Willpower 3

Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin & death."

Galatians 5:18; "But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the law".

The Holy Spirit is charged with giving us Power to do God's Will.

What is will?

Desire, determination, control, intention of one who has authority

What is power?

Might, force, strength, authority to enforce obedience

Whose job is it to give us power over sin?

Well, it was Jesus' job to accomplish it, & He fulfilled (as in fully filled) everything that we are to do. But Romans 8:1-13, 26-27 proves that the Holy Spirit has a job to do too. See 1 John 2:16-17. What does this say about God’s Will...to you?

The longer you believe, & the more frequently you exercise your faith, the more you will attest to the claims made in these texts. – 1 Peter 3:17-18; 2:15-16; 4:2-6

What exactly is the Holy Spirit’s job?

Galatians 6:8 – receives Spiritual investment & returns Life

Romans 8:11 – raises the dead

Romans 8:26-27 – helps our infirmities; intercedes in areas of weakness

Romans 2:29 – circumcises the heart

Colossians 2:11-12 – performs the ”operation” of God

Hebrews 9:24-28, 11 …the operation is made without hands

Hebrews 9:8-15 – Spirit purges the conscience

Hebrews 10:1-6,10-17 – makes us perfect, sanctified, & sinless

Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33 – writes (puts) God’s Laws inside of us

1 Corinthians 12:8-12,28; 2 Corinthians 3:8 – gives Spiritual gifts

Revelation 3:18; John 16:13 – anoints, helps us see, shows us future things

John 16:8 - reproves (alerts, rebukes, corrects) the world of sin
John 1:12-13; 14:10-17, 26 – teaches us all things, comforts, guides us into all truth
Matthew 10:17-20 - speaks God's message through us

Acts 10:36-38 – anointed Jesus with power to do good & heal

Ephesians 4:29-30 - Seals you until the day of redemption

For more see Galatians 5:3-5.

Willpower 2

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, & be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith..." - Philippians 3:8-11

Jesus is the answer to the "Law of Sin & Death" because He was able to do-right (righteousness) which makes Him worthy to live (eternally).  How do we get God's righteousness? See Romans 3:22 to find that the answer is faith of (not just in) Jesus. What was Jesus' job? Hebrews 9:15; 2:9-18; 4:15 say He was tempted as we are, but why? Well, succour means to "assist", & Jesus assisted us by fully filling & accomplishing perfection & victory. 

Jesus had victory over all the 3 types of temptation:

1 - The Lust Of The Flesh is a craving for a sensation which feeds our addiction to things like gluttony over fasting, laziness over labor, fornication over abstinence. More than that, these choices are made only in the interest of self satisfaction, even if the choice overrules God’s commands.

2 - The Lust Of The Eyes is the desire for objects. We prefer things that look good over things that don’t. The lust of the eyes has led to many over-valued items like jewelry, fashion, tattoos, cars, & houses. This lust is coveting, & has led to the success of MTV Cribs, Real Housewives, Desperate Housewives, Pimp My Ride, & is also is why home loans take advantage of so many.

3 - The Pride of life is the desire for supremacy, power, clout, control, & command. Simply put, we don’t want to take orders from anybody, & we want to do things when we feel like it, & when we do it, we want to do it our own way. And if we do something wrong, we don’t want to be corrected, instead, we only want to hear what we did right…even if others have to stretch the truth to make up something good to say. Also, this is why we would rather watch TV than have Bible study, & why we are quicker to cuss people out than pray for them.

Basically, lustful pride leads us to exalt our selfish will over God’s Will. See 1 John 2:16 & Genesis 3:6, but what texts show how much Jesus was tempted?  Matthew 4:1-10 prove Jesus was tempted with everything:

1 - Jesus fasted 40 days...how hungry would you be? Can you even imagine how tempting it was to get Himself some bread?

2 - How tempting was it to take all the power of the world, knowing how many fine women do anything for a wealth, security, power...or just nice gifts? We use our shortcomings to manipulate enough as is, so how much more tempted would you be if you were the only begotten Son of God?

3 - How tempting would it be to escape from the plan of Salvation knowing that the plan was for Him to die, but not only die, but die brutally…while having the ability to save Himself? How tempting would it be to give in to a change of plans?

Jesus answered the "Law of Sin & Death" by submitting to the Holy Spirit from His baptism at Luke 3:22, & is a role model for us in how to die in the Lord, die to self, & beat sin.  In beating sin, death is also defeated, that's why Jesus was Resurrected, & we see how Jesus let the Holy Spirit empower Him in Romans 8:11.  For more see Hebrews 5:8-9, but you should be starting to see how big words like "God's righteousness" play a part in answering the Law of Sin & Death. 

