Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Fall as the violation of the purpose of
creation
Romans 7:14-25
Rev. Dr . Philip Yohannan
Christ Church Danbury , CT
and St. Simon's
Episcopal Church , Staten Island, NY
"So then, with my mind
I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of
sin."
The purpose of creation was distorted because of man's fall and they were created to demonstrate God's representative in acting mercifully .
On account of their sin, Adam and Eve, lost sanctifying grace, the right to heaven, and their special gifts. They became subject to death, to suffering and to a strong inclination to evil and were driven out from the garden of paradise and lost fellowship with God. Thus the nature of inherited sin entered into all human beings.
In verse 20 says; Now If I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. For the sinful nature desire what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
The struggle is between the old man and the new man. We must make a decision of these concepts the " putting off " and " putting on " were apparently accomplished through the redemption from Jesus Christ on the cross and applied at the moments of our conversion. In other words God has already done His part. At the moment of conversion, the Christians receive a new nature, it is instantaneous. Sanctification on the other hand is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time. This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new nature battles with the "tent" in which it resides the old man, old nature.
In this passages Paul laments that he does what he doesn't want to do and, in fact, does the evil he detests. Believers are encouraged by the Holy Spirit to put to death the misdeeds of the body ( Rom8:13 ), put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature that which makes a Christian sin and therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved , cloth yourselves with compassion. ( Col 3: 12 )
The new nature needs continual renewing (Col 3:10) , this renewing is a life time process and let us put on Lord Jesus Christ to have a new nature.
The purpose of creation was distorted because of man's fall and they were created to demonstrate God's representative in acting mercifully .
On account of their sin, Adam and Eve, lost sanctifying grace, the right to heaven, and their special gifts. They became subject to death, to suffering and to a strong inclination to evil and were driven out from the garden of paradise and lost fellowship with God. Thus the nature of inherited sin entered into all human beings.
In verse 20 says; Now If I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. For the sinful nature desire what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
The struggle is between the old man and the new man. We must make a decision of these concepts the " putting off " and " putting on " were apparently accomplished through the redemption from Jesus Christ on the cross and applied at the moments of our conversion. In other words God has already done His part. At the moment of conversion, the Christians receive a new nature, it is instantaneous. Sanctification on the other hand is the process by which God develops our new nature, enabling us to grow into more holiness through time. This is a continuous process with many victories and defeats as the new nature battles with the "tent" in which it resides the old man, old nature.
In this passages Paul laments that he does what he doesn't want to do and, in fact, does the evil he detests. Believers are encouraged by the Holy Spirit to put to death the misdeeds of the body ( Rom8:13 ), put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature that which makes a Christian sin and therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved , cloth yourselves with compassion. ( Col 3: 12 )
The new nature needs continual renewing (Col 3:10) , this renewing is a life time process and let us put on Lord Jesus Christ to have a new nature.
PRAYER
Almighty God, we thank You that You have given a new nature in Christ
and helped us to have a new heart and put a new spirit in us. In Jesus name.
Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
" The purpose of
life is a life of purpose". Robert Bryne