The Spirit Filled Life

I like would to CLARIFY and APOLOGIZE that I was talking about mass suicide being dumb last week, not people who struggle with suicidal thoughts.

Thinking about, being faced with, suicide doesn’t make you dumb. The enemy has come to steal kill and destroy you. Don’t listen to him. Resist him. You are a repugnance to him because you were created in God’s image and you still bear God’s image.

We have been preaching and teaching about the person, role, and work of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity, in Creation, throughout the Bible, and, more practically speaking, in the life of the believer.

Pastor did a great job of expressing the importance of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

I want to continue to build on this scriptural foundation and emphasize that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not necessary for salvation, but is the expected result.

We were saved on purpose for a purpose. to commune with Christ.

The greatest part about the gift of the Holy Spirit, is Christ in you, the hope of glory! (Col 1:27)

Colossians 1:27 “27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

The conviction of the Spirit leads to repentance and salvation.

The gifts of the Spirit are awesome!

The fruit of the Spirit is essential!

But the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is the main thing!

The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a greater fullness of the presence of God in your heart and life.

Therefore, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit brings a greater awareness of God!

Of course His presence and power are more real when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit applies the truth of the gospel to your experience.

Really quick overview of the gospels and the first 2 chapters of Acts:

Jesus got baptized. The Holy Spirit came upon Him. He began His ministry. He discipled others. He gave His life in atonement for the sins of mankind. He rose from the dead, defeating the powers of sin and death. He instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit -THEN they would be His witnesses. (The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness.)

From the general perspective of the disciples. Jesus called them. They followed. They watched Jesus perform miracles and heard Him teach amazing things. Mostly they did not understand or appreciate what was happening. Jesus gives Himself up and they scatter. Jesus resurrects and brings them back together. They wait for the Holy Spirit as Jesus instructed. They were baptized in the Holy Spirit and became His witness and began discipling other people.

There is no other plan offered in the scriptures. There is no other way to follow and obey Jesus. Part and parcel of our salvation journey is to be filled with, baptized with the Holy Spirit!

Today: I want us to look at Life in the Spirit, or the Spirit filled life, as it relates to the book of Romans. First, I want to do a quick survey of Romans, then zoom in on Romans 6-8. We’ll then zoom into Romans 8:1-11.

I want us to get a better feel for what Paul is trying to convey and how it relates to us.

Romans is somewhat unique in its form, but as we examine it further, we see that it seems to follow Paul’s typical pattern:

I. Introduction

II. Theological Teaching

III. Practical Application

IV. Conclusion

I. The Setting of the Letter (1:1-17)

II. Right Believing in God (1:18-5:21)

III. Right Standing With God (6:1-11:36)

III. Right Walking With God (12:1-15:13)

IV. Salutations (15:14-16:27)

Romans 1:16 “16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Romans 1:17 “17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.””

1. Wrong Belief (Romans 1:18-22)

leads to

2. Wrong Relationship (Romans 1:21-23)

leads to

3. Wrong Living (Romans 1:24-32)

I don’t want to neglect or minimize the power of emotion/will in directing our belief. Often our rejection of God or disobedience to His Holy Spirit is a reflection of our hearts more than our minds. This is the power of sin. There are spiritual and worldly forces against us, that appeal to our emotions and desires. But if we truly truly truly understood God, and the desire He has for us, and the full joy of communion with Him, I am convinced the desires of the flesh would mean nothing. Therefore, I bring it back to what we believe about God and how well we know Him intimately.

Variation in our theology leads to variation in our living.

Let’s move quickly to Romans 6, where we see this pattern in the positive:

Right Belief (Romans 6:6)

leads to

Right Relationship (Romans 6:11)

leads to

Right Living (Romans (Romans 6:13)

I want to be careful here to point out that this is NOT positive thinking, or simply having proper knowledge. It is the work of Christ being applied to our lives as we trust in Him.

III. Right Standing With God (6:1-11:36)

A. The Roadway of Righteousness Revealed (6:1-8:39)

1. The Power of the Cross (6:1-23)

2. The Powerlessness of Self (7:1-8:4)

3. The Power of the Spirit (8:5-39)

[FULL OUTLINE AT END OF SERMON TEXT FOR REFERENCE OR HANDOUT]

The work of Christ made our righteousness possible.

Faith in Jesus and trust in His work activates the Holy Spirit to help apply it to our lives.

I. The Setting of the Letter (1:1-17) - (INTRODUCTION)

A. The Author’s Intent (1:1-7)

1. From Whom (1:1-5)

2. To Whom (1:6-7)

B. The Author’s Heart (1:7-17)

1. Paul’s heart for Roman believers (1:7-13)

2. Paul’s heart for all people (1:13-17)

II. Right Believing In God (1:18-5:21) - (THEOLOGICAL TEACHING)

A. The Wrath of God Revealed (1:18-3:20)

1. Against Gentiles (1:18-32)

2. Against Jews (2:1-29)

3. Against Everyone (3:1-20)

B. The Righteousness of God Revealed (3:21-5:21)

1. Faith Receives Righteousness (3:21-31)

2. Faith Realizes Righteousness (4:1-25)

3. Faith Restores Relationship (5:1-21)

III. Right Standing With God (6:1-11:36)

A. The Roadway of Righteousness Revealed (6:1-8:39)

1. The Power of the Cross (6:1-23)

2. The Powerlessness of Self (7:1-8:4)

3. The Power of the Spirit (8:5-39)

B. The Remnant of the Righteous Revealed (9:1-11:36)

1. Faithless Rejected (9:1-10:4)

2. Faithful Rewarded (10:5-21)

3. Faithful Remain (11:1-36)

IV.  Right Walking With God (12:1-15:13) - (PRACTICAL APPLICATION)

A. Right Responses to Others (12:1-13:14)

1. Responding to Others (12:1-21)

2. Responding to Authority (13:1-7)

3. Responding to the Flesh (13:8-14)

B. Right Relationships With Others (14:1-15:13)

1. Looking With Love at Others (14:1-12)

2. Living With Love (14:13-23)

3. Lifting With Love (15:1-13)

V. Salutations (15:14-16:27) – (CONCLUSION)

A. Final Exhortations (15:14-15:33)

1. Paul’s Ministry to Gentiles (15:14-21)

2. Paul’s Plans to Go to Rome (15:22-33)

B. Final Greetings (16:1-16:27)

1. Personal Greetings To (16:1-16)

2. Protect the Flock (16:17-20)

3. Personal Greetings From (16:21-24)

4. Praise to God (16:25-27)