Walking in the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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.
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, the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
INTRO:
It was certainly true in the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and it is true today. It is not a lack of religious interest that plagues the world. For whatever reason interest in religion is very high. The problem is that that interest is not translating into changed lives. George Barna’s latest research indicates that the gap on lifestyle between non-church attending people and church attending people is closing. All across the board what we would hope would be indicators of a genuine relationship with God and becoming less and less evident.Paul outlines assurances accompanying salvation.
I. How do we become led by the Spirit of God?
I. How do we become led by the Spirit of God?
a. When we chose not to let our bodily desires direct our living (8:1–3):
The believer is in Christ.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
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,
3. The Law could not accomplish it
Paul has reiterated this point all along
Our ability to keep the law in order to earn God’s favor is nil.
The Law showed us our guilt and inability to do anything about it on our own..
b. When we chose to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to put our bodily desires to death
B. When we chose to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us to put our bodily desires to death
1. our position in regard to the law of God (8:4–8)
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.
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, the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
We are now able to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law in and through Christ.
Flesh vs Spirit
Verse 6 is a great summary of Paul’s point
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Carnally minded
The life of the flesh is lived not in neutrality but in opposition to God, which is Paul’s point. To be carnally minded is to be at enmity with God.
R. C. Sproul
We are inclined to obey our flesh and sin nature
It is our nature
Spiritually minded
As believers our minds are on things of the Spirit
II. Why should we become led by the Spirit of God? .
II. Why should we become led by the Spirit of God? .
a. A life of no condemnation
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
No condemnation left for us
1. The miracle involved (8:1, 3a):
Believers receive no condemnation and are freed from sin and death.
This is one of the greatest things about the gospel.
No condemnation
we are no longer judged guilty (remember, justified by faith)
The record is cleansed
Free from sin and death
He has set us free
We are no longer under the penalty of our sin
2. The means involved (8:2, 3b):
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,
This was accomplished not through the law of Moses but by the death of Christ.
Jesus paid the price in full
He took the condemnation
He took the death
Our guilt was transferred to Him1. The miracle involved (8:1, 3a):
Believers receive no condemnation and are freed from sin and death.
This is one of the greatest things about the gospel.
No condemnation
we are no longer judged guilty (remember, justified by faith)
The record is cleansed
Free from sin and death
He has set us free
We are no longer under the penalty of our sin
2. The means involved (8:2, 3b):
This was accomplished not through the law of Moses but by the death of Christ.
Jesus paid the price in full
He took the condemnation
He took the death
Our guilt was transferred to Him
b. A life of peace Spiritual Moments Versus Spirit Led
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Life and peace come through a spirit led life
Carnal mindset may have moments of spirituality, but they are just feelings centered and tem[porary.
Sp[irit led means we follow His promptings as He illuminates the word every day and even moment by moment
c. A life of pleasing God
A. Who he is (8:9)
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
At Salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells us
He makes His home in every person who trusts in Jesus.
He will be evident in beleiver’s lives
He will change our very nature
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
B. What he does (8:10–14)
And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
1. He once strengthened Christ and raised him from the dead (8:11).
That is the awesome power of the Spirit
2. He now lives within us and controls us
He brings us life (Spiritual life)
3. He now strengthens us and will someday raise us from the dead (8:10, 12–14).
He enables us to overcome our sin nature
He guides us through the maze of life
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
the apostle says the Spirit provides us with the energy and power to continually and gradually be killing our sins, a process never completed in this life. The means the Spirit uses to accomplish this process is our faithful obedience to the simple commands of Scripture
God’s spirit leads His children through orchestarion of circumstances but primarily through illumination of the Scriptures and sanctification divinely enabling us to obey them.
d. A life as a child of God
We are now members of God’s family.
A. Giving us an intimacy with the Father (8:15–16)
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
He assures us of our salvation
A Spirit induced awareness of the reality of the change
He adopts us and now as sons and daughters of God, we have access to God like never before.
We can now come before God the Father as children with a beloved Father
B. Giving us an inheritance from the Father (8:17)
and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
We are all heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
Unlike the Jewish practice of the primacy of the firstborn son, under Roman law the inheritance was divided equally between the children, where the law more carefully protected possessions that had been inherited.
Jesus is heir to everything
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
We are joint heirs to everything.
Every adopted child will receive the full inheritance of Christ due to that adoption!
Christ has accomplished so much more than our justification and sanctification.
HE has brought about our adoption and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
References:
The Outline Bible (Section Outline Eight (Romans 8))
