Thoughts on the Epistle to the Romans (133) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

...that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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.
Romans 8:4-6

Thoughts on the Epistle to the Romans (133)
When the man of Romans 7 saw himself as under the law, he struggled desperately to fulfil God's righteous demands. But the sin that dwelt in him proved stronger. It was the dominant power.

Now the Christian has found the strength for a triumphant life of faith. He fulfils the "righteous requirement of the law" without having the law before him as his rule for living. His eyes are directed towards Christ Himself. There he finds the strength to "walk in newness of life" (ch.6, v. 4).

The believer's new nature is "Spirit", a holy nature that loves what is good. A Christian is "born of the Spirit" (John 3:8), and the Spirit of God indwells him. Therefore he strives to fulfil what complies with the Spirit of God. The result will be visible: it is "life and peace".

The principles and powers now at work in the Christian are contrasted with those of unbelievers, who have only the old nature, the flesh inherited from Adam's fallen nature. Correspondingly, their attitude concentrates solely on what is visible with the result that after death they are eternally estranged from God.

We find a detailed description of "the works of the flesh" and also of the "fruit of the Spirit" in the epistle to the Galatians (ch. 5, vv. 19-22).

(to be continued next Sunday)

Today's reading: Exodus 39:1-21 · Luke 18:9-17