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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Blood—Forgives and Cleanses, #3
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (Romans 8:13—NIV)
I will set forth just one example of the numerous New Testaments warnings concerning sin in the believer's life, showing it is not true that God does not see our behavior.
The context reveals clearly that the above verse is written to Christians. What does it say? It says if the Christian lives according to his sinful nature he will die, but if by the Holy Spirit he puts to death the deeds of his sinful nature he will live.
Since the contrast is between death and life, we assume Paul is referring to spiritual death and spiritual life. It is obvious Christians do not die or live physically according to their behavior. In any case, if you will look back two verses you will see that Paul is speaking of the redemption of our body.
Paul is explaining how the law of the Spirit of life sets us free from the law of sin and death (refer back to Chapter Seven). The capstone of our being set free is the redemption of our body. The idea is that if we continue to live according to our sinful nature we will destroy our spiritual life and thus prevent the redemption of our body.
The righteousness of Christ is ascribed to us only as long as we are rejecting our sinful nature and living according to the Holy Spirit.
In order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:4—NIV)
If we as a Christian continue to live according to our sinful nature we will lose our imputed righteousness and destroy any hope of having our body made alive at the coming of the Lord from Heaven. This is what Paul is saying in Romans 8:13. Now let's do some thinking.
If it were true that we are "covered with the blood" so God does not see our behavior, how then could it be true that if we live according to our sinful nature we will die spiritually?
If the current Evangelical teaching were true, Romans 8:13 would make no sense.
If God sees us "through the blood," then it does not really matter how we live. When we commit adultery God does not see it. We are covered with the blood. Our behavior would not result in spiritual death.
When we lie God does not see it. We are covered with the blood. Our behavior would not result in spiritual death.
When we slander a fellow Christian God does not see it. We are covered with the blood. Our behavior would not result in spiritual death.
When we refuse to deny ourselves and carry our cross behind Jesus, God does not see it. We are covered with the blood. Our behavior would not result in spiritual death.
When God tells us to go to the mission field, and we disobey, God does not see our rebellion. We are covered with the blood. Our behavior would not result in spiritual death.
When we as a Christian are in a drunken rage and beat our wife, God does not see it. We are covered with the blood. Our behavior would not result in spiritual death.
To be continued.