Posted on 09/20/2018 7:11:42 AM PDT by metmom
In order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4).
If the Holy Spirit resides within us, we will be able to fulfill the demands of Gods law.
Augustine once said, Grace was given, in order that the law might be fulfilled. When God saves us He, by His Spirit, creates within us the ability to obey His perfect law. Because we now live according to the Spiritwalking by the Spirit and being filled with the Spiritwe are able to do the righteous things Gods law requires.
Isnt it wonderful that the Lord no longer expects His law to be lived out only by means of an external code of ethics? Now holiness, righteousness, and obedience to the law are internal, the products of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Ezek. 11:19-20).
Gods salvation is more than a spiritual transaction by which He imputed Christs righteousness to us. It is more than a forensic action by which He judicially declared us righteous. As great and vital as those doctrines are, they were not applied to us apart from Gods planting His Spirit within our hearts and enabling our lives to manifest the Spirits fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
We need to remind ourselves regularly that Gods purpose for us after He redeemed us was that we might live a holy life filled with good works (Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14). Whenever you are disobedient to Gods will and purpose, you are quenching the Holy Spirit and fighting against yourself and what you know is right. Such disobedience makes about as much sense as the person who holds his breath for no reason and therefore makes his lungs resist their natural function. The believer who disobeys, especially one who persists in a sin, prevents the Spirit from naturally leading him along the path of holiness.
We are not perfect after our salvationthat wont happen until glorification (1 John 3:2-3)but the Holy Spirit will empower us to live in ways pleasing to God, which is the kind of righteousness that fulfills His law.
Suggestions for Prayer
Thank the Lord that you dont have to meet the demands of the law solely by your own strength.
For Further Study
Read Romans 6.
Studying God’s Word ping
Amen!
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