The Blessings Received in Christ - Romans 8:0#
Romans 8:0 - The Blessings Received in Christ
(JP Text Group - Organized by Yun Dan Feng Qing)
Let’s Pray Together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise You. It is Your love that allows us to gather before You once again. Your words are our strength and our help at all times. We completely surrender this time to the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit guide our hearts, help us understand Your words, and keep Your words in our hearts, becoming our supply in life. Thank You and praise You, Lord. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
Romans 8:1-4:
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 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, 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.
Brothers and sisters, peace in the Lord! The topic we are sharing is: The Blessings Received in Christ.
There are many blessings in Christ. The blessings we can see actually come from the spiritual realm. Where do all spiritual blessings come from? They come from Jesus Christ. Those who are in Christ are blessed. In Chapter 7, Paul has a struggle in his heart. There is no good thing in his flesh. When he wants to do good, he ends up doing evil, often doing things he does not want to do.
How can he be free from this body of death?
He is truly in great anguish. He feels that there are two laws waging war in his flesh: one is the law, and the other is the Spirit; one is of the flesh, and the other is of the Spirit. This struggle often leads him to failure. He cannot overcome by himself. In the end, he tells us, “Thanks be to God! Through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can be free.”
Chapter 8 continues from the content of Chapter 7. Now, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those in Christ Jesus are not condemned, and the Holy Spirit has set him free from the anguish mentioned earlier, feeling that he cannot overcome things like bad temper and some bad habits—many things that seem difficult to overcome. In Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit can set you free. Although your flesh is weak and there are many things you cannot do, the Holy Spirit can help you. Thank the Lord; this is what we want to share today.
What does it mean to be in Christ? Recently, many people have asked how one can be considered to be in Christ. What does it mean to walk in Christ? This actually refers to the position and identity of a Christian. Being in Christ refers to a person's faith in Christ! When you believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross, you are in Christ!
In one sentence, how can you be sure you are in Christ? When you believe in Jesus, you are in Christ! You will not leave again. Many things in the Bible are very simple!
In Christ, we have died with Christ and have been resurrected with Him. This means that you live, die, and are resurrected in Christ. Christ is your representative, and you also represent Jesus. Jesus is now your agent, your mediator, your substitute, and your Lord! You are in Him, and He is in you; this is being in Christ.
When a person believes in Jesus Christ, they are united with Christ; they are in Christ. In God's eyes, this person has already belonged to Christ, and all of Christ's blessings are credited to them. When you believe in Jesus Christ, God places you in Christ. This is your belief, and God acknowledges that you are connected with Christ. We live in Christ; God accepts us and blesses us through Christ.
What was Jesus' state while living on earth? What was His identity? He is the Son of God, victorious in all things. In Christ, you are also a son of God. When Christ lived on earth, He was righteous and loved by God.
Being in Christ means: believers conduct themselves daily in union with Christ, and His words are our standard. Some may ask, can I do a certain thing? There is a very important standard: the Bible may not record whether this thing can be done, but remember, when you do it, you are with Christ. If you feel that Jesus would also be willing to do such a thing, then you can do it. Jesus is full of grace and truth; we can do things with the heart of Jesus.
It is about giving your life to Jesus Christ, connecting with Him, which allows you to live out your faith correctly. What comes out will definitely be correct behavior, pleasing to everyone. Many people followed Jesus during His time on earth, willing to be with Him; this is also the behavior that Christians should have.
When we truly want to give our lives to Jesus Christ, you are a true believer. Some may say, “I don’t know if I truly believe. Sometimes I believe, and sometimes I can’t. Am I in Christ?” When you are willing to give everything to Jesus, you are in Him. Walking in Christ means not following our flesh but following the Spirit, because you are in Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is in you, helping to plan your life and guide your path.
John 15:4-7:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Jesus uses a very vivid metaphor to tell us how to be in Christ. We are like branches connected to the vine. The vine is connected to the branches every day. If one day they are not connected, the branches will wither. This is our life; our life needs to be united with Christ every day.
