Life In the Spirit (Romans 8:1-11)

Introduction

William Wilberforce, the historical figure in the book and movie, Amazing Grace, a strong Christian and abolitionist, tried and tried, unsuccessfully to get his friend, William Pitt, the prime minister of England, to go and hear the great British preacher Richard Cecil. Pitt was a a church member, but a nominal Christian at best; and Wilberforce thought the preaching of Cecil might awaken saving faith in his friend’s heart.

Finally agreeing to go with Wilberforce, Pitt attended Cecil’s preaching service where the two sat under a powerful and wonderful presentation of the truths of God. Wilberforce was sure that his friend Pitt would sense the truth and embrace it wholeheartedly. But as they left the service, Pitt turned to Wilberforce and said, “You know, Wilberforce, I have not the slightest idea what that man has been talking about.” Boice concludes by saying, “Clearly, Pitt was as deaf to God as if he were a physically dead man” (Boice, 2:808–809).

This is Paul’s point. A person with his or her mind set upon the things of the flesh cannot “accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).

Here’s the main point of our text today in Romans 8:1-11:

The Holy Spirit makes possible a brand new way of life.

Believers enjoy a new position in Christ(8:1-4)

Now, no condemnation. This implies a past-condemnation. Romans 5:18 “So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.”

Condemnation: tried, convicted, sented, and punished. Romans 6:23 defines the punishment for sin-> DEATH. The word is similar, or at least, synarymous with cursed.

Galatians 3:13 CSB

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

Rom. 6:23 also defines the great gift given to those who believe in Jesus-eternal Life. Rather than held captive on death row, we are set free from the law(principle)of sin and death. Now, we live according to a new principle-the law principle)of the Spirit of life

Here's an important reality: As followers of Jesus, we are no longer punished by God for sin. Sin has consequences, and we experience those consequences. But God does not punish us. We are rescued from God's wrath. However, God is a loving Father, who enjoys unbroken fellowship with us, who desires for us to live a holy life, and He loves us immensely. So, as a loving Father. He corrects us when we disobey Him. His response to our sin is never punitive, but always disciplenary-corrective.

In these first two verses, we understand that Jesus and the Holy Spirit partnered to redeem us and free us from death row. We are free!

Verses 3-4 describe how the Spirit and Jesus performed our freedom. This was necessary because, remember, the law could not save us/redeem us. The influence of the law was weakened by the determined power of our flesh. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, they became knowledgeable of good and evil, and human nature, now separated from fellowship with God, loves evil. What the law could not do, God took the initiative to do himself. That is. God condemned the power of sin in the flesh-Jesus Christ's flesh. Jesus became flesh, which means He took on human nature-and this means that there was the possibility that He might sin-as controversial as that might sound; but it's true.

Philippians 2:7 (CSB)

Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity.

But Jesus, though emptying Himself, remained divine: both God and man. So, He had the power to overcome every temptation and to live a sinful life.

Hebrews 4:15 CSB

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.

Had Jesus not become one of us. He could not have been a sacrifice for us. And had He not been God. He could not have been a perfect sacrifice, fulfilling the requirement of the law; and He could not have resurrected from dead. The gospel of Jesus teaches us that God condemned(punished)sin in Jesus' body(flest); He was our sin offering. As a result, believers stand before God as having fulfilled the law: that is our new position in Christ, executed by the Spirit-Set free.

Let’s celebrate our freedom in Christ around the Lord’s Table.

The question is: How we use our new freedom? The last phrase in verse 4 answers the question: We no longer walk according to(under the influence, power, and desires of the flesh-but according to the Spirit-> influence, power, and desires.

Believers are set free to engage in a new practice(8:5-8)

The last of verse 4 segues into versus 5-9, introducing us to our new practice as followers of Jesus: we walk according to the Spirit. We'll talk more about that later, but first. Paul contrasts the old practice: living according to the flesh. That is, our minds were set on the things of the flesh.

This would be a good time to recall what those things are:

Galatians 5:19–20 CSB

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,

First, those who live according to the flesh have set their minds on fleshly things. What does that mean. Three words may explain. Preoccupied. Those who live according to the flesh are preoccupied with things of the flesh.

The things listed in Galatians 5 are some of the things that preoccupies the mind of those who live according to the flesh. To be preoccupied means that they are looking for opportunities to practice them.

Another word is concentrate. They concentrate so much on the things of the flesh, that all other alternatives are excluded.

The third word is aim. Their aim is to practice such things. This is their world view-it's a worldly point of view, in which the meaning, purpose and goal of life is to practice such things. So, in reality, what Paul is describing is not simply what they do, but who they are.

Verse 6 reveals both the quality and desting of such a mindset-met. They undoubtedly feel as though they are living the good life, living large. In reality, the quality of their life is death, and their destiny is death."The wages of sin is death." They are spiritually dead and unless they repent and believe in Jesus they will experience the second death.

