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The Path
By William R. Cunningham
July 1, 2007
Introduction
One of the most important and sometimes most difficult thing in life that we have to do is to make the right decision. However, we don’t always know what decisions to make or what basis to make a good decision or the right one. I have come to believe based on my own experiences that an event that requires a decision is usually not isolated. Typical a decision that I have to make now is influenced by the events that lead up to where I happen to be.
Therefore, I find it important in making decisions to look backwards to see where you came from in order to help you see where you are going. Once you have a good idea of where you are going you could then make a more informed and appropriate decision. I have found in my own life that it is very helpful and perhaps even necessary to identify the path that you are on in order to make appropriate decisions later.
The problem sometimes is that identifying the path is not always easy. The path may not be a straight line. Sometimes things seemingly unrelated to what the path we have identified later appear to be part of the same path. The thing is that we don’t always know the complete path or the whole path. Where God is leading us is not always 100 percent known.
This is why being accustomed to the concept of the path and building an intimate and working relationship with God is very important. We can learn to hear God when he tells us where to go and what to do. His instruction may not come as a dream or vision, but rather as the implementation of divine wisdom in a given circumstance.
We have the confidence of knowing that God is with us, but we have to keep in mind that God is doing what he wants and not what we want. Therefore, it is important for us to determine his will and base our decisions and activities on that. We will have success if we go along with God. See 1 John 5:14-15 and Romans 12:1-3.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) -- {28} And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 6
Verses 1-11 – We are identified with Jesus’ death so now we are identified with his life as well through the resurrection.
Verses 12-14 – We should not give our bodies for unrighteousness, but rather to righteousness. Sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under the law, but under grace.
Verses 15- 19 – Just as we presented out bodies to unrighteousness to sin, we should present our bodies to righteousness.
Verses 20-23 – The sinful things that we used to do produced no fruit. Now the things that we do in regards to righteousness produce fruit to holiness. Sin leads to death.
Chapter 7
Verses 1 – 6
We died to the law and therefore have become free from sin. The law stirred up the sins that were in our members. When the law says, “don’t” then those are the things that we want to do.
Verses 7-12
It is because of the law that we know sin. Our flesh takes what the law says and uses it against us via our lusts to sin.
Verses 13-20
The law is not sin nor does it cause sin. It is our own flesh that causes us to sin. The things we should do are the things that we don’t do. The things that we should not do are the things that we do.
Verses 21 – 25 (The war within)
There is a war in us. We want to serve God with our minds, but our flesh pulls us to sin. Jesus Christ is the one that can deliver us from the dilemma of the flesh.
Chapter 8
Verses 1-8
There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ (those who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit). Those who walk after the flesh are carnal and are heading towards death. Those who walk according to the Spirit are spiritually minded and are headed towards life.
Verses 9-11
Jesus Christ will give us life. If the Spirit of Christ is in us then we will live.
Verses 12-17 – We owe God so to speak because he saved us. We became part of his family and there is nothing that we did to deserve it. If we suffer with Jesus then we will be glorified with Him.
Verses 18-25 – Paul said that the suffering that they were going through is nothing compared to the glory they would receive. All of creation (eve humans) await the day when God judges.
Verses 26-27 -- The Spirit of God helps us when we don’t know what to pray for. He makes intercessions for us according to the will of God.
The Spirit of God continually helps us because we are weak and are not able to sufficiently help ourselves.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) -- {28} And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
This verse must be interpreted in at least verses 26-27 and more fully from Chapter six on. Thus far the main theme of what Paul is saying deals with sanctification. We eagerly await the culmination of our salvation.
We should be careful when interpreting Romans 8:28. It may appear to say that everything works out for good to those who love God. Sometimes things look like they are not working out for anyone’s good and that perhaps we just don’t understand it. However, I don’t think that this verse of scripture is saying that in light of its context. Consider the components.
- All things work together for God
- To those who love God (what does it mean to love God?)
- To those who are called according to His purpose
We already know that the Spirit of God makes intercessions for us according to the will of God. I don’t think that this means that the Spirit translates our prayers to what God’s will really is. I think it is more likely that the Spirit is constantly praying for us in our weak state (we are always weak) and His prayers are consistent with the will of God. Therefore, it would behoove us to get in line with the will of God. It is then that things will work for good.
Where are we going? Where is god taking us? What is the next step? That depends on where we are going. We don’t know what to pray for. We don’t know what to do next. We can only trust God and do our best to get in line with his will. This is why we need to build that relationship with Him and learn to recognize his voice.
We read in the Bible that people heard from God. How did they know they were hearing from God? They must have been much more spiritually minded than we are and therefore could recognize when God was speaking to them.
We need to get more spiritually minded and do our best to follow the path that God has us on and then things will work together for good according to God's will not ours.