When the branch is connected to the vine, if it wants to bear fruit, it must draw supply from the vine at all times. This is also the theme we want to share today: the blessings received in Christ. The supply is present at all times, just like you are a grape branch, receiving nutrients from the vine, which is always in supply. If there is a need, receive it and make it your own, and your life will change. The leaves will grow, and fruit will be produced; this is the fruit we bear.
Jesus tells us to abide in Him, just as the branch abides in the vine. This is our union with Christ. We need to be in Christ. Sometimes when we try to rely on ourselves to conduct our lives, it becomes difficult and easy to fail. Jesus said, “For without Me, you can do nothing.” When the branch leaves the vine, it loses strength and value. Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, My words will abide in you.”
How can we receive so many blessings in Christ? The Bible tells us that all blessings in heaven and on earth are in Christ, and in Christ, they are all Amen (true). No matter how many blessings there are, in Christ, they are all Amen. If we abide in Him, let God's words also abide in you, and the promises that follow will come immediately: “Whatever you desire, when you ask, it will be done for you.”
Verse 8: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
How can we abide in Christ? We need to put Christ's words in our hearts. When you have a problem, pray to God immediately. God says, “Whatever you desire, when you ask, it will be done for you.” This is God's promise. Those who are in Christ have hope. You know that God is willing to pour out all blessings upon you.
Sharing the first blessing: God no longer condemns you.
Why can we receive God's blessings? People do not have to strive for good behavior as in the Old Testament, trying hard to keep the Ten Commandments, trying hard to obey God's words for God's blessings to come upon them. Deuteronomy 28 says that if you diligently obey all the commandments of the Lord, then these blessings will come upon you and overtake you wherever you go.
But this blessing is conditional: you must continually strive, with all your heart, soul, and mind, to love the Lord your God. You must strive to love God, regardless of whether you can do it or not, and you must do your best to love others as yourself. If you do this, blessings will come upon you. But if you cannot do these things, curses will come upon you. The latter part of Deuteronomy 28 consists of two-thirds curses. If people cannot obey, diseases and disasters will follow you until you die; that is the curse.
But there is good news: you can easily receive all of God's blessings. How do you receive them? It is in Christ! When you accept Jesus, you are in Christ, and God's first blessing to you is no condemnation!
No condemnation means that God places you under His blessings and within His promises. We must understand that no condemnation is a very important blessing. Many people overlook this point. I have also researched many interpretations, and they say very little about this passage, only stating that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, and later they say, “But if you sin, you need to confess to God. If you do not do well enough, you still need to confess to God... Only then will God bless you!”
This passage does not say that. No condemnation is mentioned later. Why is there no condemnation? Because you are in Christ Jesus, therefore your sins are not condemned. You now represent Jesus Christ. This is an important identity. That is why we often talk about your identity and position in Christ. We often mention these things to let us know that when you realize you are in Christ, God gives you a tremendous blessing: He does not condemn you. Since Christ came into the world, the most wonderful thing is that all who are in Christ are no longer condemned!
From the moment you accept Jesus Christ, God no longer condemns you because all the price of sin has been paid. No condemnation in the original text refers to believers not being condemned, not being cursed, and being free from the penalty and condemnation of sin. Do not feel uneasy in your conscience; do not feel that you owe God anything; do not feel unworthy. Because you have been redeemed by Christ, you can receive all of God's blessings. Because you are in Christ, God no longer judges you as a sinner. God has saved you from death and condemnation, and He calls you righteous.
In simple terms, those who are in Christ are secure, from this life to eternity, no longer condemned. Moreover, God's love cannot be separated from you. Because you are not condemned, God's blessings will be upon you, and God's love is upon you; no one can block it.
Later, we will share that Paul mentions who can separate us from the love of Christ? Actually, it has already been laid out for us: because God no longer condemns you, God's blessings will be upon you, and no one can hinder it. God's love is upon you; no one can stop God's love for you, and no one can stop God's blessings upon you.
