© 23 Colin Melbourne
Ladies are included: See endnote on “sons”.
How to Make Father Proud of Us
Halleluia for the perfect written word of Almighty God in English, let’s enjoy Romans 8:11-14 KJV;
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Father wrote this letter to the Roman Spirit-filled believers; ie. to Spirit-led, faithful Christians: Not to the world. Rom. 1:7-9 KJV;
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
They Loved Not Their Lives Unto the Death
Notice that Paul wrote that the Roman believer’s faith was so strong it was notable in the whole known world. And history has shown us that their blood was cruelly spilled because of their bold, unwavering, testimony of Christ.
Many of these same believers were soon to perish in the Roman Colosseum (Amphitheatrum Flavium) under the satanic persecution of Emperor Nero.
Indebted to Christ
Therefore, it’s highly significant that in that context, the Holy Ghost wrote, Rom. 8:13-14 KJV;
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
From this we see that it’s possible to be a Spirit-filled believer, yet choose to live after the flesh, and die prematurely.
The point being: Walking in step with God’s Spirit remains the believers lifelong obligation and duty.
Every mature Christian knows from experience, we remain capable of committing grievous sins.
We don’t lose our salvation, but our sense of intimacy with Father evaporates, fellowship ceases, prayers are left unanswered, and besetting sin encroaches.
This is because Father doesn’t want a family of robots, programmed to walk in His ways.
Christ did not die to control you.
He died to set you free to love and obey Him.
He can’t reward a robot for doing His will, because the robot has no choice, it does exactly what it’s told.
Father wants lovers, believers who choose to obey because they love Him freely in return, then He can enjoy, and reward, them according to their motives and behaviour.
So we see a distinction even amongst the saved in Rom. 8:14 KJV;
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Sons and daughters of God follow the leading of His Spirit in their spirit.
They keep their flesh (mind, will, and emotions) under the reign of the Holy Spirit in their heart.
In contrast, the believers who follow their flesh, harden their hearts to the Spirit of God, become frustrated, and lead unfruitful lives.
Black Sheep of the Family
They remain family, but not sons and daughters Father can take pleasure in.
Reminding ourselves of this scriptural injunction keeps us on our spiritual toes, when faced with temptation to let our flesh rule our hearts.
We’ve each fallen into that snare, grieved Father, and ourselves with the cost of it.
Deceiving Yourself is Fatal
The remedy is straight-forward and total:..
Please join with me in examining our hearts in the Holy Ghost, allowing Him to rule every area of our life always. 1 John 1:5-10 KJV;
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
If the Holy Ghost puts His Finger on any sin in your life, confess it to Him and repent, restore perfect fellowship, and thrill Father’s heart.
Stay clean through the Precious Blood and walk tall in Christ Jesus: Led of the Holy Spirit.
© 23 Colin Melbourne
Endnote on sons:
Strong’s defines the Greek word used here, huios, thus; son, child, foal: Apparently a primary word; a “son” (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship — child, foal, son.
Females led by God’s Spirt are included as sons in our scripture, because of their Kinsman-Redeemer, Rom. 8:14 KJV;
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Because in Christ there’s neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:26-29 KJV;
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.