Faithful Means Living in the Spirit

What a shame that so many Church people are working hard to please God but do not feel as though they are succeeding. They might go to every revival meeting held at the church but the next day at work their relationships seem to be the same. Some people read the Bible through in a year but they can’t remember what they read when they need it. There are people who give 10% of their money and then have trouble paying their bills. Others will sit through good sermons but then go home and fight with family members. Part of the answer can be found in the description of the Christian life as Paul outlined it; For merely listening to (God) the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying (God) the law that makes us right in his sight. Romans 2:13 (NLT) We all know some truth but learning how to succeed is what we need. The answers to all our spiritual problems are contained in the understanding available in the Holy Spirit. He lives in us but is only responsive to our obedience. Living in the Spirit will change our life.

Only the Spirit can make our faithfulness into the new holy life that will please God. We read here; Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit. Romans 7:6 (NLT) This verse tells us plainly that we are to embark on a whole new way of living. When we look at many so-called Christians we are puzzled that they are living in the same way that the world lives. According to the Bible no one is righteous until they make a dramatic change in their living. Paul said; We have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.” Romans 3:9-10 We have been born into the human family and sin and death are part of our life. Every person on earth should be seeking the power that is needed for their change of life. Some Christians think that they can do good things and please God. Not so; For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. (Includes all good things) The law simply shows us how sinful we are. Romans 3:20

To truly fulfill the commands of God a person must be faithful to the guiding of the Spirit. Of course, it all starts and finishes with our faith; We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:22 (NLT) It is obvious that God is serious about righteousness because He sent His Son to suffer and die so that we could become holy. The Scripture says; God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:26 People seem to know they need faith but seem to ignore the fact that to believe properly they must conform to their faith.  Paul tells us; Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law. Romans 3:31 A faithful person who has the Spirit living in them has found the only power that can help us keep the commands of God. True Salvation; is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:29b

It is a wonderful feeling to be living our life with a changed heart. We can tell the difference all day every day. Being released from both sin and the law is like getting out of prison with a full pardon.  The Bible says; Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14 (NLT) It is odd to say this but our freedom involves being a slave to God. This is what it says; Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Romans 6:17-18 We are free to become a righteous slave in our new life or as we like to say “a servant of Jesus”.  Being set free from sin and the law does not mean that we may do anything we want to do. This is a mistake that religious people have made for years. We must want to follow the Spirit; Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. Romans 6:19 The purpose of becoming a slave to right living is to enable us to live with God which requires us to become holy.

Every Christian wants to live with God forever. The way to achieve a wonderful life with God is available to every human. The correct way to do this of course is to follow the commands of the Almighty. We are informed that; God’s wonderful grace rules instead (of sin), giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21b (NLT) Righteous living is necessary and available in Jesus but we must be willing to give up our sin. Another verse says; But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. Romans 6:22 Righteous living will lead to a holy life if we continue in it every day. The Holy Spirit is the one with power to accomplish this new life in us. If we make Him our leader we can find victory. We all have our ups and downs but we must strive to please the Lord for the rest of our lives. To have spiritual victory in this life is what leads us into the eternal life with God that Christians seek. Don’t ever give up being faithful to God; it will be worth it all someday.