There is a Spiritual hunger and longing in the hearts of every growing Christian of the heaven-on-earth walk in Romans chapter eight. The very purpose of reckoning means {work out-counting-calculation} is that way we may live in this wonderful, and practical realm of life in Christ.
All that the Holy Spirit teaches us in Romans Six and takes us through in Romans Seven combines to prepare us for the walk in Romans Eight. This in turn, brings us to the blessed heights of Colossians. We may touch on this in a later article.
Through the years, weather we realize it or not, the Holy Spirit is developing us “glory to glory” 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Along the Path that has been laid out for us the Romans 6 is the step that deals with the principle of sin and the answer to its power. Romans 7 is the struggle we all endure {usually years in duration} that has to do with the principle of law and brings the answer to its bondage. Romans 8 is the walk based on the principle of life in Christ administered by the Spirit of life.
Let’s look at Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.
There is a dual application in the truth of these two verses. Concerning the future, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has freed us from the eternal condemnation of the law of sin and death, Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As for the present, the Holy Spirit ministers the LIFE of the Lord Jesus within His end time Temple for our daily walk, continually freeing us from the power of sin and the deathly influence it brings in our lives. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more {certain} now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved {daily delivered} from sin’s dominion through His {resurrection} Life. We are saved from the condemnation of sin because of His reconciliation; we are delivered from the power of sin because of His Life.
Especially in our early years as believers, most of us have felt that it was our responsibility, with the Lord’s help, to live a Christian life. Our unqualified failure in attempting to do so has been the Holy Spirit’s means of showing us that we cannot produce, nor are we meant to do so. Only the Lord Jesus can live His life through us, and He does this as we reject our own strength and resources, to walk in accordance with the Spirit of Life. Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What it takes years for us to learn thoroughly, is that the Holy Spirit of our Father ministers All. By the Spirit we are sealed, we live, we grow, and we shall be raised. Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. It is especially important for us that He is the Spirit of Life.
Even though we are alive in Christ Jesus, we have no power by which to live the new life in Christ, for that, as well as for everything else, we must rely upon the Holy Spirit of our God. This blessed gift of God’s Holy Spirit has been offered to us by Him whose Spirit and Life are pure. Think about this most wonderful gift and the guiding hand that has His Spirit will be for us when we truly trust Him for all matters.
Too many Christians today are seeking to live for the Lord on the basis of the principle of love. Now you might feel this to be a strange statement, for even I teach “love, mercy, and compassion” in all things as His way.
Our love is far too weak and vacillating for such an understanding; SELF will surely see to that. Romans 7:18,22,23.
There is only one true and adequate motivating power in our Christian life, and that is the very life of the Lord Jesus, ministered within the Spirit of Life Himself. This is not a motivation of love, but the empowerment of life. Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
It is not; only what we have done for Christ that will last, but rather, only what is done in us by Christ that will last!
In Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Verse 7 reveals the nature of the flesh, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me {that is, in my flesh,} dwells no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Our old man/Adamic nature was not changed, but crucified; it was exchanged for the new creation in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
We exchanged the position of death {Adamic nature} for the position of life {New Man in Christ} By means of our identification in the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, Romans 11:24 For if you were cut of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? How glorious to be a newly created branch grafted into The True Vine!
As the life of the vine flows by the Spirit of life, the fruit of the Spirit is increasingly manifested in the branch. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.
In the vine, we are complete; in ourselves, we are being “completed” through the growth based on reckoning. Romans 8:29 And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron
We Exchange Life for Death (Romans 11) – Ron Volk
June 8, 2025 by Shirley Gohner • Uncategorized • 0 Comments
There is a Spiritual hunger and longing in the hearts of every growing Christian of the heaven-on-earth walk in Romans chapter eight. The very purpose of reckoning means {work out-counting-calculation} is that way we may live in this wonderful, and practical realm of life in Christ.
All that the Holy Spirit teaches us in Romans Six and takes us through in Romans Seven combines to prepare us for the walk in Romans Eight. This in turn, brings us to the blessed heights of Colossians. We may touch on this in a later article.
Through the years, weather we realize it or not, the Holy Spirit is developing us “glory to glory” 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Along the Path that has been laid out for us the Romans 6 is the step that deals with the principle of sin and the answer to its power. Romans 7 is the struggle we all endure {usually years in duration} that has to do with the principle of law and brings the answer to its bondage. Romans 8 is the walk based on the principle of life in Christ administered by the Spirit of life.
Let’s look at Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.
There is a dual application in the truth of these two verses. Concerning the future, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has freed us from the eternal condemnation of the law of sin and death, Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As for the present, the Holy Spirit ministers the LIFE of the Lord Jesus within His end time Temple for our daily walk, continually freeing us from the power of sin and the deathly influence it brings in our lives. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more {certain} now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved {daily delivered} from sin’s dominion through His {resurrection} Life. We are saved from the condemnation of sin because of His reconciliation; we are delivered from the power of sin because of His Life.
Especially in our early years as believers, most of us have felt that it was our responsibility, with the Lord’s help, to live a Christian life. Our unqualified failure in attempting to do so has been the Holy Spirit’s means of showing us that we cannot produce, nor are we meant to do so. Only the Lord Jesus can live His life through us, and He does this as we reject our own strength and resources, to walk in accordance with the Spirit of Life. Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What it takes years for us to learn thoroughly, is that the Holy Spirit of our Father ministers All. By the Spirit we are sealed, we live, we grow, and we shall be raised. Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. It is especially important for us that He is the Spirit of Life.
Even though we are alive in Christ Jesus, we have no power by which to live the new life in Christ, for that, as well as for everything else, we must rely upon the Holy Spirit of our God. This blessed gift of God’s Holy Spirit has been offered to us by Him whose Spirit and Life are pure. Think about this most wonderful gift and the guiding hand that has His Spirit will be for us when we truly trust Him for all matters.
Too many Christians today are seeking to live for the Lord on the basis of the principle of love. Now you might feel this to be a strange statement, for even I teach “love, mercy, and compassion” in all things as His way.
Our love is far too weak and vacillating for such an understanding; SELF will surely see to that. Romans 7:18,22,23.
There is only one true and adequate motivating power in our Christian life, and that is the very life of the Lord Jesus, ministered within the Spirit of Life Himself. This is not a motivation of love, but the empowerment of life. Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
It is not; only what we have done for Christ that will last, but rather, only what is done in us by Christ that will last!
In Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Verse 7 reveals the nature of the flesh, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Romans 7:18 For I know that in me {that is, in my flesh,} dwells no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Our old man/Adamic nature was not changed, but crucified; it was exchanged for the new creation in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
We exchanged the position of death {Adamic nature} for the position of life {New Man in Christ} By means of our identification in the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, Romans 11:24 For if you were cut of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? How glorious to be a newly created branch grafted into The True Vine!
As the life of the vine flows by the Spirit of life, the fruit of the Spirit is increasingly manifested in the branch. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.
In the vine, we are complete; in ourselves, we are being “completed” through the growth based on reckoning. Romans 8:29 And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Your brother in Christ,
Ron