Jesus is the answer to "The Law of Sin & Death, & it should make sense now when we read Romans 8:2-3.  Clearly, Jesus is the remedy to the Law, but how is the Law “weak through sinful flesh”? Romans 8:7, enmity is opposition, hostility, rivalry & resistance, & we are born preoccupied with being at war with what God wants us to do.  Clearly, Jesus had a role in answering the "Law", but did the Holy Spirit have a role as well?

As we transition into the role of the Holy Spirit, see Exodus 19:3-8, & notice the people did not promise “we will do” by God’s power, God’s Will, or anything about God.  Hebrews 8:6,10 where God promises what He will do, as He says, “I will make…I will put…I will write…& I will be…”, meaning God made a Way to assist us with keeping His commands. Read 1 Corinthians 15:56-58; Romans 8:9,11; John 14:10-17. (cont.'d)

Willpower

TRUTH or False - The Law in context of the "schoolmaster" text is found in the 10 Commandments.

False! See Galatians 3:23, & then verse 12 knowing that this law never appears in the 10 Commandments.  SO which law was our schoolmaster?  Well, the "law of works" is the easy answer.

TRUTH or False - The Law in context of the "law for righteousness" text is found in the 10 Commandments.

False again. See Romans 10:4, & then verse 5 knowing that this law never appears in the 10 Commandments either.

TRUTH or False - The Law being referred to in the phrase "Under the Law" is found in the 10 Commandments.

False! See Exodus 20:3-17.  What does this mean to you? It means most Christians, even non-Christians have been lied to. If God commands us to do something, and we do not do it, what is that called? 1 John 3:4; 5:17 give a compete definition of sin that includes unrighteousness and transgression of the law.

What is unrighteousness?  Wrong-doing is the easy answer, meaning righteousness is right-doing (or doing right).  God’s righteousness is made available in Jesus Christ. Jesus replaces our wrong-doing with His right-doing. What did Jesus do, and how is it different from what the majority are doing? Romans 10:3-5

TRUTH or False –  "Do & live" was this "schoolmaster" law of Galatians 3:12, the "law for righteousness" of Romans 10:5, & is originally in Leviticus 18:5.

TRUTH – The problem was that this is a works-based law. God made all that Jesus "did right" available to us by faith. So, the correct kind of faith results in actions that align with the works that Jesus did, meaning we should do (what He did) & live (as He lived).

See Galatians 3:22-23; Romans 3:23; 7:18; 8:3-4; Philippians 3:9.

There is a huge difference between the way to Live Eternally by faith in God's power to do His will in us & through us....& the way to Live Eternally was by our own effort to do God's will, without God's Help.

God says, "I regarded them not" in Hebrews 8:9-10.  Jesus' covers the sins before His Resurrection in Hebrews 9:15.  Meaning, before & after, we're covered.

The “Law of Sin & Death” is mainly about 2 words, "live", (as in Live Eternally).  The other word is "do", meaning, do what God wants (which impossible without God’s help).

TRUTH or False – We pattern after Jesus, & even Jesus had God’s help.

TRUTH – Romans 8:11; John 14:10; Matthew 10:17-20

Think, if we do, we live but, if we do not (or sin), then we see death. That's why it’s called the Law of Sin & Death. We will sin (all have sinned), & Romans 6:23 states that the result of sin is death. 

Genesis 26:5 states that Abraham was obedient to God’s Laws, & this was hundreds of years before the genesis of our faith was formed into a religion given to Moses. But Abraham isn’t considered righteous just because he kept the Law…is he? Genesis 15:6 depicts the model example of righteousness “by faith“.

So, Abram (later Abraham) made the 1st & most important step, to decide to submit to God from a circumcised heart. This proves that what counts to God is a made up mind, which is faith, then later, we see Abram's faith by what he agreed to do (which is works).

Abram's decision (faith) is recognized by God as an action (works), meaning, in this case, all Abram had to do was believe. Righteousness is “to do right”, & the substance in Abraham’s heart, was a mark, a sign, & a seal of doing-right, even while all Abram did, was in his mind..

Think of your decision to get baptized in a similar way, & read Romans 4:11,16; 2:29, 26, 28-29. The physical evidence of Abraham’s faith was shown after God had already recognized his Spiritual circumcision in Genesis 17:23.

Meaning, before we “do” anything, God gives us credit based on our thoughts & decisions. What does this mean to you?  Well, as far as salvation goes, God judges what we decide to do before any visible actions occur.

God is all knowing, He can read our minds & know if we are sincerely committed.  For more, research Hebrews 8:10; Romans 4:2-5,20-25.  Who was “delivered for our offences”? See Hebrews 9:13-15, to find who covered our offences, transgressions, or sins (since we are studying Sin & Death).

So, we can form some conclusions about the "Law of Sin & Death".  Now see how the Spirit makes us reflect the perfect image of our Lord Jesus in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 & Galatians 2:20.  We also know the "law" (in context) is not limited to the 10 Commandments, but is about do-ing to live eternally by Leviticus 18:5.  You should be able to explain Galatians 3:21-25 now.  (cont.'d)