First, you must know that you are in Christ. All the blessings you receive are solely because you are in Christ, not because of your good behavior, not because you have thoroughly confessed your sins, not because you have done more good deeds, or served more. It is solely because you are in Christ Jesus! Therefore, God no longer condemns you!
God does not look at how good your behavior is, how many gifts you have, or how diligent you are. He looks at whether you are in Christ. In Christ, you are loved by God. You are in Christ, and God does not condemn you. Only believers who are in Christ are not condemned; otherwise, they will be condemned. No condemnation means that God no longer counts your sins. So where do the sins go? Does God turn a blind eye and ignore your sins? No.
Let me tell you a story from the Bible about the woman caught in adultery. At that time, the scribes and Pharisees held stones in their hands, wanting to condemn this woman. The woman was very afraid because she stood under the law. When she was brought before Jesus, the law was no longer with her, but Jesus Christ was with her. At that moment, she was with Jesus.
Jesus asked her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours?”
The woman said, “No one, Lord.”
She no longer saw the law; she saw Jesus. Jesus is grace and truth. Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.” Jesus did not say, “It doesn’t matter that you sinned; I will pretend I didn’t see it…” Jesus never said that what she did was right. The woman herself understood that what she did was wrong. But at that moment, Jesus did not condemn her, allowing her to be in Christ.
In fact, there was an invisible exchange here. The reason Jesus did not condemn her was that He placed all her sins upon Himself, giving her His righteousness and forgiveness. It was as if this woman was in Christ, placing her life upon Jesus. That is why Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”
How Jesus forgave this woman is how He forgives you. Previously, you were with the law, indulging the flesh, resisting God. Perhaps you were forced to come to Jesus, or perhaps you were thrown at Jesus' feet, or maybe due to illness. Regardless of the reason, when you come before Jesus, willing to believe in Him, Jesus sees you in Him. He places all your sins upon Himself, so He no longer condemns you, forever and ever.
The second blessing is that the law of the Spirit renews you daily.
Two blessings: the first is that you are no longer condemned, and the second is that in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit renews you every day.
Verse 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Remember: the Holy Spirit does not bind you; He releases you. The Bible also tells us specifically: where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. That Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit. Many people have a misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit. They might say, “Holy Spirit, shine Your light on me, so I know what sins I have committed, shine Your light on my hidden sins, so I can repent before You.” This sounds reasonable, but this is not the work of the Holy Spirit.
What is the work of the Holy Spirit?
It is the law of the Spirit of life. First, it is the law of life. In the Chinese version of this passage, it is translated as the law of the Spirit of life, meaning: the life-giving law, life in Christ. Perhaps this life is energy, love, joy, peace; all of these are in Jesus Christ. This is a fact, and you are precisely in this law. God has written it into the laws of the universe, naming it the law of the Spirit of life. The Chinese Bible mentions the law of the Spirit of life.
One is the law of the Spirit, and the other is the law. Although both are laws, they are different. The law of the law is binding, condemning, constantly pointing out your mistakes and failures; the law of the Spirit of life continually releases you, tells you what your identity is in Christ, no longer condemns you, calls you righteous, and makes you aware of the beauty of the kingdom of heaven, the love and grace of the Father.
The Holy Spirit renews you every day, helping you recognize your new identity, understanding that you are a new creation, realizing that the Holy Spirit has completely released you. The life of Christ is in you, renewing your life every day, releasing you from the law of sin and death. Many times, you may accidentally fall into a legalistic mindset, feeling self-destructive, starting to complain, thinking that you have suffered a lot of grievances, and that no one around you understands you. You may feel incompetent, condemning yourself…
At this time, the Holy Spirit will remind you, “It is not like that. You are in Christ; in God's eyes, you are precious. You have infinite strength. As long as you declare in the name of Jesus, God can give you wisdom.” The Holy Spirit is always releasing you, always helping you to be free from the law of sin and death. This is what the Holy Spirit does.
