Some think that Romans 7 referred to Paul’s life as a devotee of Moses while Romans 8 reflected his life in Christ. Possibly. In reality, however, Romans 7:14-25 reveals the futility of finding peace with God outside Christ’s grace. It certainly reflects the Christian’s struggle to live his intention to be Christ-like. With Paul we love the idea, and want it for ourselves, but faced with the effort demanded, we more often satisfy ourselves WANTING than BEING it. Romans 8 merely records how Christ’s Grace works in any effort to balance what disciples want to be and their actions prove. They find themselves not only saved by grace through faith but matured in discipleship by grace through faith.
This short series studies a few of many ways that Christ’s Perfect Action Equaled His Perfect Intention. Thaddeus Stevens, Representative in Congress from Pennsylvania during the Civil War, never stopped thinking of Abraham Lincoln as anyone but the descendant “of poor white trash.” History certainly disagrees with Stevens. Those who served with Lincoln at any time, for any length of time, discovered his intuitive genius for learning. Oliver Browning knew him for years—and saw him a constant “learner”—indeed, in a class nearly by himself. Reader’s Digest Biography, Lincoln. Being a “witnessing learner” must characterize Christians. We seldom perfect our intention, but we must constantly mature our intention. Consider two ways how matchlessly Christ’s Actions equaled his Intentions. For example, Mark 1:35-37 stated his Intention and 1:38-39 his Action. God not only SENT Jesus to preach everywhere in Israel, but he DID SO. Anticipating Pentecost and beyond, he later sent the Twelve in pairs throughout Israel, preaching his message of repentance, expressing his compassion in healing and proving his authority over Satan by exorcising demons Mark 6:7-12. Intention and Action complemented each other. For example, before being conceived, Jesus had been NAMED Luke 2:21. After Mary conceived him, God sent an angel to assure Joseph that what Mary hosted in her womb had been begotten by the Holy Spirit. To leave no doubt the baby was God’s Son, the angel said his name would be Jesus since he would save his people from their sins. At the start of his Early Judean Ministry, Jesus affirmed his purpose in coming John 3:17. In the First Tour of his Great Galilean Ministry he first claimed authority to forgive sin, then offered proof that he had Mark 2:1-12. Towards the end of his Later Perean Ministry he affirmed his continued intention to forgive sin by sacrificing his life Mark 10:45. Then, in a majestic forgiveness offered on the Cross, Jesus forgave the Jews hating him enough to want him dead, the Romans hardened enough to carry it out and every human being ever to live for sinning against God’s purity when reaching accountable age. Again, perfect balance existed between what his NAME intended, his LIFE affirmed and his DEATH offered. Nothing theatrical existed in Christ’s life that imagined what he wanted to do but in reality couldn’t. End Part I
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