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#5
THE WORD OF GOD
Scripture: Modified King James Version
The Christian "Marriage"
Romans chapters 7 & 8
God's Law
The Ten Commandments
The Law of God and the law of a husband Romans 7:1-3
1 Know you not, brothers [and sisters], (for I speak to them that know the Law), how that the Law has dominion over a man [or woman] as long as he [or she] lives?
2 For [example], the woman which has an husband is bound by the Law [of God] to her husband so long as he lives; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3 So then if, while her husband lives, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress. But if her husband be dead, she is free from [or innocent in] that Law [of God]; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
This principle applies to Christians Romans 7:4-6
4 Wherefore, my brothers [and sisters], you also are become dead to the Law by the body of Christ; that you should be married to Another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit to God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions [or actions] of sins, which were [condemned] by the Law, did work in our members [or bodies] to bring forth fruit to death. [See Romans 6:23]. 6 But now we are delivered from the [condemnation of the] Law, being "dead" to that in which we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
The Law identifies sin Romans 7:7-11
7 What shall we say then? Is the Law [the cause of] sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the Law. For I had not known lust, except the Law had said, "You shall not covet". 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence [lust]. For without the Law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the Law once: but when the commandment came [into my understanding], sin revived, and I died [spiritually speaking]. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be to death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
The purpose of the Ten Commandments Romans 7:12-13
12 Wherefore the Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death to me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
A problem - how to keep the commandments Romans 7:14-16
14 For we know that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal [or of this world],
sold under sin [a slave to sin].
15 For that which I do, I allow [or choose] not:
for what I would, that do I not;
but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent to the Law that it is good.
The cause of sin - the master or "old husband" Romans 7:17-21
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but HOW to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law [or principle], that, when I would do good, evil is present with [or in] me.
The "law" of sin Romans 7:22-23
22 For I delight in the Law of God after the inward man [or in my mind]. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law [or power] of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law [or power] of sin which is in my members.
A different prayer - for deliverance Romans 7:24-25a
24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord [for His offer of "marriage"].
Without Christ Romans 7:25b
So then [before conversion] with the mind I myself serve the Law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin [but no one can really serve two masters, or two husbands at the same time. Matthew 6:24].
The difference being "married" to Christ makes Romans 8:1-2
1 There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit [because the sin husband is "dead" and Christ is now in control]. 2 For the "law [or principle] of the Spirit of life" in Christ Jesus has made me free from the "law [or principle] of sin and death".
The solution Romans 8:3-4
3 For what the Law [the Ten Commandments] could not do [on its own], in that it was weak through [or because of] the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned [or put to "death"] sin in the [or our] flesh, 4 that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
One or the other Romans 8:5-11
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. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, 7 because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man [or woman] have not the Spirit of Christ, he [or she] is none of His. 10 And [even] if Christ be in you, the body is [still] dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [or one day change] your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you.
"Marriage" to Christ brings choice Romans 8:12-17
12 Therefore, brothers [and sisters], we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 for if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify [or allow to be put to death] the deeds of the body, you shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons [and daughters] of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage [or slavery] again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Abba [which means] Father". 16 The Spirit itself [then] bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.
"Marriage" brings experiences - good & bad Romans 8:18-22
18 For I reckon that the sufferings [or experiences] of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in [and through] us [as "wives"]. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation [our solar system] waits for the manifestation of the sons [and daughters] of God. 20 For the creation was [also] made subject to vanity [or curse of sin], not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
Faith and hope Romans 8:23-26
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits [or first payment on layby] of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption [the final payment and pick up], to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities [or lack of experience]: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
The Spirit of God makes everything OK 1 Thessalonians 4:3]. Romans 8:27-28
27 And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints [the Christians] according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. ["For this is the will of God, even your sanctification".
The certainty of our calling Romans 8:29-30
29 For whom He did foreknow He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers [and sisters].
30 Moreover whom He did predestinate,
them He also called:
and whom He called,
them He also justified:
and whom He justified,
them he also glorified.
Only your choice can end the "marriage" Romans 8:31-36
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect?
It is God that justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, 36 as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter"? [Psalm 44:22]
There need be no failure in this "marriage" Romans 8:37-39
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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