The New Regime
Opening Prayer
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). Father, thank You for Your welcome.
Read Romans 8:1–8
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Do you focus more on yourself or upon your life in Jesus?The previous section was full of references to “me” and “I.” It was a catalogue of frustration, defeat and misery. This section is full of “Christ Jesus” and “the Spirit.” It is a celebration of freedom, life and peace. This transformation comes through the life and death of Jesus (3), which brought in a regime change.
Previously God’s people were under a regime of the Mosaic Law. The Law was good in itself but human sinfulness meant that it was always destined to fail, leading to condemnation rather than liberation. Jesus let the Law run its full course. His perfect life showed sin and the failure of human nature for what it is (3a). But he also brought its reign to an end and in his death he took its punishment on himself (3b). The Christian is now free to please God in the power of the Spirit. Now we are under a regime of the Spirit. Through a deep inner change and a transformation of the mind (6), the Holy Spirit enables those who are “in Christ” to please God (4).
Apply
Write down a prayer of thanksgiving to God for erasing your condemnation and giving you new life in the Spirit.
Closing prayer
Holy Spirit, renew my mind (Rom. 12:2) so that I may be focused on pleasing God.
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