The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 20:1 (ESV)
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 19:14 (ESV)
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Romans 8:1 (ESV)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
My observation:
The struggle that the Apostle Paul writes about in Romans chapter seven is not the issue of salvation, but the issue of sanctification. God, in his great love, grace, and mercy, by faith in Jesus, has saved us who believe in Jesus from the penalty of sin.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The struggle of Romans 7 is the struggle of every man and every woman; It is the struggle of dealing with the "old nature"; the fleshly nature.
Romans 7:18 (ESV)
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
The goodnews is that the grace of God has provided us also with the means to have victory over the power of sin in our lives. The old nature is dead; it died when Christ died on the cross.
Romans 7:24-25 (ESV)
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
So we come to Romans 8, and we finds these words of comfort and celebration; we find that Jesus has indeed paid it all. Jesus has provided for our justification and for our sanctification. Yes, our salvation past tense and present tense is in Jesus alone.
Let the celebration begin. There is no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and there is no separation (Romans 8:39) for those that are in Christ.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, my heart is thrilled, and my soul overflows with joy unspeakable and full of glory for all that you have done to make me acceptable in your eyes. Yes, Jesus paid it all, and all to him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, but he washed it white as snow. Oh, the blood of Jesus, that washed me, cleansed me, and made me whole.
Lord, I thank you for giving to me, salvation so rich and free. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Psalm 130:3-4 (HCSB)
3 Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand?
4 But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.
Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
6 I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.
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