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To: DollyCali

Prayers sent from TX.


78 posted on 05/07/2005 3:01:32 AM PDT by TXBSAFH (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, who's bringing the chips?)
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To: JustAmy; Jen; Victoria Delsoul; Brad's Gramma; PreviouslyA-Lurker; Mama_Bear; T'wit; tuliptree76


May 7, 2005

Get Off My Back!

Read:
Romans 7:14-25

Who will deliver me from this body of death? -Romans 7:24

Bible In One Year: Psalm 79-81

cover Roman emperors saw torture as a legitimate way to put muscle and teeth into their laws. They were known to bind the body of a murder victim to the back of his killer. Under penalty of death, no one was allowed to release the condemned criminal.

This terrible practice calls to mind the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 7. It's as if he felt that something dead was strapped to him and accompanied him wherever he went.

As children of God, we long for purity and holiness, yet at times we feel helplessly bound to the "dead body" of our flesh. Even though we are new creatures in Christ and we know that the physical body itself is not evil, the tendency to sin is always with us. This causes us to cry out with the apostle, "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (v.24).

Paul answered his own cry in chapter 8. He said that through the forgiveness of Christ we are freed from eternal condemnation (v.1). Then by the strength of the indwelling Holy Spirit we are empowered to do the will of God (v.9). And someday in heaven these mortal bodies of ours will be redeemed (v.23). We are not hopelessly bound by the flesh.

Praise God, Christ broke the power of sin! We can serve Him in newness of life. -Mart De Haan

At times sin's power within grows strong,
Too strong, it seems, for us to bear;
But Jesus says, "Look unto Me.
I broke sin's power, so don't despair." -D. De Haan

To overcome sin, starve the old nature and feed the new.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Knowing God Through Romans

79 posted on 05/07/2005 3:50:53 AM PDT by The Mayor (www.RusThompson.com)
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