“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons,

by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'”

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”

Chapter eight of the Epistle to the Romans leads us into the mystery of deliverance from spiritual and physical slavery which is the consequence of the infection of original sin in us. Verses 1 and 2 speak of deliverance from the law of sin and death which is only possible through the law of the Spirit who gives life in Christ Jesus. The law as such means that something is repeated, a certain regularity. If we have received the Spirit of God, listen to His voice and obey it, following our conscience, we are not carnal people but spiritual. Verse 11 says that if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, He will also give life to our mortal bodies.

What does it mean to “give life”? Original sin influences both our body and soul. It arouses lusts of the flesh which make man into a slave. Its manifestation in the soul is selfishness and pride which likewise enslave man. The human spirit created in God’s image is in the innermost depths of the soul.

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors – not to the flesh,

to live according to the flesh.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die;

but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

From the very beginning of chapter eight we can observe tension between the flesh and the Spirit. It points out a dividing line between carnal and spiritual man. The root of choosing between the flesh and the Spirit is deep in the human soul. One uses the powers of the soul – reason and will – to choose between the two. People who choose a selfish lifestyle, a life in the flesh, must remember that “he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption” (Gal 6:8). People who receive the Spirit of Christ change their life and are given the light and strength. This involves little self-denials, self-humiliation, walking in the truth and following of Christ every day. The fruit is peace and happiness even in hard situations, for these people have God as their helper.

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,

He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies

through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

“But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin,

the Spirit is life because of righteousness.“

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,

if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

The Scripture often speaks about the spirit, soul and flesh. The powers of the soul are intellect and will. As a result of original sin, reason can hardly know the essence of the truth and the will is weakened and hardly inclined to pure good. This infection of original sin wounded the heart of man and destroyed the inner harmony. The consequence is that the heart succumbs to disordered passions, selfishness and self-love. The Scripture refers to the heart as “deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9) and as “the heart of stone” (Ez 36:26). God promised to give us a new heart (Ez 36:26).

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God;

for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit,

the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death,

but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

What does it mean: “…what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh…”? When was the law not weak through the flesh? Before sin acquired domination over man. God’s law commanded Adam in Paradise: “You shall not eat … for you shall die!” When he disobeyed God’s law, the punishment of the law came upon him, and Adam died. From that time on, humanity has been ruled by the law of sin and death.

God’s law (the Ten Commandments) convicts us of sin, thus making a diagnosis, yet it can not save us. If it could, Christ would not have come. “God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh (i.e. the flesh of Christ).” The just requirement of the law is: “The wages of sin is death.” Jesus voluntarily took this death on Himself for our sake, and hence fulfilled the just requirement of the law on His body. The term “righteousness of God” means just condemnation of sin on the innocent Son of God for our sake.

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

God’s Word says: “Seven times a day…” (Ps 119:164). Both the Old- and New-Testament Tradition present a daily prayer rhythm. This rhythm was kept by St Paul and the Apostles. Similarly, St Basil emphasized the need for moments of prayer throughout the day in the life of every Christian. Unfortunately, nowadays Christians do not have the daily rhythm of communion with God.

Why stop seven times? The number seven is symbolic but it is good to take it practically. Above all, we stop to avoid acting on our own, because when a person does not stop to be mindful of God’s presence, they act only on their feelings and reason, which are not always in harmony with God’s will.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

God’s Word says: “Seven times a day…” (Ps 119:164). Both the Old- and New-Testament Tradition present a daily prayer rhythm. This rhythm was kept by St Paul and the Apostles. Similarly, St Basil emphasized the need for moments of prayer throughout the day in the life of every Christian. Unfortunately, nowadays Christians do not have the daily rhythm of communion with God.

Why stop seven times? The number seven is symbolic but it is good to take it practically. Above all, we stop to avoid acting on our own, because when a person does not stop to be mindful of God’s presence, they act only on their feelings and reason, which are not always in harmony with God’s will.

+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Ephphatha!

I am self-willed and selfish; I do not seek God’s will, but my own.

I am a hedonist; I seek pleasure even at the cost of sin.

I am a critic; I condemn others, yet I do not see my own guilt, nor do I want to admit it.

The hidden metastasis of original sin’s impact and my lack of repentance are dragging my soul towards eternal damnation.

Marana tha! Come, Jesus!

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner! (5x)

Shema Israel! You shall love God!

Jesus, my God, I love You with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all my strength. Now I lose my soul for Your sake and the Gospel’s.

The Word of life: 

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Rom. 5:8) (3×) (changes every two weeks)

Amen.