Lent Day 46

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-11

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[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] 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.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

Today's Meditation: 

Paul argues that there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ because we now have life through the Holy Spirit. We are free.

The old standard expectation that was codified in the Old Testament could not and was not the means to free human beings from sin and death.

In order to set all of humanity free and have life everlasting, God sent his own Son to be a sin offering, which sent in motion our pathway and approach to God as free people.

Reflect: How does your freedom in Jesus Christ affect your attitude and approach to life?

Prayer:

Loving God, you initiated the real meaning of freedom. Because of Jesus and his life and death and resurrection, I am now free to live into the person you created me to be. May my life and service to you be always of gratitude to this gift. Amen.

Jesse G. Mabanglo