Live By Righteousness (“God is My Righteousness ” Devotional)

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 free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. 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 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 his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:1-11

Powerful Statements (ver. 1-2)

1. No condemnation: What an earth-shattering statement! Please read it OUT LOUD a few more times if you can and try to remember it throughout the day.
   Do you know what it takes? Jesus became flesh.
   Do you know what it takes? The blood of Jesus Christ.
   Do you know what it takes? The perfect sacrifice-the Lamb of God.
   Do you know what it takes? The Love of Christ that never runs out!….
   
   
2. Free from the law of sin and death: Another stunning statement! We were in bondage of sin, destined to death with no way out! Then, Jesus came and set us free. Under salvation, we have the power over sin and we no longer live under the law of sin and death which does us no good in living towards God. Such freedom enables us to mind the things of the Spirit and overcomes our flesh. What a blessing and privilege!
   

Righteous Living

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:18

1. Live according to the Spirit: What should a free person without condemnation do? Live according to the Spirit! We are not under the law because we are under the leadership of the Spirit. It’s the only way we should live and it’s the only way we can please God. It’s also the best way to live. Most of us would say we are better followers than leaders. This would be the best way to exercise beyond and good follower of the Spirit.
   
   
2. Life and peace: It’s not that God wants to control us. God wants to give us life and peace. All the fruit of the Spirit stemmed from being led by the Spirit! As we are thinking about God as our righteous, not only we can enjoy having no condemnation but can also enjoy the life and peace given by God.

“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Rom 8:6”

The key is to let your mind be governed by the Spirit…..willingly….submissively.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for setting us free and now there’s no condemnation anymore. Not that I’m righteous but that you are my righteousness. Thank you for giving us life and peace. Please help me be led by the Spirit and mind the things of the Spirit every moment. Amen

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