Romans 8:1-11

Impossible things — Be Holy as He is holy

Last weeks challenge - Left us frustrated. Just can’t do it - But we live a new life

New life - Walk in the Spirit — 19

Romans 8:1–11 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

In Christ

No Condemnation

Starting with adam we as humans were born into sin and stand condemned already - living in our brokeness until we receive final eternal punishment

But God...

Romans 5:18 NIV

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.

Why… Because of Christ we are set free and are no londer the walking dead.

Why.. left to our own devices, we cannot fulfill the righteous requirement of the law (how did we do with coveting and lying this week)

How … Sending Son - as Human — to pay the price

Result - Just as you were bound to condemnation without hope, now your sinful nature is condemned - the penalty is paid in full.

If......

For those in Christ Jesus.

do not live according to the flesh, but live according to the Spirit

accoding - Contraction - commitment to make smaller.

You will be one - either with the flesh, or with the Spirit - you get to choose.

Choosing who to live for.

When I was a young teenager I had an arguement with my mother. I was starting to hang out with wrong people and do things I shouldn’t be doing. She was a single mother and I was disobedient. She had tried grounding me, but it’s not like she could chain me up. I was too big to spank. She said these words one day.. Rich you know better. In that moment I had a choice. You see, I did know better. I knew that the path I was on could lead me down a path that could bring stuggles.. but It was fun, I had friends that liked me, I was gaining in popularity and quite honestly the stuff I was doing felt good.

I responded with these words, “I do know better, but I wish I didn’t.” I felt a little guilty because I knew I was behaving poorly, but my guilt was not sufficient. I wanted to do what I knew was right but I also wanted the pleasure .. I was making a conscious decision to live according to the flesh..even before I knew what those words meant.

Out Flesh

What were you thinking?

What is you mind governed by?

flesh IS death

Spirit IS life and peace

Thsi is not a “try really hard” statement it’s a test to evaluate yourself.

Resuslts of life governed by flesh - what it looks like

Hostile to God - when the law comes do you find yourself

getting annoyed with the person bringing it

get defensive — you cant tell me what to do — I’manamerican

Do you find yourself trapped and unable to please God

Real Life - Results

We have the if — if the Spirit of God lives in you

iF He doesn’t you do not belong to Christ

If He doesn’t you belong to death

You want to be sure

What it looks like

body is subject to death - Rich, I didn’t make it 10 minutes.

Something inside stirs us and its been doing that for ever.

That something stirs us towards righteousness.

The Promise

Romans 8:11 NIV

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:

No matter how stuck you feel - you are not stuck

Just as we lived in judgment before, now we live in the promise of life

You will beat this thing. and in this moment— you already have.

no condemnation

We liked, we found som if statement that were difficult.

We learned what happens when our minds are governed by either the flesh or the Spirit

We talked about a choice.