Double Blessing

 Meditations on Romans

August 24, 2021

Double Blessing

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Romans 8:11

Read Romans 8:5-11

After Paul tells us that we have been set free from the law of sin and death, Paul announces that we who have been set free are now controlled by the Holy Spirit and thus think about things that please the Spirit. Our new mind of Christ leads to life and peace. Paul repeats this same theme in his letter to the Philippians where he calls us to fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

For Paul, resting in God’s peace is a litmus test. Does it seem your life is characterized more by fear, anxiety, worry and doubts? Paul would tell you that you are dominated by the sinful nature and are not controlled by the Holy Spirit. He would urge you to stop and change the direction of your life.

My Takeaway:  I love the double blessing in the closing verse in today’s passage. Paul again affirms that what is true for the Messiah is true for Christianoi, the people of Christ. First, we get new life today when we submit ourselves to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. And God raised Jesus from the dead; what happened to Christ will happen to his people as well! As we say in the Apostles’ Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.” (Emphasis Mine)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.