Romans 8:1-11

Main idea: Three proofs that I am being led by the Spirit.

1. I refuse to be bound by the guilt and shame of my sin because I know I have been set free through the work of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:1–4 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

If we wanted to talk about the Trinity, Romans 8 would be a great place to have that conversation. In the first four verses, we see the father, the son and the spirit - all active in the world at the same time.

Sin weakens people. Shame and guilt condemn. The enemy condemns. Human sinful nature condemns. We need the work of Jesus in our lives. Verse 3 - the law will never set us free. Rules make demands. Rules regulate human sinful nature. Broken rules bring condemnation. Freedom can only be experienced by the work of Jesus in our lives.

Let’s talk about the work of Jesus that has set us free.

First, the work of Jesus was to live on earth as 100% human being who never sinned, so that he could release those who are bound by guilt and shame.

Second, the work of Jesus fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law. Through the death, burial and resurrection - this righteousness is available to us.

Third, the work of Jesus allows you and me live in cooperation with the Spirit’s leading.

2. I live with the peace of Jesus Christ because I carefully consider the Spirit’s work around me.

Romans 8:5–8 ESV

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

When I set my mind on something, I have decided to consider all of that thing and linger in the process. As believers, we strive to set our minds on the Spirit and live accordingly. The result is the peace of Jesus Christ. We know we are being led by the Spirit, when we experience the peace of Christ in our lives.

Is it possible to set our minds on the Spirit and have a disruption of peace? Sure, there are lots of situations in life that are not peaceful. Death. Unexpected bills. Bad medical reports. Unexpected job loss. A conversation that didn’t go well. Getting a bad grade on an assignment.

There is a difference between emotional peace and decisive peace. Emotional peace can be based on circumstances and how we respond to them. Deciding to have the peace of Jesus Christ is a fruit of the Spirit only available to believers.

How do I know which peace might be vacant in my life?

If I am not experiencing the peace of Jesus Christ, I probably am experiencing something in verses 7-8. Am I being hostile toward God? Am I being insubordinate to God? Do I have no desire to please God? Those are signed our minds might be set on our human sinful nature. The peace of Jesus Christ will be vacant.

3. I am securely alive in Christ because I am a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:9–11 ESV

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

What in your life gives you security? The security we have in Jesus Christ should surpass all other forms of security because it IS greater, it is stronger, it will never run out, and it will never disappoint. I think we need to be reminded of these realities because life can get filled up with lots of stuff and squeeze the Holy Spirit out of his dwelling place.

If your life was “less than”, would you still be secure? When we are fully led by the Spirit, we can confidently say “yes”. I pray that Romans 8 will teach us to be led by the Spirit more fully.