Today, I want to talk about Truth #2. Too many Christians today have an anemic prayer life because they don’t know what they are not. That may not be good grammar but once you understand what I mean, you will see that it is good theology. If you are a Christian, you are not condemned.
Paul tells the church at Rome, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Many versions of that verse have the phrase, (including the King James version, which many of us grew up with), “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”. That is an improper translation and leaves a false impression. It implies that “walk(ing) not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”, is the cause or the basis for the “no condemnation”. If that were the case, the converse would also be true. There would be condemnation for those Christians walk in the flesh. This means that the Gospel of Grace was of no effect, because it would be of works. If you look at the NIV version you see that it reads “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
The cause or basis for the “no condemnation” is that “through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” In the King James version, the phrase, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”, is repeated at the end of verse 4, where it appears in the NIV. This is where it should be, not at the end of verse 1. The phrase, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” is the result of the “no condemnation”, not the cause. When you, as a Christian accept, acknowledge, realize, come having this truth in your spirit, you will no longer walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Your prayer life will change from anemic to being powerful, full of faith and not doubt. James tells us, “he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”(James 1:6-8)
Satan would not have this truth to be part of your life. If he can keep you living in condemnation you will never “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need “ (Hebrews 4:16)
“boldly say:
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”
(Hebrews 13:6)
Too many Christians walk around timid in their prayer life, timid in their witness, timid in their relationship with their Father. It is not about you! It is about HIM!
Your are a child of God. You have been adopted into the family of God, “joint heirs with Christ”, with all the rights and benefits, AND responsibilities.
Act like it! Walk like it! Talk like it! Pray like it! Fight the devil like it!
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU NOT?
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