previous sin nature, according to the dictates of the flesh instead of living by faith. God wants us to be free of that.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "...without faith it is impossible to please God..." ( Hebrews 11:6 ). It takes faith to please God and faith is just a natural response to his grace. Through relationship with him, we continually learn who God is in a real way. He shows us marvelous things through his Word. He speaks these truths into our hearts. He brings understanding to our mind. Through understanding this grace he pours out upon us, we naturally response in faith. Relationship and faith is the effortless way to live according to the Spirit.

God is a spirit and we have to interact with him on a spiritual level, that is why he gave us our born again spirit at salvation and that is why he gave us faith. Jesus revealed a marvelous truth in John chapter 4 when he was speaking to the women at the well. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." ( John 4:23-24 ). He revealed so many things in this passage but the main thing is that he revealed to us that God was a spirit. Up until this time worship was done with types and shadows of what was coming. Now Jesus told the women that the time was now here with they would experience the fullness of worship as God had always designed it to be. God wants to interact with you spirit to spirit because He is spirit. That is why we need to be born again, so we can worship in spirit and truth.

After learning this, we see why Paul says it is impossible for those controlled by the sinful nature to please God. We must approach him and response to him in faith. He has given us a new spirit so that we can access him on a spiritual level. He has also given us the Holy Spirit as our guide in all things to lead us continually into this truth. When we live according to him then our minds are set upon the things He desires and we live the victorious life that was bought and provided free of charge for us. Today, may you worship the Lord in both spirit and truth. May you respond to his grace by faith. May you understand how to please him by living in the spirit. Amen!

Did you know this verse was written for believers? It comes upon the heels of an amazing revelation of grace. Paul said in the previous verses that God sent his son Jesus to be our perfect sin sacrifice so that the laws requirements could be completely fulfill in us who live according to the Spirit ( Romans 8:3-4 ). But this verse tells us that believers have a choice in how they live after they are born again. We can set our minds on what we see, taste, touch and feel, or we can set our minds in agreement with the Holy Spirit and live according to God's will. If we live according to the flesh then we are subjected to it's whims. But if we live according to the spirit then we will experience the freedom that was purchased for us.

Paul is describing the dichotomy of living the Christian life apart from how you received the Lord. Modern day Christians are notorious for starting out in faith and ending up in works because they do not know any better nor are they taught any better. However, real freedom comes from living a life directed by the Holy Spirit within us as our guide not from following rules and regulations. Paul said in Colossians, "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him..." ( Colossians 2:6 ). Did you receive the Lord by observing the Law or by faith? You received him by faith, for it is the only way to obtain the righteousness Jesus provided for you.

As Christians we have been freed from the sin nature once for all ( Romans 6:6-7 ). But when we are living according to the flesh, then the left over remnant of that old man becomes visible in our lives ( Romans 7:23 ). The key to overcoming these leftover effects is to live according to the Holy Spirit. When you do this then you put to death the body of sin, the leftover remains of your previous nature. Trouble arises when we don't understand how to live this way, because then we will revert back to what we know... rules, regulations and condemnation. If we live in the flesh then we are not living in the freedom that was purchase for us. Through Christ Jesus, we were designed to be completely free of everything that holds us in chains. This manifest freedom happens by heart change, through aligning ourselves with the Lord and being submissive to his will for our lives. What is his will? We find that in his word.

Paul said in Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will" ( Romans 12:2 ). Through renewing our mind to God's will we will experience effortless change in life. It won't be works based, but it comes out of the overflow of our hearts. Proverbs 23 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." ( Proverbs 23:7 KJV ). And Jesus said in Luke 6, "For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks..." ( Luke 6:45 ). If we truly believe that we have been set free from the sin nature we will not live according to it. If we truly believe that we have a completely new nature in Christ Jesus then we will live that way. But this knowledge must come from a renewed mind directed by the Holy Spirit.

We have a choice, we have the answer. The answer is to live according to the Holy Spirit. When we do this we will be directed by him in everything we do. Our lives will never be ordinary, they will be extraordinary. This freedom comes from understanding this amazing truth that Christ has redeemed you from a empty way of life full of rules and regulations. You are free and called to live a life worthy of your calling. Today may you start renewing your mind to this monumental truth, and may you see it operating in your life. Amen.

What a marvelous notion that we can cloth ourselves with Christ in this present world. I John 4:17 says, "as he is, so are we in this world" ( I John 4:17 KJV ).  We were made like Him the moment we received our born again spirit. It is the part of us that is identical to Christ. So Paul reminds us in today's passage to clothe ourselves with Christ, making no provision to indulge in the cravings of our physical nature and gratify the lust of our flesh.

Many believe that to do this we must deny ourselves and die again to the sin nature whenever it rears its ugly head in our lives. However, the sin nature has already been defeated through Christ Jesus, we have been freed from this nature once for all ( Romans 6: 6-7 ). So when the nature that we have been set free from tries to regain ground in our lives by enticing our fleshly desires, the key to overcoming this is to clothe ourselves with Christ and make no provision for those desires.

Romans 8 gives us insight on how to accomplish this in our lives, "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" ( Romans 8:5, Romans 8:6 ). By simply pursuing a life driven by the Spirit of God living on the inside of us, instead of succumbing to the physical soulish realm of our desires, we will look, live and be like Christ in this present world. Paul went on to say, "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" ( Romans 8:12, Romans 8:13, Romans 8:14 ). When we clothe ourselves with Christ Jesus it is evident that we belong to him.

So what does Christ look like? Galatians 5 gives us incredible insight on Christ's characteristics and living by the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit" ( Galatians 5:22-25 ). These things are currently in existence in our born again spirit. By living in accordance with the Spirit of God we will release this fruit to operate in our lives. It is possible to experience all of these things merely by seeking and following God and the Holy Spirit living within us.

This is the evidence that we belong to Christ. Paul instructs us to clothe ourselves with Christ so we will not be overcome by the desires of our old nature. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law" ( Galatians 5:16-18 ). If you want to be free then live by the Spirit of God.

What an amazing truth this is. In God's brilliance, He has made it possible to live as we are called to live, as Christ's ambassadors representing Him in this world. This does not come out of our own works or trying to be the best we can be, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide, direct and change us into the glorious creation that God desires. May you understand this incredible truth today and start living in step with the Spirit of God.