Even if you are in a bad state, as mentioned in Chapter 7, even if you want to do good but end up doing evil, the Holy Spirit can help you. The Holy Spirit can help you overcome all kinds of sins and corruption, renewing you and making you different. Thank the Lord!
Because our Jesus Christ is life; He is the light of life. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” The original text means: “I am the resurrection; I am the life.”
This refers to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit in you says He is the resurrection; He is the life, the power, the love, the joy, the peace. What do you lack? If you lack gentleness, the Holy Spirit is gentleness. He can release you from bad temper and bad habits. Do not worry, because He helps you. As long as you are willing, the Holy Spirit will renew you every day, helping you completely break free from addictions to smoking, drinking, gambling. This is the law of the Spirit of life. In Jesus Christ, He helps you, and it will definitely be beneficial for you.
The Holy Spirit helps us, and it is always beneficial for us! The Holy Spirit does not do bad things; He only does things that are beneficial for us because He is the Spirit of goodness, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit that is entirely good. Be willing to let the Holy Spirit guide you; He will bring you abundant life, a life filled with the blessings of Jesus Christ. This is what we mean when we say the law of the Spirit renews you every day, meaning the Holy Spirit gives you life, through Jesus Christ freeing you from sin, from death, and from all kinds of bondage. When a person has the Spirit of life, they are separated from sin and death.
The life-giving Spirit in you prevents you from continuing to sin. Brothers and sisters, can you understand this? Many times, people lack the understanding of such explanations, thinking it is deliberately allowing people to sin. Believers can sin at will…
No condemnation is because the Holy Spirit is in us. He renews you every day, releases you, and enables you not to sin. If you think the Holy Spirit does not have this ability, you underestimate the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that where did everything in the world come from? It came from the Holy Spirit. He can accomplish all things. Why can He not prevent you from sinning? We must believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.
After the Holy Spirit came down, the disciples had real change. After Jesus died and resurrected, the disciples were very afraid, hiding in the upper room praying until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them. They overcame their fear, their previous cowardice, and came down from the upper room to preach the resurrected Jesus to everyone. The whole world was stirred. They relied on the power of the Holy Spirit, not on themselves.
Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
Today, the Holy Spirit is already upon you. He can help you, enabling you to be free from sin and death, giving you the power to overcome all problems.
Verse 3: For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
Why did God give us the Holy Spirit? It is because we are always weak through the law, and we are always weak on our own. The law cannot accomplish what it is meant to do. The law can point out your sins and tell you what you cannot do, but it has no power to help you overcome sin and problems. Just like the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God told Adam not to eat it. The law could not stop Adam and Eve. If they violated the law, it would only point out their sins. This is what the law cannot do, but the Holy Spirit will help us overcome these.
Verse 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.
Do you feel weak? No problem; the Holy Spirit will make you strong. If you feel that you cannot do something, the Holy Spirit can help you, as long as you are willing to follow the Holy Spirit. Christians have free will; you can live according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. Every time something happens, pray to the Holy Spirit, let Him help you, and your life will be filled with strength. You will overcome pressure, overcome tension, break through various obstacles, and overcome the bondage of sin and death.
Life is very simple for the Holy Spirit because He is the Spirit that gives us freedom through Christ. He can pull you back from sin and guilt, making you aware that you have already been forgiven by God. When the power of the Holy Spirit is upon you, you can do what you could not do before, and abundant life will flow out from you.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life. This is something the law cannot do because the flesh of man is too weak to keep all the law. The law cannot justify a person, and no one can perfectly keep God's law throughout their life. All flesh fails under the law.
The Israelites were under the law for 1500 years, providing us with a good example. They all failed because they could not keep the law on their own. The result was always falling short of God's glory, seeing their own corruption, and ultimately ending up under curses and penalties.
