Spirit Led Living

Rom 8:29-30   "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.   And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." This verse has been the foundation for theological debates for centuries.   At its core are two seemingly contradictory doctrines.   On one side is this doctrine of Free Will and on the other is the Sovereignty of God. While it would be impossible to do either of these doctrines justice in this space I will attempt to give a summary of each position. The doctrine of Free Will in essence states that we have the power through our will, mind and emotions (the soul) to make choices conscious or unconscious that lead to actions.   God created us with a Free Will because He yearned for love and loyalty and these are choices that are not possible without Free Will. To put it another way, I remember w...

Rom 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I remember a scene from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia where the children are going to meet Aslan for the first time.   If you recall the episode you know that Aslan is the Lion that rules over Narnia and that there is a battle brewing for control of Narnia.   I believe it is Lucy that is all excited about meeting Aslan, before it occurs to her that this is a lion that they are going to see.   Lions are big and ferocious.   They have claws and fangs and they can tear a man, let alone a child, apart with very little effort.   So the conversation goes something like this: “Is he a tame lion?” she asks, “Oh my no, he is not tame, but he is good” came the response. That is a wonderful representation of our God.   He is ferocious, jealous, righteous and greatly to be feared.   In fact, the Old Testament tells us that the...

Rom 8:26   “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” To me this is one of the most wonderfully reassuring verses in the Bible.   Try as I might I never quite seem to measure up.   Even though I speak two languages there never seems to be enough words in either of them to fully express what is in my mind and in my heart. I stumble over my thoughts and I can’t seem to get out of my own way.   My prayers seem to be so selfish at times. I seem to always be asking for my own comfort, my own convenience.   I am so weak.   I want God to remove every obstacle in my way. I can understand why so many people write out their prayers or prefer to recite prayers that someone else has written.   My mind wanders and I start to think of so many things.   I can’t seem to focus on what is really important. Now, if this is how I f...

Rom 8:15-17   “but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."   The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.   Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” When we surrender our lives to the authority of Jesus and His rule over our lives the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts and takes over ownership.   The Holy Spirit then puts His imprimatur on our lives.   For those of you who don’t know what an imprimatur is, Webster’s defines it as a mark of approval or distinction, a license to print, an official seal of approval.   Imprimatur comes from the Latin imprimere which means to give your imprint or approbation.   The Spirit imprints us with the image of Jesus so that we will be recognized by the Father as His children. Let me put this in sports terms.   There are a lot of...

Rom 8:22-25   “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.   Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.“ This is one of those verses that perfectly illustrates the here and the not yet of the kingdom of God . I remember how a little over two years ago my wife and I hurried to the hospital as we awaited the birth of our first grandchild. It had been a surprise when the news had come that our daughter we pregnant.   After the shock wore off an expectation settled in as the months progressed and we waited for the call.   When we got there we knew that the time was close at hand but there was no way of knowing ho...

Rom 8:9 “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.” The Holy Spirit lives in us, indwells us.   What a glorious way to look at life.   The God of the Universe is so close that He lives in my heart.   It is that personal of a relationship.   He is not a guest. While He is there He is directing, guiding and influencing my thoughts, my choices and as a result my actions.   This in turn causes a change in me that is so deep rooted that it fundamentally causes me to cease to exist in one realm and to be born again into another realm, the kingdom of God . Because He has fundamentally changed who I am at the core, it also means that the fruit that I bear reflects who He is. Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. While the gifts of the Spirit are given according to His good pleasure and different members ...

Rom 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” I love the way Peterson’s paraphrase in The Message renders this passage: “Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.” Don’t you hate having that sense of impending doom?   That awful feeling when you’re just waiting for the other shoe to drop?   I know that I do.   I’ll get myself all worked up and when I go to bed my brain won’t shut off entertaining and rehearsing worst case scenarios. By all rights that is how it would be for us if not for Christ.   We deserve the very worst. We should stand before the judge with a plea of guilty ready to receive sentencing; the facts of our life condemning us at every turn. Then the Judge bangs the gavel and says much to our surprise, “Not guilty, for reason of my Son”.   The black clouds part and a city of gold beckons us to enter.   “Welcome, good and faith...