May 26, 2021: SOAP #4192:  Proverbs 1-3; Romans 7

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 7:4 So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

OBSERVATION: Not only did Christ die for my sins on the cross, I died with him. I died to the ownership of the law.  The law no longer has control over me.  That does not mean that I am now free to live on my own.  Mankind was not created with the option of living successfully without outside input.  Adam and Eve chose to place more value on Satan’s input than on God’s.  That brought all men under bondage to Satan.  Jesus died to purchase our freedom.  Through seeing ourselves in Him on the cross, we died to the slavery of sin.  We are now free to choose to surrender to another master.  This new Master (Jesus) uses His authority and our surrender to continue to free us.

The US Army had a recruitment slogan a few years back, “Be all that you can be … in the army.”  How much more is that true in God’s army.  Only under His authority are we free to be all that we can be!

We have died to the law and come alive in Christ Jesus.  The purpose was not merely for our existence, but so that we can bear fruit. Our lives are to increase God’s kingdom.

APPLICATION:  I am now free from the bondage of the law.  What I once did because I had to, I now do because I want to.  Under the law, “had to-s” ruled my life.  Now, having experienced the freedom brought by God’s love, “want to-s” have replaced the “had to-s.”  Love can never be satisfied unless the one returning the love is free to love or not to love. 

PRAYER: Lord, the more I understand your love, the more I love you.  The more I love you, the more I want to please you.  Today I want to bring you pleasure. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!