Talk by John Foxon

At first glance the extract from Paul’s letter to the Romans (Ch8; vs 1-11) may look like we have been given a “Get out of Jail, Free” card. God has allowed his son to be sacrificed for the sin of mankind. As Graham Kendrick says in his worship song “The price is paid, Alleluia”.

However, it is always good to read the small print. God allowed his son to go to the cross to pay for the sins of the world and although Jesus accepted his father’s will, this was not done so that we could fill the clean slate with the same things that had just been wiped from it.

Paul tells us that freedom from sin and death are not for those who continue to live according to the flesh but instead are for those who live according to the Holy Spirit.

We all struggle to live our lives solely according to the spirit with zero acknowledgement to worldly concerns. We may not always be successful, but we know that God loves those with a willing heart (Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians Ch8 vs 12). For those of us who endeavour to live according to the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us that if we are in the realm of the Spirit then the Spirit of Christ lives in us then we will be given life and raised from the dead. However, if our full focus is on the worldly, fleshly life then the mind is governed by death, does not obey God, is hostile to God and cannot please God.

It can be a challenge not to be of the world when we are in the world

In Matthew Ch13; 1-9 & 18-23 Jesus tells us the parable of the sower and the seed to guide us to what we should attain to be.

The farmer went sows his seed. Some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. Although it sprang up quickly, when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Jesus is the farmer and we are the seed. We can see which of the seed acts according to the spirit and which does not.

Jesus explains the parable thus:

“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

We can clearly discern the seed that acts according to the Spirit, and which does not. Jesus understands our trials and tribulations, and he sacrificed everything to enable us to be free from sin and death. Even so he rightly expects that we should do our best to let the Holy Spirit work through us to obey and honour God and to help make the soil fertile for others.

Jesus says to us: “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Hearing is not the same as listening. Listening means to process, understand and act. Let us not only hear but let us live our lives in such a way that others can hear, listen and act and also live according to the spirit.