Opening Prayer: Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for battle and my fingers for warfare, He is my gracious love and my fortress, my strong tower and my deliverer, my shield and the one in whom I find refuge, (Psalm 141:1-2).
Today’s Bible Verse: Read Romans 8:1-6
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:1-4).
Associated Scriptures:
But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24).
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Supportive Quotes:
Sometimes our deliverance comes immediately after the “but God;” sometimes it is years before we see the end of the sentence that God is writing with our lives.[1] – Rick Warren
Every soul that truly puts his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ is then and there saved from the penalty—the guilt, the wages, the punishment—of sin.[2] – A. W. Pink
Those who are thus preserved not only have to sing of repenting grace, as they must do however purely they may have lived, but they can also tell of the restraining grace of God which would not let them wander into the paths of the destroyer as others did! [3] – Charles Spurgeon
Biblical Analysis:
God is the Deliverer
Jehovah-Mephalti in the Hebrew means, the Lord my deliverer.[4] Psalm 18:2 says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The psalmist tells gives us several words each of which support each other. A “rock” is a firm foundation. A “fortress” is walled protection. A “shield” protects our vital most vital parts. Finally, a “stronghold” can refer to a specific belief that is held closely. Spiritually, all these adjectives point to one assurance and that affirmation is deliverance from sin and death.
Jesus Delivered Mankind
Galatians 1:3-5 says, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Grace and peace are closely related. The grace of God is undeserved, as is the peace of God. Grace is the action of God that provides for our justification (Ephesians 2:8-9). Peace is the result of grace. Through the grace that brings salvation, we receive the gift of peace.
When Jesus died on the cross, that act of redemption delivered us from our sin. Because of Christ’s action of deliverance, believers now have peace with God. The peace of God and its ongoing action is the result of peace with God.
The Holy Spirit Delivered Us to Serve Him
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:16,-17 KJV).
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:5-6).
The Bible clearly teaches us that the peace of God is connected directly to our obedience (1 Peter 1:2). When we commit sin, the result is guilt. That guilt is caused by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Guilt is the most prominent emotion. When we are disobedient, peace is replaced with guilt. The convicting action of the Spirit drives us to repentance. Contrition once again ushers or guides us back to a life of peace filled with joy. Obedience drives peace and is a result of the power of the Spirit working in us.
Spiritual Application:
Hebrews 11:40 tells us that God has a plan for our lives. His plan provides for our perfection in Him (Hebrews 10:14). Jesus is at the center of this plan. He came to be the author and finisher of God’s vision for mankind (Hebrews 2:2). It is through His life, sacrifice, and resurrection that God fulfilled His desire for our redemption, justification, and transformation. The final piece of that plan emanates from the Spirit of God as He convicts us of our sin (John 16:8-11) and draws us to salvation (John 16:13). It is this plan and its ultimate execution that we celebrate on Easter.
Lesson Within the Lesson:
What was God’s plan for the deliverance of the lost? Read 2 Corinthians 1:9-10.
How did Jesus participate in our deliverance from sin and death? Study Galatians 1:3-5.
What did the Holy Spirit do to deliver us from sin and death? Meditate on Galatians 5:16-18.
Explain how we should respond now that we have been delivered from death. See Romans 8:5-6, Ephesians 5:8-11, Galatians 5:16-17, and 1 John 1:7-10.
[1] Rick Warren, But God is Our Deliverer, © Copyright 2017 Rick Warren. pastorrick.com/devotional/english/but-god-is-our-deliverer
[2] A. W. Pink, A Four-fold Salvation, Copyright 1999, The Reformed Reader, All Rights Reserved, reformedreader.org/affs02.htm
[3] Charles Spurgeon, Christians Kept from Sin, Public Domain, spurgeongems.org/vols52-54/chs3037.pdf
[4] Jehovah’s Names, prayertoday.org/NamesofGod/Jehovah-names.htm
Partly Cloudy, 65°