Part 2 from Sean on Romans 8 v 1 today…….
In a previous DIG (Sunday 16th August) I actually discussed the first half of Romans 8 v 1.
The second part of this verse seems to say that we have to be seen to be doing things for God; saying if we don’t follow this remit we do not stay in Christ.
It talks about walking not after the flesh but after the spirit.
This was indeed sound like a prescription for doing things, but let’s have a look more deeply at the translation.
The key word “after is usually the Greek word “meta”, however in this case it is the word “kata”, and means to be down from, though out, according to or towards.
The Greek word for walk here means to deport oneself.
So this could be an alternate translation for you; therefore there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who deport themselves not down from, towards or according to the flesh, but down from, towards or according to the Spirit.
In other words our true deportment is from the Spirit and not from the flesh.
As a regular reader you should know that we are made up of three parts, that is spirit, soul and body.
Though we are dead to the flesh it still acts and behaves as it did before we were saved.
We are new creatures in our born again spirit and our soul and body has to be trained, starting to learn and gain knowledge that is in our spirit (this is called renewing your mind).
Our true deportment is that of the Spirit, it is about the connection given to us by Jesus, with the rest of Romans 8 going on to explain this.
It is not about doing.
As you come to understand and live out the truths of who you are in Christ (that you are righteous and deeply loved to name but two) then you will start living out of the spirit without really thinking about it.
So realise that your true self is your spirit and your deportment is in Him and not based on what you do but based on what Jesus has already done.
Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that through Jesus the true me is my born again spirit, and that today I will walk out of that and not out of my flesh”.
Romans 8 v 1…..There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
Heilan Word Ministries 