Do not give into the things of the flesh (Romans 13:11-14)
Coming to Romans 12, it says to offer a holy living sacrifice, a spiritual worship of life (Romans 12:1): Do this: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, proving to the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.(Romans 12:2)
The way is to think and use it wisely according to the measure of faith and the measure of grace received.
Next, ‘each person’, that is, humanly, submits to the authorities above like an ordinary person.
And Paul advises us to do everything out of love and not out of the obligation of the law.
In order to follow it up to this point, Romans 8 must be completed and ingrained into the body, and only then will it be revealed outside the body.
Q. How can we be saved at this time?
A. Until now, it was night so we slept and rested, but now it is day so we have to wake up.
The problem is that if you just wake up and don't know what to do next, this is a big problem.
Churches emphasize repentance, but they often fail to explain where to go and what to do next.
The Red Sea is a disconnection from Egypt, and the Jordan River is a disconnection from the wilderness.
God would rather kill them than have them return to Egypt.
So, only those who were born again in the wilderness enter Canaan and each receive an inheritance.
Therefore, we need to wake up from the sleep of faith and come up with a routine for what to do next.
Q. What do we have to do after we get rid of the works of darkness?
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the work of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts.” (Romans 13:12-14)
A, We must put on the armor of light, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ.
This verse is said to be the one that led to the conversion of the debauchee Augustine.
The work of darkness refers to being a weapon of unrighteousness and being offered to sin.
If you put on the armor of light, you will be presented to God as a weapon of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)
We must not forget that we are faced with a choice at every moment.
Regarding this, the Bible tells us to put on Christ.
We must always wear the robe of righteousness that we are clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27) through baptism which we are buried with the Lord Jesus Christ and are alive together and become united with Christ.
We must not lose the right to the tree of life and to enter the city as we always washes our clothes. (Revelation 22:14)
We must not dirty our clothes and lose our power like Samson who had his head shaved.
And he commands us not to seek the things of the flesh for the sake of our lusts.
Today is the times of the new covenant which the Word works in us and the times of the Holy Spirit which works.
It is a time to rest by holding on to Christ, the head, in Christ.
Jews wrap their entire bodies in clothing.
So, think of the garment of Christ as surrounding our whole being.
However, there are many cases where people are awakened to repent, but they do not teach them how to put on Christ, so they end up wearing the rags of their old self.
To summarize what has been said so far, Romans 12:1-2 is a general summary.
Chapter 12, verses 3-13 say, “Know your proportions,” and verses 14-21 say, “Do not overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The negative side means not to use evil, and the positive side means to overcome evil with good.
Only when you can do this as if turning your palm over, your personal salvation has been achieved.
It is a state in which one can become a new creation in Christ and receive the control of the Holy Spirit.
And chapter 13 says that God has established a higher powers, and verse 7 says that everyone - all humans (pasa pushke) - must submit to that authority.
Next, in verse 8 and below, he tells us not to do it by the law, but by the principle of love.
And at the end of Romans 13, he tells us not to be absorbed in the things of the flesh.
It's already time to wake up.
So he advises us to strive for our own awakening.
The day is dark and the way is difficult, so he tells us not to worry about only other people's affairs but to look after our own godliness.
Written by Ptr. Yohan Kim.
Translated by Nancy Chung
COME AND SEE WORLD MISSION