I don’t mean for these emails to be Bible lessons. Heck, I seriously just started reading the Bible again, after many years of letting it collect dust. But lately I’ve been seeing it with new eyes. Seeing it more correctly, I think. Not reading it because I should or because that’s what believers do. I’m reading it more to help me understand certain things that I’m thinking about. I believe we can see and hear God wherever we look. The Bible is one of those places.
So, this morning, I was trying to find a verse in the Bible that said “If that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, then He shall quicken your mortal body.” I remembered it because of a song we would sing at the church I went to when I was in high school. So I googled it and the verse is in Romans, Chapter 8. So I went into Romans chapter 8, which is such an excellent chapter, and I found it. It says more than what I remembered. It says:
I have always thought about Romans Chapter 8 as a chapter about the forgiveness of sins. I’ve looked at it as the answer to the problems in chapter 7 (Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall same me from the sinful mess that is me???”) The very first verse in chapter 8 declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” That’s such great news! And later, just so much goodness. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. I highly recommend giving the whole thing a read.
But in trying to find that verse, in the place that I am now, I think the main purpose of chapter 8 is something else. I have been reading the book of John recently, and Jesus said something to his disciples in John that I think connects directly to Romans 8. He tells them the following:
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
That verse at the beginning of Romans 8 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Now, my answer to this is, I like the first part of that verse, but when am I walking after the Spirit? I’m a total schmuck most of the time.
But it’s not up to me, not about me. Jesus took care of all of it. And now God, Who has begun a good work in us, is faithful to complete that work. It’s all Him. And He has given us a comforter, even the Spirit of Truth. Very cool. The rest of Romans 8 mentions the Spirit a bunch of times. It’s very cool.
So it’s not just about us being forgiven forever, although that is freaking beyond wonderful! It’s about the Spirit of God, dwelling in us. Not us being good, or doing better, or trying to be decent people. The Spirit of God will do whatever God desires through us. No worries. No pressure. It’s not about us being good people. I say it again. It’s about Christ in us, the hope of Glory. We can rest in that. So the Spirit of God dwells within me. And you. Whether it feels like it or not, whether it seems like it or not. The Spirit of God is working His work in us, in God’s time. Peace.
I love you all!