Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Patricia Hudson | NCC Covenant Women’s Fellowship Meeting

Patricia Hudson – First Lady, New Covenant Church
NCC Covenant Women's Fellowship Meeting
Group discussion on Romans Chapter Five
www.NewCovenant.org

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 12 – Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 
It is important to remember that as a Christ Follower, you operate under a different set of laws and principles. When I travel to places like Africa or England, I am reminded every moment of every day that I am in a foreign country. I recognize and operate according to the laws of the host country, such as driving on the left side of the road in England 
In your life in Christ, you have the opportunity to live by something called “the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.” This is exactly what it sounds like. It is most certainly as good as it sounds! It is the Holy Spirit, it is God’s life in Christ, and it is powerful!  After more than 38 years of living a Christian life I’m still discovering the benefits of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ in every part of life and ministry. It is something better experienced than explained.
Christ Followers have been delivered from the law of sin and death. This is as bad as it sounds. It is the cycle of defeat that we left behind when coming to Christ. Today, we want to introduce others to Jesus and to the many benefits of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. 
Reflection Question: What is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:

Good Stewards: God’s Most Blessed People

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John 8:31, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Paul used the word “steward” which is oikonomos (οἰκονόμος) in the Greek. It was a word understood by people in his day. Oikonomos was the “major domo” or the person in charge of the administration of the house or estate.
Most importantly, a good steward received an unlimited supply.
 

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 11 – Delivered from the Law (Do’s and Don’ts)

Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. 
In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul makes the argument that the best way to live a new life is to remember that you’re dead to the old life. This is possible because we are in fact dead to the old life because of what Jesus has done for us.  
In every day life “newness” looks like this:  If you were a person given to arguing with somebody who disagreed with you, because of Jesus Christ you realize that the old argumentative person is now dead and inactive. When the opportunity comes to argue with someone, “newness” reminds you to love others and do good for them. Jesus’ “newness” inside of you responds before the habits of the “old you” kick in.
Reflection Question: In what ways have your old ways been replaced by “newness of life?”
Key insight I gained today: 
Today’s action item based on insight:

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 10 – Sin Has No Dominion Over You

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 
Christians sometimes struggle with living righteously. Even though we are righteous and in right standing with God, there is the challenge to live the right way. However, the key is to not “try” to be righteous, but let God’s grace work in you.
Living better is a matter of growing stronger in our walk with Jesus Christ. More than anything else, it is recognizing that sin doesn’t have actual power over you. In Christ, sin only has the power that we give it, because it is already defeated. Jesus also delivered us from something called a “sin consciousness” (Hebrews. 10:2) which is the false feeling that we are still somehow sinners. No, you are the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)
People who are not Christians cannot stop themselves from sinning. Christians already have the power to live victoriously. We only need to remember this truth: “dead men do not sin.” We gain strength, not from “fighting” bad impulses, but from knowing and exercising the grace we already have.Think of it like this, when you are about serving God and “front-sliding,” there is no time for “back-sliding.”
Reflection Question: Why are you dead to sin?
Key insight I gained today:
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ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 9 – ”Newness of Life”

Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Water baptism is an outward demonstration of the inward work of God. When you received Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit baptized you into the body of Christ. You became a part of Jesus and He became a part of you. What occurred is nothing less than a miracle! Going down in the water symbolize the burial of the old person, it also symbolized being immersed into Jesus Christ. Coming up out of the water symbolized being raised from the dead. The amazing result of all of this is that you can “walk in newness of life.”In a life and world full of old, tired things, look for the newness God has provided! When you expect it, you will see it and often be pleasantly surprised.Reflection Question: What is the significance of water baptism. How are you experiencing “newness” in your life?Key insight I gained today:Today’s action item based on insight:

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 8 – ”Reign In Life”

Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 
Adam, as the progenitor of the human race, is responsible for leaving us a legacy of what we call the “sin nature.” We inherited the desire to sin which resulted in death reigning over humanity. 
Jesus, who is called the “last Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45) has reversed the curse. Jesus empowered us to be able to experience an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. 
The outcome of this grace and gift is that through Christ you can reign in life! We do not reign over people, but we can reign over ourselves and our circumstances. 
Because of Jesus, we are no longer victims. We are victors! Reflection Question: How do you “reign in life” through Christ?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 7 - ”Access Into Grace”

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God 
Self-righteousness produces no peace, only religious arrogance. Being justified (made righteous) by God produces peace. There is a peace in life that only Jesus Christ can give. Furthermore, faith in God has also provided access into the grace of God. Grace is God’s favor and includes everything He makes available to you. I like to think of God’s grace as His “operational power.” 
Living in the grace of God is like having access to a great warehouse full of provisions that you can use when you need it. The knowledge and reality of possessing God’s grace is both humbling and a cause for rejoicing!Reflection Question: What is grace?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 6 - ”The Provision of Promise”

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all...20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 
God promised to give Abraham and his wife a child. That’s not remarkable until you realize that Abraham was 99 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 years old! She was long past the childbearing years, but that did not prevent God from doing what He wanted to do for them and for His own purpose. 
The faith that Abraham showed toward God made him the “Father of Faith” for all of us. God’s grace made provision for Abraham and Sarah. Today, it is our privilege and responsibility to have faith in God... and He provides the faith to believe in Him. 
The hardest thing we have to do is to believe that God can do what He promised! Just like Abraham, we only need to become persuaded that God can do what He said.Reflection Question: What is the “hardest” thing about having faith in God?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight:

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 5 - ”An Act of Love & Grace”

Romans 4:4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
Abraham had no basis to boast because without God he could have done nothing...and the same is true for you and me. As stated in a previous lesson, faith in God is the basis for becoming righteous. Righteousness by faith is a gift and impartation of grace from God through Jesus Christ. 
When people think they must work for salvation, they also think God is indebted to them. Example: If I do a job for you, I expect to be paid. If you do a big job for me, and do not charge me, I regard that as an underserved act of love and grace. 
Jesus did the big job of saving us, changing our eternal destiny, and giving us purpose for life! He only wants you to say “thank you” and go out to become a witness to others.Reflection Question: How does less work in our own strength bring more grace from God?
Key insight I gained today:
Today’s action item based on insight: