All Access - April 24 - Day 9

READ – Romans 7:7-13

I like the explanation the Life Application Bible includes with this section:

“Sin is real, and it is dangerous. Imagine a sunny day at the beach. You plunge into the surf; then you notice a sign at the pier: ‘No swimming. Sharks.’ Your day is ruined. Is it the sign’s fault? Are you angry with the people who put it up? The law is like the sign. It is essential, and we are grateful for it – but it doesn’t get rid of the sharks.”

There will always be a thrill seeker who is willing to run the risk of being eaten by the shark. He will plunge into the waves, willingly taking the chance that he will be attacked. In fact, he enjoys the danger. His pulse quickens with the knowledge that he is doing something he knows he shouldn’t do.

Isn’t that just like sin? The pulse races as you gossip / steal / lie / lust – knowing that the sin goes against God’s will. There is an unholy exhilaration that contradicts the inevitable letdown at the realization you’ve disappointed your Heavenly Father. 

That, writes Paul, is what the Law does. It defines sin. It points out what is right and what is wrong. And, in so doing, it reveals the forbidden fruit that humankind has found tempting since Eve plucked the first deadly fruit from the garden tree

All Access - April 23 - Day 8

READ – Romans 7:1-6

The book to the Romans was written by a first-century missionary named Paul. In Romans 7, Paul begins with an example from marriage to illustrate that Christians are ruled by the Holy Spirit and not by the ancient Jewish law. 

He tells the Romans that, when one spouse dies, the other is free to remarry should he or she choose. Marrying another while your spouse is alive is committing adultery, but marrying as a widow or widower is not sinful because the death of one’s spouse releases him or her from the marriage oath.

In the same way, Paul writes, when you “die” to yourself by going through the ceremony of baptism (see Romans 6:1-14) you have been released from the Jewish Law and serve God in a new way: by the Holy Spirit that lives within you.

In other words, the Christian life isn’t about rules; it’s about being in relationship with your Heavenly Father. That means, when you encounter temptation, and your willpower runs out, you have access to God’s.

All Access - April 22 - Day 7

Let me ask you something: How have you been trying to gain access to God?

Some people try to get access to God by being extra good and never messing up.
The problem with that is that we can’t be perfect.

Some people try to get access to God by learning all they can about God.
The problem with that is knowing about God isn’t the same as knowing God.

Some people think they will gain access because their parents are/were Christians.
The problem with that is the only way to get access to God is through Jesus.

Hebrews 10:21-22 (NLT)
And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

The cleansing of the conscience that verse talks about is being baptized. When you choose to follow Jesus and publicly acknowledge him as God by being baptized, you can go right into God’s presence because Jesus gives you an all-access pass to God.

If you’ve not yet publicly declared your faith in Jesus and been baptized for the forgiveness of your sin, don’t you think it’s time you did?