Romans 8:1-8 (TPT) Living by the Power of the Holy Spirit
8 So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One [we cannot be condemned]. 2 For the “law” of the Spirit of life flowing through the anointing of Jesus has liberated us [set us free] from the “law” of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law was unable to accomplish, because the law was limited by the weakness of human nature [weakness of our flesh]
Yet God sent us his Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave his body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin. 4 So now every righteous requirement of the law can be fulfilled through the Anointed One living his life in us. And we are free to live, not according to our flesh, but by the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit! [released in and through us]
5 Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities [what pleases God]. 6 For the sense and reason of the flesh is death, but the mind-set controlled by the Spirit finds life and peace.
7 In fact, the mind-set focused on the flesh fights God’s plan and refuses to submit to his direction, [refuses to submit to his law] because it cannot! 8 For no matter how hard they try, God finds no pleasure with those who are controlled by the flesh.
Peter Marshall—preacher of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington DC and chaplain of the United States Senate [1946]—once said, “May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” Over the years, many of our military servants have died to protect this gift of freedom which first came from our Creator God. This freedom has been translated into the preamble for the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Spiritual freedom from the law of sin and death is a “priceless” Gift from Creator God. Our country maintains our earthly national freedom, so we can live out our spiritual freedom. In Christ, we can live by the impulses and dynamic power of the Holy Spirit. Never take your freedom as citizens of heaven and citizens of the United States for granted. There has never been nor will there ever be a greater Gift or a greater nation under God! Live your freedom out each day as an opportunity to do what is right before God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for providing for my spiritual freedom and thank you for leading so many men and women to secure our national freedom. Help us value both of these priceless gifts. We will remember all these benefits as coming from your righteous Hand. In Jesus’ name. Amen.