Called to Life in the Spirit - Romans 8:1-14

Introduction/Seeing the Need

For the last couple of decades, researchers have detected an increase in spiritual interest among people, but little or no increase in church affiliation or attendance. Some identify themselves as “spiritual but not religious” (SBNR). This usually means they have personal beliefs and practices that could be understood as “spiritual,” but have no desire to participate with what they see as “institutional religion.”

Some folks desire their own religious world apart from a church. This desire is not necessarily Christian in orientation, however. It often borrows spiritual practices from Eastern religions, Native Americans traditional religions, or ancient pagan sources. The good news: a spiritual thirst exists out there. The bad news: the church is not being seen as the source for quenching that thirst. The insights of the apostle Paul are decisive in overturning this outlook - today’s lesson.

The baseline for last week’s lesson from was that all men and women are sinners. Even so, God has made a way for us to be counted righteous in his eyes. In texts that intervene between that lesson and this week’s, Paul went on to examine the life of the great ancestor of the Jews: Abraham. The key verse in that regard is that “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”. Abraham’s righteousness came through faith. And that was before he was circumcised and long before the law was given through Moses.

Paul thereby concludes that faith (as opposed to works) is the God-established pathway to right standing with him. This pathway predates both circumcision and the law. Abraham was essentially a Gentile when God reckoned him as righteous, since Israel did not exist at the time. This fact undercuts any argument that proposes keeping the Law of Moses is the way to earn God’s favor and attain right standing with him.

In the chapters from Romans that follow, Paul discusses the three terrifying tyrants of humanity: sin, the law, and death. Sin had dominion over us, but we are freed by the grace of God. Sin held out the terror of death as its consequences. The law enslaved us, but we have been freed to a new life. Paul ends with an expression of sincere gratitude for his deliverance from the bondage of sin and the law.

Law of the Spirit -

Romans 8:1–4 NRSV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of 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 to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The opening therefore connects what follows with the now-powerless tyrants noted in the Lesson Context. The fact stated by this verse means, among other things, that the law no longer has power to judge us as requiring punishment. The punishment we have escaped in Christ Jesus is the sentence of eternal death due to our sin.

The US Supreme Court declared in 1915 that acceptance of a pardon carries with it a confession of guilt. A pardon therefore releases a person from penalty for a crime, but it does not change a “guilty” verdict to “not guilty.” A dictionary definition of pardon is “release from the legal penalties of an offense.” Consider : “Forgive the sin of these people just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” Pardon and forgiveness are the same; wrongdoing is admitted, but relief from penalty is requested nevertheless. What the factually innocent should have is not a pardon but full exoneration.

Sinners who stand before the judge of the universe, however, cannot expect exoneration for the simple fact that we are guilty of sin. But Christians have the next best thing: no condemnation despite our guilt. How often does realization of this fact shake you to your core?

In what ways will you live differently in the week ahead give the realization that there is “now no condemnation” for you?

In verse 2 the opening “because” introduces Paul’s reasoning for the claim he makes in the previous verse. That claim is based in a contrast of two laws we see here. Paul used this approach before, and the point is what we might call “realm transfer.” This idea (1) recognizes our new status as having been transferred from the realm of sin and death to the realm of life in Christ and (2) the agent of that liberation is the Spirit.

In verse 3, Paul has no argument with the integrity of the Jewish law. He has said it is good and holy (). The weak link is in our keeping of the law. Our fleshly nature presents a problem not because it is inherently evil, but because it is weak. Our weakness negates any sort of saving power the law might represent. God’s remedy for this weakness was to send his own Son. Our situation was dire and hopeless. The law can only condemn. No human being can overcome sin. So God provided one who condemned sin in the flesh, one who could live a victorious, sinless life.

Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh - he appeared, physically, like any other man of his day. Jesus had full awareness that his mission included his death as a sacrifice for sin, paying the price for our salvation. The righteous requirements of the law are not discarded but fully met through Christ. This fulfillment finds its expression in us because we are the beneficiaries of being justified.

What are some ways we can make ourselves more open to the Spirit’s influence?

Indwelling of the Spirit -

Romans 8:5–11 NRSV

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. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since 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, though 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 from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Paul gives examples of what the flesh desires in . Having a mind governed by the flesh is to focus on the bodily impulses of the moment, Paul has previously noted that “those things result in death”. The wording in the text before us is even stronger: it equates being controlled by the flesh with death itself.

By contrast those who have a mind governed by the Spirit have a certain kind of life and peace that the fleshly minded do not. Paul expands on what he means by life in : “Whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”. This kind of life removes the fear of death. That, in turn, results in us having peace about our future.

