From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Tue, Oct 31, 2023 at 5:30 AM

Subject: 10-31-23 THOUGHTS

10-31-23   THOUGHTS

So what is to RULE in our lives?  The reading below cries out RIGHTEOUSNESS and not SIN!  This study spins out of a discussion about our being crucified.  A necessary “believing adult death” is explained.  In Acts 8:36-37   As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look! Water!   What prevents me from being baptized?"  37  [[And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."]].   Verse 7 below says “for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Verse 13b says  “but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead,”  The words FREE & SLAVE are placed side by side in verse 18.  Having said “I die daily” in 1Cor 15:31b Paul says in 1Cor 15:34a “Awake to righteousness, and sin not;”

Rom 6:6-18      knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  7  for he who has died is freed from sin. 8  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.  10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  11  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13  and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were  committed,  18  and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Rom 12:1-2   Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

My Prayer:

Please Father, help us each day to be renewed in our mind.  Bring us always to the shadow of the cross.  May the crucifixion of self  occur over and over in this place.  Renew us and transform us to be rejoicing slaves of righteousness.  May  we find Your blessings in the places Satan lies about.   Bless the Church at Rescue.  Renew each part to its proper efficient supply.  Lift us up as only You can.   In the name of our Savior,    Amen.