by George Runyan | Aug 11, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Romans 5:1 – Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Romans 4, Paul lays the foundation of justification by faith from the life of Abraham as recorded in the Old Testament. He tells us that Abraham’s faith was “credited to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:22). Not for his sake only, but for our sake also (Vs. 23). So Paul begins Romans 5 with “Therefore” having referred to Abraham in chapter 4. Abraham walked in peace with God, knowing that God was faithful. We too have peace with God as we have trusted the Lord Jesus in faith. It is faith that leads to “justification.” Justification takes place in our spirit man. The Lord sees us just as if we have never sinned. He sees us through the cross of Christ.
The first phase of our salvation takes place in our spirit. Our spirit has been regenerated, or born again. The work of justification brings us into a right standing with God. Our position before Him is not only forgiven, but accepted in every way because of the work of Christ. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE ABOVE
by George Runyan | Aug 10, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Romans 5:17 – For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
The reign in life is present, not simply future. The Scriptures are clear that we died when we were buried with Christ. We rose from the dead when we were raised up in His resurrection. “When we were dead in our transgressions, God made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (Ephesians 2:5).
We are aware that our body has five senses. They are extremely helpful in navigating in this natural world. The problem is that because the senses are connected to the natural world, they feed the appetites of the flesh. The entire book of James deals with this reality. Consider James’ statement, “Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust” (James 1:13). Temptation enters through the eye and ear gate. John speaks to this when he says, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father” (1 John 2:16).
Our daily challenge is to bring the natural man into submission to the spiritual man. It is the will of God that we reign in this life with Christ. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE ABOVE
by George Runyan | Aug 9, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 2:16 – We have the mind of Christ.
Yesterday we saw that the Lord wants to transform our reasoning and our imaginations and bring them under the control of the Holy Spirit. Today, we will consider three more areas of the soul. The third sense is our affections. Paul addresses this subject when he teaches, “If ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3 KJV). The things of the Spirit can only function through the cross of Christ. You cannot set your affections on things above without walking in the risen life of Christ. Once our affections were attached to this world, but now they are to be joined to the Lord.
The fourth sense is memory. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE ABOVE
by George Runyan | Aug 8, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 1:21 – Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
In his letter to the church, James helps us understand that salvation is not a matter of simply believing, but that we must participate in salvation’s application to our soul in our daily walk. It is impossible to save one’s self through human effort. Through Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, one can apply salvation’s provision daily.
There are areas of the soul which I call “the senses of the soul” that need to be washed, cleansed, and surrendered to Christ each day. The soul is to become dependent on the work of God’s grace that took place in our spirit man when we were “born again.” It is by grace through faith our life is lived in the Spirit (see Ephesians 2:8). The five senses that were once fully controlled through the natural man and influenced by the world are: reason, imagination, affection, memory, and conscience.
First is our reasoning. “Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8). Jesus knew in His spirit man how the religious leaders were thinking about the healing of a crippled man through Jesus’ words, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). They determined in their minds that Jesus was “blaspheming” because only God can forgive sins. The Holy Spirit wants to lead us to “reason” by God’s word and not from our natural thinking. Their reasoning was rooted in their evil hearts which affected how they viewed the ministry of Jesus. READ MORE – CLICK TITLE ABOVE
by George Runyan | Aug 7, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Romans 8:5 – Those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Paul describes two categories of people, those of the flesh and those of the Spirit. The believers are to set their minds on the things that concern the Spirit of God. Today, we will consider five specific areas the Spirit of the Lord wants to develop in our spirit. Each of the five is a characteristic of God’s nature. Faith, love, peace, joy, reverential fear, and true worship are in us because of the new birth. Each one provides a basis for everything else the Holy Spirit accomplishes in our life.
Faith is an attribute of God’s heart, not simply a mind-set. Jesus said, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). A close look at this verse reveals that the original language should be translated “have the faith of God.” This kind of faith is given to the believer through the Holy Spirit. God’s faith is made alive through the new birth and resides in our spirit. Faith is: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV). The hope spoken of in this verse means a “sure expectation.” READ MORE – CLICK TITLE ABOVE
