BELONGING TO CHRIST AND FRUITFUL FOR GOD

 

Romans 7:4-6  So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. (NIV)

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In marriage, two people belong to each other. But if one dies, the other is free to marry again and belong to somebody else. Paul used that illustration to show how those who previously depended on the law of God to save them could be released into a new relationship with God through Jesus.

Jews were brought up to believe that they belonged to God if they kept His law. But nobody can keep God's law perfectly. That is why Jesus Christ died. He was punished for all our failure to keep His law (www.crosscheck.org.uk). So those who believe in Jesus, repenting of their sins, are no longer condemned by their failure to keep God's law ... it is as if they have died to the law so that they might belong to Jesus Christ Himself. Their purpose now is not to try to improve themselves in order to be acceptable, but to know that they are free to bear fruit to the glory of God.

'Bearing fruit' means to reproduce the life and character of Christ in our own lives. It should be a natural product of the family relationship we now enjoy as children of God: it is as though we share His 'spiritual genes'. Before being saved we could only reproduce deathly characteristics, and our sinful passions produced a rotting lifestyle. But in Christ we are released from that, and have the capacity and potential to live Christ-like lives to God's glory. So don't allow yourself to stay trapped in the despair of failing to be good enough. Thank Jesus Christ for the freedom He has won for you and learn to serve Him with gladness. It may take some practice, but instead of wallowing in spiritual defeat, thank Jesus every day for His mercy and grace and ask His help to live a new kind of life - belonging to Him.

Prayer:  Most merciful God. Thank You that I do not have to try to improve my 'spiritual performance' in order to be loved by You. Forgive me when I wallow in despair - looking at my failure rather than to Christ's sacrifice for me. Help me to repent and receive Your mercy and grace so that I can learn to live in thanksgiving and fruitfulness. Help me to live today as somebody who belongs to the King of kings and Lord of lords. In Jesus' Name. Amen.