you have died to the law? Did you know that the Christian life is sim ply being available to the Lord Jesus? Recently, here in America, I re ceived a letter from my wife’s moth er in England. It was really thrill ing. She said she was feeling very lonely and knowing I was away from my family for so long, she thought I might be lonely, too. Wasn’t that thoughtful of her? She is a very wonderful lady. I can re member how thrilled she was when our children were coming along. At times, she seemed more excited than we were. Grandparents are wonder ful people. There is also a grandpar ent in this section. Romans 7:4 points this out. Without being irrev erent, may I say that God is the Grandfather? You are married to His Son, and it is exciting to Him to see fruit, which is the evidence of your life mingled with the life of the risen Lord Jesus. He wants to see it in your character, your behaviour, your thoughts, and in every area of your daily existence. The most nat ural thing in the world is for Christ’s life to be reproduced in oth er people when we are living the re lated life. How are you doing? Are you enjoying being married to Jesus Christ? Do you think He is enjoying being married to you ? How are the children? Is the Grandfather pleased? RELEASED LIFE PART I I N R omans 8:2 we have what I be lieve to be one of the most critical verses in the entire New Testament. “For the law of the Spirit o f life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” These few words can really teach us what it means to enjoy victory in our Christian life. God states quite categorically that a Christian is a person who, in
Christ, has died to sin as well as to the law. Again we say, this does not mean that a Christian is incapable of living under the power of sin. God has made it possible, however, for people to be free from the dominion of the law and from the dominion of sin. When you become a Christian sin is not eradicated. There is still the capacity to sin. In Romans 7, Paul says three things about himself. The first is in verse 18, “For I know that in me [that is in my flesh], dwelleth no good thing.” In verse 21, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.” Paul
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Hafer (center) talk with Biola faculty member. Dr. Harry Sturz, (right) and his wife, at a recent time of fellowship for school members. Mr. Hafer, a graduate of Biola, is director of the Alumni Association.
suddenly discovered something abso lutely objectionable about himself in that he was a slave of sin. Have you been prepared to admit you are a slave to sin? The reason for Paul’s conclusion is in Romans 7 :15 and 16. “For that which I do I allow [ap prove] not. For what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law, that it is good.” Do you ever find yourself dis approving things in other people, and yet knowing in your heart that you are also guilty of them? It would do us well to step outside of ourselves and take a good long look at our own 11
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