Unhindered by Fear. Romans 8

 

As the world as we know it has changed during these past few weeks due to the Corona Virus; As we have entered into a phase than none of us would have envisioned and would probable would not have believed; even if someone told us it would happen, there is a whole list of emotions we are experiencing. Many of us are fearful, confused, overwhelmed, upset, angry and some of us are terrified, paranoid, hopeless, anxious, and the list goes on and on. The Bible tell us that none of the things that happen in this world are to break us. Romans eight opens up for us a truth in which we have nothing to fear as we have overcome this world through Christ our Savior.

I think most of us can agree that we are not just the product of our physical appearance. There is a substance within us deeper, stronger and everlasting. The Bible describes us as having a body, a soul and a Spirit. The body decays, the soul is the essence of who we are and the Spirit is like the temperament. Each individual and unique temperament with its unique gifts and challenges.

The Bible speaks of different spirits. There is the Spirit of God, the human spirits and evil spirits. Each of us has a human spirit. We can also open ourselves to be overtaken by other spirits. The Bible also speaks about God’s spirit being poured out on different people throughout the stories of the old testament. In those times, it took very special people like Moses to receive that Spirit.

In the beginning of Creation, the Bible tells us that we were created in God’s image and we were put in command of His creation. The Psalmist says on Psalm 8:3-6 ” When I consider Your Heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands, you have put all things under his feet”

Under that same token, the Bible also speaks about The Spirit of God now being freely given to those who have put their faith and trust in the saving of Christ given to us by grace. That Spirit is what gives life to our mortal bodies. That Spirit is what changes us and takes us into a process of transformation to be more like the image of Christ so that at the end of our journey on earth, we can be united with our Father. That Spirit is what gives us the right to be called Sons and daughters of God.

The Bible also describes that those that have that Spirit will be known by their fruits. The fruits of the Spirit of God are Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Romans eight says that if the Spirit of Christ is in me, the body might be dead but the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. It also says that we are to be led by the Spirit and not the flesh. This takes our freedom of choice.

The Bible speaks of the Creation God puts us in control of as an active participant of this journey. Romans 8:20-22 tells us that God’s creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but because of Him who subjected it in hopes that the creation itself might be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God! For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

Covid-19 is a temporary problem. It is part of that corruption but it is not the end of us for at the end of the chapter on Romans 8:37-39 it says: “But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore brothers and sisters, let us be strong and courageous, let us lead with power and strength and exercise what the apostle says in Romans 8:31 that if God is for us, who is against us? Covid-19 is NOT  in control! God always is!