Life In the Spirit (Part II)

Francis Chan book

“So then” refers back to all that Paul has written in verses 4-11, where he began explaining the privileges we receive from the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in our lives. So let’s review what we’ve learned so far.

The Holy Spirit enables us to fulfill the law (4).

The Holy Spirit turns our minds away from the things of the flesh and sets them on the things of the Spirit (5).

This new mindset the Holy Spirit gives us includes life, peace and righteousness (6, 10).

The Holy Spirit lives in us (9).

The Holy Spirit gives us the hope of resurrection (11)

1. The Holy Spirit gives us new obligations (12-13)

With privilege comes responsibility. Now that we have the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, and having received the benefits, blessings and privileges of His presence, we have certain responsibilities to live according to God’s will as followers of Jesus. Paul put it this way in Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians 1:9–11 CSB

And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

In Christ, indwelled by His Spirit, God intends us to grow in our relationship with Him, in our spiritual maturity in Christ and in our influence in the world. That is all possible — actually only possible — by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reminds us in John 15:5

John 15:5 CSB

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Without the powerful presence of His Spirit, we could never consistently grow and be fruitful.

In verses 12-13, Paul explains our new obligation in the Spirit by contrasting it with our former obligation. We are no longer obligated to the flesh.

Before our faith in Christ, we were obligated to the flesh. The word obligated was used in Paul’s day to describe a debtor. Before faith in Christ we were debtors to the flesh and to sin. We were as bound to the flesh as a debtor is to a loan shark. As a matter of fact, the idea of a loan shark is a good analogy of our past life before Christ. Loan sharks are more than willing to loan money to anyone, whether they are credit worthy or not; but it comes with a price — excessive and oppressive interest. And failing to pay the loan shark comes with a greater price. I’m sure you’ve seen movies, for example those about the mafia, when the mafia boss sends his enforcer to the debtor to collect. It’s either pay the loan or pay the consequences: a beating at the least, or maybe even death at the worst. Romans 6:23 informs us of sin’s enforcer: “The wages of sin is death.”

So at one time in our lives, before faith in Christ, we were obligated to the flesh and sin the payment of those consequences. However, when we put our faith in Jesus, we received His grace: He paid our debt. So now our debt is paid and we are free and clear.

So imagine a debt you have, say a mortgage. Now someone pays off the entire debt for you and you receive the title, free and clear. You are no longer obligated to that debt. If the bank comes calling for a payment, you simply show them the clear title, void of any lien, to prove you are no longer obligated to pay. That is the reality of Paul’s words in verse 12. Your debt of sin has been paid, the note has been burned, and your life is free and clear with no obligation to the flesh. The Holy Spirit is the title of ownership to your life, and Jesus’ name is on the title. You belong to Him and no longer to the flesh.

But the flesh continues to come calling. Though we are no longer obligated to the flesh, though we walk in the Spirit, the flesh is relentless and continues to expect us to pay. The payment the flesh desires is sin. Now, though we’re talking here as if the flesh is something or someone outside of us, we need to remember that the flesh is us: it is our human nature that strives against the Spirit and our unselfish faithfulness to Jesus. Our fleshly human nature is a strong influence in our lives, but now that we have the powerful Holy Spirit living in us, and because we are no longer obligated to pay that price, we have the spiritual power to “put to death the deeds of the body.” The words Paul spoke in verse 13 implies a continued activity. Until we die or Christ returns, the flesh continues to strive against our spiritual desire to live a life worthy of the gospel and produce fruit for God’s kingdom. But we have the power in the Spirit to kill the influence of the flesh every time the flesh comes calling.

What if? What if you had the ability, every time you started feeling the symptoms of a cold, to say to that cold, “Go away! I don’t want the sniffles; I don’t want the cough; I don’t want the congestion or the fever. So get out of my body.” Wouldn’t that be great?

Well, when we feel or sense the flesh rising up in us, we can stop in our tracks and say, “By the power of the Holy Spirit, I say, Go away! I don’t want the guilt; I don’t want the shame; I don’t want the unholy consequences of sin; I don’t want to disappoint Jesus; I don’t want the death that always accompanies sin. So death to you!”

That’s the spiritual power we have in the Holy Spirit. We are no longer obligated to the flesh. We are now obligated to live a holy and righteous life that pleases Jesus; and since we have the Holy Spirit living in us, we have the power to do so. That is great news!

So remember this simple truth: Our salvation provides the Holy Spirit who transforms us so that instead of an obligation to the flesh, we are empowered to live a life that pleases God and produces good fruit for God’s glory

2. The Holy Spirit gives us a new family (14-15).

You’ve probably heard someone say before, “We’re all God’s children.” Is that a true statement? What do you think?

Well, in relationship to creation, all people are created by God, and in that way, all people are the children of God, since we all have the same Creator. Verse 14, however, gives us another view of humanity. It echoes what verse 9 says: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to God.”

In verse 14, Paul explains that only those who are “led by God’s Spirit are truly God’s sons.” Led: that’s a very rich word, describing a very rich relationship we have with God.

To lead, in this context means to “direct the movement of an object or a person.” The Holy Spirit directs our movement in life. I like that picture, don’t you.

To lead means to “carry” I like that picture too. To think that I have the powerful Holy Spirit carrying me through the burdens and hardships of life is encouraging.

To lead means to “guide.” On the night that Jesus was arrested, Jesus reassured the disciples that He would not leave them as orphans, but would send the Holy Spirit. Listen to what He said in John 14:26

John 14:26 CSB

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

He “will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” The Holy Spirit is our guide, and Jesus’ teachings is the map. Awesome! As we journey in discipleship, we have the Holy Spirit, who guides us in obedience.

To lead means to “be operative, actively performing a function.” The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is not a passive presence. He is always at work performing the function that Jesus assigned.

To lead means “to spend time with.” This speaks of the intimacy we have with God. The Holy Spirit is present in us to facilitate and maintain our fellowship with Jesus.

Paul explained that the leadership of the Holy Spirit in our lives is evidence that we are God’s children. Women, don’t be alarmed by the word “sons” in verse 14. That word was often interchanged with the word “children” in Scripture.

Verse 15 explains how we became God’s children. We were adopted.