From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death”, Romans 8:1-2.

For some, that verse is totally misunderstood. Jesus did not sacrifice His life to give us permission to go ahead and willfully keep on sinning. Read it again—the Spirit of life sets you free, not to do whatever ugly thing may come to mind, but rather to set you free from sin and death…it’s freedom, not a free for all!

The urges of your broken Adam nature are enmity to God and far from His holiness. The Spirit of God within has the enabling power to assure that you do not sin, for if you walk by the Spirit you cannot walk by the flesh. The big “if” is that you have to choose to obey the leading of the Spirit within. The choice always belongs to you…serve God and live in wisdom, joy and fulfillment or serve the flesh with its immediate burst of pleasure and power. But after that, then you must endure the end result of the flesh: turmoil, troubles and eventual eternal death and separation from God.

Hm-m, put like that, I think I know whom I shall serve. How about you? Endure the fire...it's producing pure gold!

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