Flesh is Accused, But the Spirit Reigneth

Earlier today I stumbled upon some old journals from years ago and was blessed by the reminders they contained. So I thought I’d share them with you:

You’re trying to do for yourself what Christ already did for you—–trying to clean up your life.

From Martin Luther’s Introduction to His Commentary on Galatians:

“Two kinds of righteousness, active and passive, to the end that manners and faith, works and grace, policy and religion, should not be confounded, or take the one for the other. Both are necessary; but must be kept within their bounds; Christian righteousness appertaineth to the new man, and the righteousness of the law appertaineth to the old man, which is born of flesh and blood. … So both these continue while we live here.

The flesh is accused, exercised with temptations, oppressed with heaviness and sorrow, bruised by its active righteousness of the law; but the spirit reigneth, rejoiceth, and is saved by the passive and Christian righteousness, because it knoweth that it hath a Lord in Heaven, at the right hand of His Father, who hath abolished the law, sin, death, and hath trodden under His feet all evils, led them captive, and triumphed over them in Himself (Col. 2:15).”

What do we look like when we fail to accept who we are (good and bad)?
– Perfectionism / Intolerance / Judgmental
– Resignation / Defeatism / Licentiousness
– Rejection of God, the Gospel, Christ
– Excessive anger, rage, frustration, disappointment
 – Rejection of self, others, broken relationships
– Insecurity / Misery

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” Psalm 27:1

Not even my sin, weakness, or stupidity can thwart God’s perfect plan. Grace covers over. I’m not just forgiven, I’m adopted. Wanted. Chosen. Beloved.

Praying that God will drill those truths deeper and deeper into every cell of my being—
And yours too.

Happy Tuesday,
Tara B.