Righteousness and life do not come from the law; they come from the Holy Spirit. He can give life to people! Because He is the law of life. When the law is weak and cannot accomplish what it is meant to do, God sees it and knows that we indeed cannot keep the law. God provided a solution. How did He do it?
In the latter part of verse 3, it says: 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.
What does it mean to be in the likeness of sinful flesh? Becoming the likeness of sin and becoming sin are not the same thing. There is a difference. God sent His own Son to become the likeness of sinful flesh, becoming a sin offering, and condemned sin in the flesh.
Let me give you an example from the Old Testament to help you understand this passage. The New Testament often presents conclusions, but the Old Testament provides processes. Many things can be clarified under the Old Testament, and we often use examples from the Old Testament for explanation.
God sent His own Son to become the likeness of sinful flesh.
The likeness of sinful flesh and becoming sin are different. It is incorrect to say that Jesus became sin. He only became the likeness of sinful flesh.
In the wilderness, there was a time when the people complained again. God raised His hand, and many fiery serpents entered among the Israelites, biting many people. Some may have been close to death. God saw their situation, and the people went to Moses, saying, “Moses, I have sinned; please pray to God to save us.” Moses prayed to God, and God told Moses: “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole; and everyone who looks at it shall live.”
What kind of serpent was set on the pole? Was it a living serpent? No, if it were a living serpent, there would be a problem. The serpent on the pole was a bronze serpent, symbolizing our Lord Jesus Christ.
How can we say that the serpent is Jesus Christ? The Bible says the serpent is the devil. How can we compare the serpent to Jesus Christ? This is to explain such passages. God sent His own Son to become the likeness of sinful flesh, becoming a sin offering, and condemned sin in the flesh.
The bronze serpent on the pole symbolizes our Jesus Christ. The reason is that what was hung was not a real serpent but a bronze serpent. When making the tabernacle, there were three materials that were very significant: gold, silver, and bronze. In the courtyard, all the utensils were made of bronze. Bronze symbolizes judgment; silver symbolizes redemption; gold symbolizes God's holiness and righteousness.
In the courtyard of the tabernacle, all the utensils were made of bronze. Every day, many sacrificial animals were killed on the bronze altar; that was judgment! When people sinned, they had to offer a sacrifice on the bronze altar. At that time, Jesus Christ was also hung on the pole, and that pole was the cross. He was hung on the wood, personally bearing our sins. On the cross, He became the likeness of sinful flesh, representing our iniquities.
Jesus Christ is like the bronze serpent, but He is not a real serpent. God sent His Son to become the likeness of sinful flesh, not to let His Son become sin. This is different; it is only the likeness of sin, only the shape of a serpent, but absolutely not a serpent. Can you understand, brothers and sisters?
To repeat, God sent His Son to become the likeness of sinful flesh, but not to let Him become sin. The serpent that Moses hung on the pole was a bronze serpent, having the shape of a serpent but not being a serpent! When Jesus Christ was hung on the cross, He had the likeness of sin, meaning: all our sins were upon Him. He became the sin offering, and in the flesh, God condemned Him. The bronze serpent symbolizes Jesus Christ!
Aside from this instance, God never had Moses hang another bronze serpent because once was enough to heal this group of people. Jesus Christ was hung on the wood once, sufficient to cleanse all our sins, sufficient to heal all our diseases. This is God's salvation. The law cannot do this, but God allowed His Son to become a sin offering, condemning sin in the flesh, placing all our sins upon Him, fulfilling the righteous requirement of the law in us.
We have spent a long time explaining what sin is and what no condemnation means; it is because of the Holy Spirit! God wants to give us all the blessings in Christ, and there are standards. He tells you that He has not lowered His standards; He has simply placed your sins upon His Son. We have weaknesses and cannot keep all the law. We cannot wash away our sins, but the blood of God's Son can do that. God condemned your sins in the flesh of His Son. At this moment, the Son of God had the likeness of sin, becoming your sin offering. Therefore, I no longer condemn you because I have already condemned them upon My Son.
