FINISHED WITH SIN: WHAT DOES THE SPIRIT LIFE LOOK LIKE?
May 14
Scriptures to Remember: Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. Romans 8:12
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:24-26
Gospel Story: John 13:31-38 Jesus gives a new commandment
1 Peter 4:7-9
7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
Reflection:
Should true love name the sin in the lives of the people we love? Are we to function like Peter did with Simon in last weeks story? Maybe? Or while Peter did have a truth to speak was he operating in love. It’s what i’d love for us to ponder. Because if someone were to ask me what doe the “SPIRIT LIFE LOOK LIKE” I’d confess my response would be it looks like the love of God revealed in Jesus.
Ponder these things. If we are “dead to sin”. If the passions and desires of our sinful nature have been crucified with Christ? I will assume this sinful nature was not brought back to life with the resurrection. So if sin has truly been crucified physically in the body, and we have died a death to sin in us, what then is our response to the sin in others? Does it need to be dead in them for us to love them? Or does sins death and the fact that we are “finished with sin” allow us to life the Spirit Life even when other live out of their sinful nature?
“A new commandment I give you” Jesus said. Could this be a new way of doing things. What was this commandment? Three words, “love each other”. He goes on, “just as i have loved you, you should love each other”Read the Gospels repeated to get this one, because Jesus goes on to say, “your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples”. So when Peter reminds us that when the world is coming to an end what is the most important thing to do? “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sin”.
Think of the questions we have been asking today and bathe in that verse from 1 Peter 4 for a while, ‘LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS”. God teach me what it mean for me personally, LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SINS. Repeat it again and again like because it filled with the very life and breath of God.
O Jesus let it truly be the case that my heart is dead to sin, both in me and in others. For I want your “Spirit Life” to be my life. I want people to know I am truly your disciple. Taught by the one who himself is love!