High Point

It is generally accepted that Romans 8 is the high point in the Bible.

As one reads about the low point ~~ the challenges facing a believer in Romans 7:13-25, despair takes hold in verses 23 & 24 ~~ but then comes verse 25a ~~ and with it the introduction into the highest spiritual mountain peak of the Bible ~~ chapter 8 of Paul's epistle to the Romans ~~ and to us.

¹³ Has then what is good [the Law] become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good [the Law], so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 

¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

¹⁵ For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 

¹⁶ If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 

¹⁷ But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 

¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 

¹⁹ For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 

²⁰ Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

²¹ I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. ²² For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 

²³ But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 

²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 
² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 
³ For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
⁴ that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 
⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 
⁶ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
 ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 
⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 

¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 

¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 
¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 

²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 

²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 

²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 

²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to Hispurpose. 
²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 
³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 
³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 
³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 
³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 
³⁶ As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

³⁷ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 
³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 
³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

From BibleGateway

a prisoner of Christ Jesus

I am listening to John MacArthur's messages on Acts and in particular Acts 21:26 and on to the end of Acts.
Paul, from Acts 21:26 on is a prisoner.
In Ephesians 3:1 he says "For this reason I Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles---".
In Philemon 1:1 "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus,...".
In Philemon 1:9 "--being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."

I have recently read again for the ??? time, Pilgrim's Progress, written by John Bunyan, for the most part while he was in prison more or less continuously from 1660 to 1672.
He too could say that he was a "prisoner of Christ Jesus"; and say with Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16 "For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not  preach the Gospel!"

And finally, we see that the persecution of believers who proclaim and confess Christ still become "prisoner[s] of Christ Jesus..." today.  There are many, one of whom is Youcef Nadharkhani, a Christian minister in Iran who has been in prison for just under 3 years for 'apostasy' from Islam.

So True

Proverbs 16:8-9

8  Better is a little with righteousness,

    Than vast revenues without justice.

Not according to Demas who tries to entice Christian and Hopeful with dreams of silver and gold in The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

9 A man's heart plans his way,

   But the LORD directs his steps.

I grieve for the current leadership of this country. 
They think they are soooo smart.  
They are in for such a rude awakening...

Integrity of Scripture

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Daniel 8:25a Through his [anti-Christ] cunning
He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;
And he shall exalt himself in his heart.

2 Peter 3:18 "3 knowing this first: that scoffers [skepticism, suppression of the truth] will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

We allow the enemy to deceive, to manipulate and to sabotage us through the world, the flesh and the devil.

1 Peter 1:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Believers do not need to be deceived.

1 John 2:13b I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 2:14b I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.

Been too long...

For You have magnified Your Word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2c

Isaiah 40:5-8

5 The glory of the LORD shall be revealed,

And all flesh shall see it together;

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

6 The voice said, “Cry out!”

And he said, “What shall I cry?”

“ All flesh is grass,

And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades,

Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it;

Surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

But the Word of our God stands forever.”

#3 Faith=Works James 2:14-26

to continue in Romans 12

9 Let love be without hypocrisy.
Abhor what is evil.
Cling to what is good.
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,
in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints,
given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another.
Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own opinion.
17 Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”says the Lord.
20 Therefore
“ If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (NKJV)