Scripture: Romans 8 v 1 - 5: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit."
Many times we have heard preachers say that when we are in Christ there is no condemnation. Being 'in Christ' means we are part of His Body. Not so many give the full meaning of this verse, they omit 'who walk not after the flesh'.
It's true meaning is that there is no condemnation, guilt or judgment when we stop walking in the flesh. This type of walking is a state of mind, not the physical stroll. The fleshly mind, or carnal mind, is what we enjoyed as sinners. The flesh is sinful, and so is the carnal mind.
These are of the world with its lusts, raunchiness, teasing (tormenting), corruption, scams, gangs, criminal activities, intellectual pride, idolatry and rebellion. There is no room for godliness, holiness, purity, self-control in the flesh.
The carnal mind of people torments people who are just slightly different to the norm. They judge that person as inferior, useless, foreign, lame or someone they don't need to have fellowships with or care about. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
When we are baptized in water we get a new nature, and our old nature dies under the water. However, our enemy discovered that he could resurrect this old nature if he played his cards correctly. He sends his carnal people into the situation who must talk the new convert out of this new born again life, label it a crutch, and ridicule and mock its blessings.
If these people are loved and admired by the new convert it may be all that's needed to abandon his new life for the way things were before. It's called backsliding, and there are thousands of people who have lost their way. They are fallen Christians and we must do whatever we can to pick them up and restore them back to Christianity.
We need to know what it means to walk in the Spirit, because this pleases our Heavenly Father. We have to become more like Jesus. This is not accomplished in a day, a month or a year, its something that gets a lifetime achievement award. We need to work on it daily, forever. Until Jesus comes, because at that moment we will be changed to be 100% like Him. All our effort will be rewarded.
It means fostering our relationship with Jesus as the most important person we could ever meet. Instead of emulating fashionistas, famous actors, sports icons, music idols etc. we need to know all that Jesus taught His disciples about love, giving, healing, prayer and ministry.
We need to study the Word and view each person through His eyes. The Samaritan woman at the well; the Gadarene Demoniac; the people who were healed; Mary Magdalene; His disciples and Lazarus the beggar. Also Lazarus who died and was brought back to life.
He interfered with the Pharisees interpretation of the law when a woman was to be stoned for being caught in adultery. Let he who has never sinned cast stones at her was His rebuke to them. He healed people on the Sabbath, a total Pharisee no-no. He even told the paralyzed man who was healed, to take up his bed and walk....on the Sabbath.
He shook up the religious hierarchy with truth and Grace causing them to become His enemies. They felt threatened by Him. He was disturbing the status quo. He was causing Jerusalem to be in an uproar just before Caesar was to visit, which would cause the Romans to clamp down on them. So they crucified Him, or persuaded the Romans to do it for them.
It is our loving duty to become like Jesus. We need to make people think with their spiritual minds, not carnally. The Pharisees were extremely carnal, as were the Romans, but Jesus confronted them head on. He wanted the people to see the religious guys as false. This would open their eyes to the gospel.
We need to do all we can to lead people towards Jesus. We may sow a seed that becomes faith in the hearts of those who hear it. If we do not sow in righteousness, how will they ever know.
We must be prayed up and ready to sow a word in season, a seed that will germinate and bring forth fruit. The whole of Heaven rejoices over every new born citizen. If we actively prevent the gospel reaching people, what are we good for?
I am including here the prayer of salvation. Copy it onto your cell phone and have it handy if you are in a situation where a sinner wants to meet Jesus.
Prayer: Our prayer of salvation should be something like this:-
Heavenly Father, please have mercy on me because I have sinned and fallen short of Your expectations of me.
I believe that Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, died in my place bearing my sins upon His own body on the Cross. I believe that You raised Him from the dead to justify me, i.e. just as if I had never sinned. I believe that by His shed blood my sins are blotted out.
I repent of the sins I have committed (spend some time confessing out all the sins you can remember) and turn away from such sin forever more. I forgive all that have ever hurt me in any way (spend some time naming all the people, circumstances and authorities that have hurt or offended you) and ask for Your forgiveness of my sins.
Jesus, I proclaim You my Lord and Saviour. You are the Master of my life. Come into my heart and show me the way, the truth and the life so that I may enter into the Father’s presence and enjoy fellowship with You.
Thank you for writing my name in the Lamb’s book of life that I am now born again and will forever live under the grace of God. Amen.
Once you know that you are truly born again, you need to seek water baptism by full immersion, followed by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This completes your entry into the kingdom of God.
Acts 2 v 37 - 39: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."