Live DELIVERED from the Bondage of Sin
The once atheist, C.S. Lewis, one who heard the gospel message and believed, wrote about the kinds, the types of people that exist on planet earth.
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’
and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ “
Thus, the only question that holds the upmost importance: WHICH KIND OF PEOPLE ARE YOU?
Is God your Father—OR—Is God not?
“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, . . .” (The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 5a NASB)
We are alive in the flesh, and our flesh, our earthly bodies are dying. Those who do not proclaim God as their Father exist here only—focused on their flesh.
“but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 5b NASB)
Even as we are alive in a dying body, and even as we sense the daily decaying of our flesh as our earthly bodies age, Hallelujah, our inner being holds Someone most precious.
WE ARE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST.
For one kind of people who have not been redeemed by Jesus: “For the mind set on the flesh is death,” (The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 6a NASB)
For the other kind of people who know Jesus as Savior: “but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” (The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 6b NASB)
The focus of our whole being must remain on loving God with our whole heart, soul and mind.
Jesus Himself reminds us how this is the first commandment.
“because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 7-8 NASB)
This is the group of people that Lewis wrote about to remind us, the ones who focus only on doing their own will, enjoying what they wish to do, living for their own selfish pleasures, and placing all their hope on their own strength. Lewis says these are “those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done.’ “ These are the people of the earth we must lift in prayer each day. They are the ones who we are to share our testimony with, every time we are given the opportunity, for these are the ones who have not received the salvation of God.
At the end of every life here on earth, there remains only two places of eternity.
The hard truth is that the one who dies apart from God will not share in the eternal rest WITH GOD.
“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 9-12 NASB)
But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—”
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ . . .” (Lewis)
Understand how we (who belong to Christ and are here on earth) have a responsibility.
Live each day, in Christ—DELIVERED from the bondage of sin
YES, WE ARE TO LIVE FOR CHIRST, FOR WE ARE CONTINUALLY BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.
“for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die;
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 8: 13-14 NASB)
but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”