The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Propensity of Obedience"
Internal conflict characterizes the experience of every born again believer in this present lifetime as "the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh" (Galatians 5:17).
The Apostle Paul referred to two laws that exist in Christians. A "law of sin" remains in our earthly humanity inherited from Adam. "I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:23). Like the law of gravity in the natural realm, this power leads us downward and away from faithfulness to God. Conversely, a greater law indwells the spirits of believers through the presence of the Holy Spirit. "The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). Like the laws of aerodynamics in flying creatures and machines devised by man, this present and active power leads us upward and unto faithfulness to God.
According to His perfect wisdom, God allowed - for now - the law of sin to remain in our flesh when we trusted the Lord Jesus. The entrance of the law of the Spirit of life into our spirits thus constitutes the Christian life in terms of inwardly overcoming one law by the other. "Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). Like the laws of aerodynamics applied in powered flight, making possible the overcoming of gravity, the Holy Spirit's active indwelling of our spirits leads and enables us to rise above the law of sin in our fleshly members and faculties. We do not always do so. Sin remains a potential in every believer, and while never excusable or inevitable, we all at times distrust and disobey our Lord. "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (I John 1:8). However, the far greater law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus ever abides and moves within us as an infinitely more powerful potential to empower trust and obedience. Certainly, it does not always seem or feel this way. However, simple contemplation of the matter leads to the question: which law is greater? Regardless of experience or sensibility, every believer in the Lord Jesus will arise to affirm "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" as far greater in power than "the law of sin."
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20).
This we must believe because it is true, and also because we avail ourselves of God's present and powerful grace by faith. "We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2). If Satan, the world, and the flesh can convince us that the propensity toward sin in our flesh is greater than the propensity of faithful obedience in our spirits, we will inevitably - and tragically - become subject to the indictment long ago directed toward the Lord's home country: "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58).
We must expect internal conflict so long as we remain in the present world. Thoughts, feelings, and physical sensibilities arising from the law of sin in our flesh will be with us for the entire journey. Far more, however, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus moves within our spirits for the entire journey, and eternally beyond. We must believe and affirm this greater law, establishing a strong basis of faith upon which we walk accordingly and more consistently overcome devilish and fleshly temptation. Yes, two conflicting laws presently reside within us. Regardless of past experience or present sensibility, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus ever and forever abides as the propensity of obedience whereby we "through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body" (Romans 8:13).
"Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."
(I John 4:4)
"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man, but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind."
(Romans 7:22-23)
Weekly Memory Verse
Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
(Galatians 5:16).
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