Can you understand God's good intentions when I explain it this way?
He repeatedly tells you that He no longer condemns you. The Holy Spirit continually reveals to you, reminding you that you are righteous and holy. This is the reason. The law cannot justify you; it cannot help you overcome sin, but the Spirit of Jesus can help you because He is the Spirit of life. He has already accomplished this in us. When you accept Jesus Christ, the righteousness of Christ is upon you, and you are perfect before God.
When you accept Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit places this righteousness within you. If you are willing to follow the Holy Spirit, you will bear the fruit of the Spirit. As mentioned earlier, you have free will; you can choose not to follow the Holy Spirit and follow your flesh. The fruit that comes out will definitely not be good. Only the Holy Spirit can help you enter into the abundance of the Lord, but He does not condemn you. What are the consequences of following the flesh? You would not want to see the results, such as opening the door to the devil.
If you are willing to be in Jesus Christ and follow the Holy Spirit, you will often be filled with joy, peace, and all kinds of good things. This is beneficial to you; this is the blessing we receive in Christ. It is what God is willing to give us.
If you believe in Jesus but still want to sin, what you receive will definitely be corruption, the fruit of death. You may be filled with sin, filled with various condemnations, and everyone will hate you. You must know that this is the consequence if you deliberately do so. But God does not want you to be like this. God wants you to follow the Holy Spirit. God wants to pour His blessings upon you. If you insist on not following the Holy Spirit, enjoying living according to the flesh, and immersing yourself in smoke or brothels, you can do so, but you will lose God's blessings.
God wants to bless you and expects you to follow the Holy Spirit because all blessings come from the Holy Spirit. Thank and praise the Lord! Know that God has redeemed you at a great price. You are not a perfect person, but Jesus Christ died for you. When a person truly understands how much God loves him, he will not sin. What we just said is merely a hypothesis. It is just a hypothesis that some people understand grace and deliberately indulge. In reality, a person who truly understands God's grace and knows that his identity was bought with the life of Jesus will not indulge. All of this is merely human speculation. The Bible has clearly told us that from verse 5 to 17, it explains in detail how to overcome the flesh.
Jesus Christ was hung on the wood, bearing our sins, bearing our death, and giving us His completeness and blessings. You are in Christ; sin and the power of sin have no ability over you. The Holy Spirit has power; He can help you. When we are still weak, Christ died for our sins at the appointed time, allowing sinners to exchange places with Himself: just when you are very weak, Christ has already died for you. In your weakness, the Holy Spirit can help you. He was cursed for you so that you would no longer be cursed. He was condemned for you so that you would not be condemned. Do not condemn yourself, and do not condemn others.
Let’s review what we have shared: you are in Jesus Christ, and you are qualified to inherit all of God's blessings. God no longer condemns you. He does not want you to condemn others. When you are weak and sin, remember that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life, continually releasing you, enabling you to be free from sin. When you sin, let the Holy Spirit help you overcome sin. The Holy Spirit reminds you to declare that you are righteous in Christ, pleasing to God. The power of sin has no authority over you. The Holy Spirit continually reminds you that sin, death, and temptation will lose their effectiveness over you.
Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise You. We are all in Christ. Jesus bore my sins on the cross; He became the likeness of sinful flesh for me, becoming my sin offering. I have been justified. When Christ was condemned in the flesh, God no longer condemns me.
Lord, I thank You for reminding me every moment of what Christ has done for me, the work He accomplished on the cross, allowing me to firmly remain in Christ. Every day, like a grape branch, I continually receive the supply from God, enabling me to bear abundant fruit. This fruit will please even those who do not believe; it is good behavior. It is gentleness, self-control, joy, and goodness.
I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, which will help me overcome sin. He is in me, with me like a shadow, my ever-present help and strength. The Holy Spirit is omnipotent, and through God who gives me strength, I can do all things. All glory be to the Father in heaven! In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.