Revelation 21:8 CSB

But the cowards, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Verses 7 and 8 describe their relationship with God: "They are hostile to God. Their world view, their character, their practices, everything about them is hostility in God's view. In other words, they are not simply uncooperative or disobedient, they are rebellious enemies of God-and God is also their enemy. They refuse to submit to God's way of life. Who they are is in complete opposition to who God created them to be: an object of His love. Instead, they place themselves under God's wrath. (Eph. 2:3)[In fact, they are incapable of submitting]

Furthermore, they cannot please God. They may-and certainly will-do some good things: give to the poor; be loving friends, spouses and parents, abide by the law, fight for their country, protest corruption and fight for justice-these are all good things that reflect the image of God by which we were created-but because of a lack of faith, because of their worldly mindset, and because the Holy Spirit does not abide in them(v.9), it is impossible for them to please God. Life is more than what we do: it is summed up by the content of our character.

This is contrasted to those who “walk(or live)according to the Spirit.”

Believers have a mind set on the things of the Spirit. Those three words used earlier to describe the mindset of the flesh apply here also: preoccupied, concentrate, aim. Going back To Galatians, we see a list of some of those things: the things of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

Their thought life is directed by the Spirit, so that they are preoccupied, seeking opportunities to practice the things produced by the Holy Spirit. They concentrate on the fruit of the Spirit, so that their world view, their values and passions, consider no other alternative their determined wine and purpose of lie is to pursue the things of the Spirit. These things are more than what they do-it’s who they are. Things like peace, love, joy, etc. characterize their lives-it's their way living: God's way. As a consequence, the quality and destiny of the life they live is life and peace.

Believers live a new way under the power of the Spirit(8:9-11)

Verse 9 explains how this can be. Remember, unbelievers have no ability to submit to God and have the mindset of the Spirit. They are controlled by the desires of the flesh. In contrast, believers are in the Spirit. The Spirit makes all the difference. The Spirit does in us what we are unable —incapable —of doing. Unbelievers do not have the Spirit, which means they don't belong to God. Believers, in contrast, have the Spirit — He lives in them!

Paul wants us to understand that apart from the Holy Spirit, people are doomed to continue in the mindset of the flesh, and they cannot fathom any other mindset.

The story of Wilberforce and Pitt illustrate that point.

Paul explains how this happens in verse 10. First of all, when we believe in Jesus, though our bodies still bear the marks of sin and death, our souls —the read us —are alive. The Holy Spirit gives us life. That's an interesting phrase: gives life. It means that something of value, in this euselife, is transferred into one's possession. Death is taken away, and life replaces it. This is a life that cannot be earned or purchased: it is only given — transferred — to us by the Spirit. But that's not all that is transferred: the Spirit gives us righteousness. Remember what Scripture says in Romans 4:4-5

Romans 4:4–5 CSB

Now to the one who works, pay is not credited as a gift, but as something owed. But to the one who does not work, but believes on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

The gift of life from the Holy Spirit is God's way of life. And the righteousness of Christ that we receive is an empowerment from the Holy Spirit to live a righteous life — God's way of life. Again, without the Spirit's empowerment, we have no ability to live God's new way of life.

But there's more. It's not enough for God to give us the Spirit so that we are free to live his way — a new way of living-in this life. Because God created us for eternity. He shares his resurrection power with us. The Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us! And Paul tells the exciting news of what that means: Resurrection!

In the same way that the Spirit raised Jesus'body from the dead. He will raise our dead bodies from death also. Paul describes this in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 CSB

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

This gives us confidence, hope, and power. The new life we live is the resurrected life; that is the mindset of the Spirit, and how those who are no longer condemned live.

Application

When we place our faith in Jesus, the condemnation of sin is removed and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives so that we have the freedom, the mindset, the desire and the power to live a brand new way of life: God’s way.

Let’s Get Practical

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

Preoccupy your mind with the kingdom of God.

Concentrate on the power of the Holy Spirit.

Aim to follow Jesus

Corrie ten Boom offered an insight into this marvelous truth: “I have a glove here in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts. We are gloves. It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled” (Rowell, p. 82).

Invitation

Some of you sitting here today are believers-you've given your life to Jesus in repentance and faith. But maybe you've forgotten who you are and how to live. You're frustrated, you feel guilty, you're not experiencing that abundant life that Jesus promised. Today can be a turning point in your life. God is just like that father Luke described in the Parable of the Prodigal. He's waiting at the fence for you to come home and start over. In just a few minutes were going to sing a song expressing our commitment to Jesus. As soon as we start singing, I'd like for you to come right here and tell me you'd like a fresh start to live God's way, in the power of the Spirit.

There also may be someone here who does not belong to Jesus. You're not repented of your sin, and you haven't placed your faith and your life in Jesus. I've already prayed that the Holy Spirit will give you the faith to believe and the will to turn your life over to Jesus. I want to remind you that although you may have everything you need on earth: though you feel like you're living a good life. But without Jesus, your life is really dead and distant from God. But today can be your turning point. When we start singing. I'd like for you to come right here, and tell me that, from this day forward, you will follow Jesus, trusting Him to give you a new way of lining.