Experiencing The New & Living Way

Romans 7:15-16, 19: “15For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 19For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.“

The Apostle Paul is saying that the, “things that he knew to do he didn’t do and the things that he knew that he should not do he ended up doing.“

Now, some have said that this was a time before he was saved but I don’t believe that. I think what Paul is describing is Galatians 5:17: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” This is the description of the battle that every Christian faces, and as long as we are in the flesh it will continue. 

Others say “well that is because we all must realize that we all sin and fall short of the Glory of God.” But what the Lord wants us to realize is what the Apostle John wrote in I John 5:4, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.“

So where is the answer to living a victorious life in Christ? The Apostle Paul has given us the answer. It is doing the things that I will to do, the good things. But there is something that we have to realize, the very reason that we fail is because we have not yet come to the place that we have died to ourselves and realized that with in me I cannot accomplish the things that the Lord wants me to.

The only way that you and I can live a victorious life that the Lord wants us to is to quit trusting ourselves and do those things that are Holy Spirit directed. We are not saved by doing things, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but we demonstrate that we are saved by doing them.

The person who neglects Bible Study, that doesn’t have an active prayer life, and doesn’t attend a Bible believing church will fail. I hear people who say you don’t have to attend church to be saved. That is true for Salvation but it is not true for Sanctification. Let me ask when you became a Christian was it only so you wouldn’t go to hell? Was it also for the peace and joy that Christ brings? Did you realize that you may be the link for your entire family being in Heaven someday?

Jesus saved you by His Mercy and nothing else (Titus 3:5). But He has called you out of a depressing and defeated life to a life of light, joy and peace. The only way is to learn to trust and walk with Him in order to have that kind of life.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to give us Hebrews 10:20, “by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” Then, He says to us in Hebrews 10:22, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.“

Pastor Lee Cruse, who is hoping that everyone in this congregation will experience that New and Living Way.