Michael
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Book of ROMANS
A Study of Chapter 8
Part 4
Romans 8:3-4
SANCTIFICATION
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
– Rom 8:3-4 NKJV
“it was weak through the flesh” or as Complete Jewish Bible says – “it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate”
Reminds me of what Jesus told His disciples – “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41)
This was Paul’s struggle before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Wanting to do good and obey the Law, but finding he failed often.
“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.” – Rom 7:15-16 NASB
So the Law of Moses could not perfect even those who adhered to its requirements - and there were those who did. Both Testaments speak of several saints who “walked blameless” in the Law, including Job, Zacharias & Elizabeth, and Paul. But none could have been perfected and delivered from sin. Therefore, continual sacrifices were needed. Until Jesus.
“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (being made holy).” – Heb 10:11-14 NKJV (NIV)
“This Man”, “He condemned sin in the flesh”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” – John 1:14a
Jesus had to become a physical man, born of woman, subject to hunger, pain, and temptation.
Unless He experienced all that we go through as flesh & blood men, He could not have been that perfect sacrifice for sin that was required to satisfy God.
“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, He also Himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death He might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” – Heb 2:14 WEB
“when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” – Gal 4:4 NKJV
I remember thinking for years that Jesus had been born without a sin nature, and research showed me that many still hold to such a belief. Yet, that doctrine began to crumble in my understanding as I spent more time in the Scripture. The Bible does not say our Lord & Savior was born without a sin nature, or the ability to sin. What the Word does say is that
“Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, He was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but He never sinned.” – Heb 4:15 ERV
If Jesus had overcome temptation because He had Divine supernatural strength, then He wasn’t like natural man. If He has been unable to disobey God, then His sacrifice was a charade. If He had conquered sin and death by summoning angels, then such a victory would not have sufficed.
Jesus took “the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
– Phil 2:7-8 NKJV
Jesus had to become like us, to walk in our shoes, dare I say, to fully understand…
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” - Heb 2:14-18 NKJV
And He has set us free from bondage to sin.
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” – Rom 6:22 NASB
Sanctification αγιασμος hagiasmos (Strong’s Gk 38) - is thus the state predetermined by God for believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it.
The root word from which αγιασμος comes is αγιαις hagios (Strong’s Gk 40) – holy, saints
‘This sainthood is not an attainment, it is a state into which God calls men; yet believers are called to constantly sanctify themselves consistently with their calling, cleansing themselves from all defilement, forsaking sin, living a holy manner of life, and experiencing fellowship with God in His holiness.’
In the Exodus, the Lord called His people to come before Him and receive instruction regarding how they must serve Him.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
– Exodus 19:5-6 NKJV
This privilege to be among His special treasured ones, through whom God could minister Life to the nations, came with a cost (the same cost for us today) – the death of our Adamic nature and complete surrender to Him.
To this God has called some throughout the centuries. We like to think, especially as Americans, that everyone born in the world is born equal. Scripture doesn’t support that idea. Doesn’t mean God doesn’t love each one or want them to attain to the Kingdom. But as we see from God’s own Word, some He has called to be “a special treasure to Him above all people.” To the rest of mankind, these are to be the Light of Christ.
~ continued below ~
A Study of Chapter 8
Part 4
Romans 8:3-4
SANCTIFICATION
“For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
– Rom 8:3-4 NKJV
“it was weak through the flesh” or as Complete Jewish Bible says – “it lacked the power to make the old nature cooperate”
Reminds me of what Jesus told His disciples – “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41)
This was Paul’s struggle before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Wanting to do good and obey the Law, but finding he failed often.
“For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.” – Rom 7:15-16 NASB
So the Law of Moses could not perfect even those who adhered to its requirements - and there were those who did. Both Testaments speak of several saints who “walked blameless” in the Law, including Job, Zacharias & Elizabeth, and Paul. But none could have been perfected and delivered from sin. Therefore, continual sacrifices were needed. Until Jesus.
“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man (Jesus), after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified (being made holy).” – Heb 10:11-14 NKJV (NIV)
“This Man”, “He condemned sin in the flesh”
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” – John 1:14a
Jesus had to become a physical man, born of woman, subject to hunger, pain, and temptation.
Unless He experienced all that we go through as flesh & blood men, He could not have been that perfect sacrifice for sin that was required to satisfy God.
“Since then the children have shared in flesh and blood, He also Himself in the same way partook of the same, that through death He might bring to nothing him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” – Heb 2:14 WEB
“when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…” – Gal 4:4 NKJV
I remember thinking for years that Jesus had been born without a sin nature, and research showed me that many still hold to such a belief. Yet, that doctrine began to crumble in my understanding as I spent more time in the Scripture. The Bible does not say our Lord & Savior was born without a sin nature, or the ability to sin. What the Word does say is that
“Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, He was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but He never sinned.” – Heb 4:15 ERV
If Jesus had overcome temptation because He had Divine supernatural strength, then He wasn’t like natural man. If He has been unable to disobey God, then His sacrifice was a charade. If He had conquered sin and death by summoning angels, then such a victory would not have sufficed.
Jesus took “the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
– Phil 2:7-8 NKJV
Jesus had to become like us, to walk in our shoes, dare I say, to fully understand…
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” - Heb 2:14-18 NKJV
And He has set us free from bondage to sin.
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” – Rom 6:22 NASB
Sanctification αγιασμος hagiasmos (Strong’s Gk 38) - is thus the state predetermined by God for believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it.
The root word from which αγιασμος comes is αγιαις hagios (Strong’s Gk 40) – holy, saints
‘This sainthood is not an attainment, it is a state into which God calls men; yet believers are called to constantly sanctify themselves consistently with their calling, cleansing themselves from all defilement, forsaking sin, living a holy manner of life, and experiencing fellowship with God in His holiness.’
In the Exodus, the Lord called His people to come before Him and receive instruction regarding how they must serve Him.
“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
– Exodus 19:5-6 NKJV
This privilege to be among His special treasured ones, through whom God could minister Life to the nations, came with a cost (the same cost for us today) – the death of our Adamic nature and complete surrender to Him.
To this God has called some throughout the centuries. We like to think, especially as Americans, that everyone born in the world is born equal. Scripture doesn’t support that idea. Doesn’t mean God doesn’t love each one or want them to attain to the Kingdom. But as we see from God’s own Word, some He has called to be “a special treasure to Him above all people.” To the rest of mankind, these are to be the Light of Christ.
~ continued below ~