The way Paul uses the Greek word translated peace carries a significant difference from how the pagan world of his day uses it. For pagans, the word points primarily to outward peace, as in the absence of war or civil unrest. But Paul uses the word in terms of how the Greek Old Testament translates shalom, from the Hebrew Old Testament. In this sense, peace is more than the absence of strife. One who has the shalom kind of peace has inner contentment that results from having the blessings of God. Those who live by the Spirit have such peace.

In verse 7, Paul moves from describing what is so to explaining why it is so. God’s law plays a defining role in all of this. For the law to have been nailed to the cross means for Christians that our penalty for breaking the law has already been paid. But the law doesn’t disappear as a standard of conduct. To live by the principles of the world is to live as if God’s law and the sin it defines do not exist.To live in such a way is attempt to be a law unto oneself. And a focus on self is idolatry.

Pleasing God is the only reasonable choice we can make. If we reject the way of faith, we will never please God. What we do with the freewill choice is the most critical decision one can make. Paul reiterates the power of “realm transfer.” In verse 9, the phrases not in the realm of the flesh but…in the realm of the Spirit reflects Paul’s assumption that hose to whom he writes have “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” A person is either within the dominion of the flesh or that of the Spirit. There is no in between and four facts are important.

Fact 1 is that the Spirit of God indwells the Christian. This is spiritual language, but that does not take away from its reality. The Holy Spirit cannot be detectable by scientific instruments, but is present nonetheless as a constant influence. While we may be able to quench the Spirit and dull its influence, our faith guarantees the Spirit’s presence. Paul also calls God’s Spirit the Spirit of Christ. This not a different person. The Holy Spirit is God’s Spirit and Christ’s Spirit.

Fact 2 is that the lack of the Holy Spirit’s presence means those persons do not belong to Christ. The Holy Spirit is God’s mark of his chosen. There is no such thing as a Christian believer without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit; that would be a contradiction in terms.

Fact 3 is that we can have a living, vibrant relationship with God in the here and now. This is possible despite the fact that our bodies are dead because of sin. What makes such a relationship possible is the imputed righteousness Christians have by means of Christ’s death. The Spirit gives life!

Fact 4 is that the presence of God’s Spirit assures Christians of resurrection life, life beyond the day our current mortal bodies expire. The only way this happens is through the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead. Eternal life is not mentioned here as such, but it is implied.

Leading of the Spirit - Romans 8:12-14

Romans 8:12-14

Romans 8:12–14 NRSV

So then, brothers and sisters, 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 all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

In verses 12 & 13, Paul stresses a choice, a choice sharpened by his reference to those who have an obligation. This word can refer to financial obligations. But Paul uses it in the sense of moral obligations. His readers, brothers and sisters in Christ, indeed have such an obligation. Since that obligation is not to the flesh, to live according to it, then it must be to the only other choice the Spirit. That obligation is to kill the misdeeds of the body. This is Paul’s great plea. Life in the Spirit must include rejecting self-centered impulses approved by the world.

This self modification is not easy. It is complete reorientation of our priorities with God as the focus. We could never do this by our own will-power. It must happen by the Spirit. God does not expect us to live the spiritually pleasing life without giving us the resource we need to be successful. Through leadership of the Holy Spirit, we are able to truly live and produce the deeds of a godly life.

What warning signs should we be alert to that indicate a fellow believer is slipping back into the deadness of life before the Spirit?

In verse 14 we see to “live by the Spirit” or “walk in the Spirit” is to be led by the Spirit of God. We live to serve God according to his direction, not according to our own desires. Then we are children of God, with all the privileges a child of the king may expect. We are heirs.

There is a lot more to being “led by the Spirit” than whether one is moved to pray or sing or speak in a worship service. In fact , if our Sunday morning conduct doesn’t match that of our daily conduct, something is wrong.

What guardrails can we erect to ensure that our living by the Spirit doesn’t become a “holier than thou” hindrance to our witness?

Conclusion

Living above the principles of the world is not easy. A media-saturated society surrounds us with opportunities to gratify the flesh. Hungry? Gluttons are welcome at all-you-can-eat buffet. some enticements may not be sinful in and of themselves. But they all can appeal to a persuadable (weak?) part of nature. They tempt us to take our eyes off God. They have no view of eternity. Let us walk by the Spirit not the flesh.

Prayer

Father make me reliant on your grace and alive in your Spirit. Strengthen us this day to live by your Spirit and nothing else. We pray this in the name of Jesus, the one who died for us. Amen.