GOD IS FOR US

TODAY’S MESSAGE

THE GOSPEL BENEFIT OF SPIRIT EMPOWERED ASSURANCE

REVIEW

A: VERSES 1-4

B: VERSES 5-8

TRANSITION: V 9:

Romans 8:9 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.

EXPLAIN THE TRANSITION OF VERSE 9 FROM 8 TO 10FF

PRIMARY PRINCIPLE: ASSURANCE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS MERELY GIVEN TO YOU; IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU DEMONSTRATE

I. OUR POSITION IN CHRIST EQUALS OUR ETERNAL PRIVILEGE OF ASSURANCE

A. THIS ASSURANCE IS ROOTED IN THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST

Romans 8:10 ESV

But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

THE PRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT IS THE GUARANTEE OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST EVEN THOUGH THE BODY IS DEAD TO SIN

AT THE MOMENT OF BELIEF, WHEN YOUR HEART IS TRANSFORMED BY THE GOSPEL, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD INVADES THE WHOLE OF YOUR LIFE AND MAKES YOU PERFECTLY BRAND NEW.

THOUGH THE BODY IS TRAPPED BY THE PRINCIPLE OF SIN, CHRISTIANS ARE FREED FROM ITS POWER BECAUSE OF THEIR NEW POSITION IN CHRIST

B. THIS ASSURANCE IS ROOTED IN THE CERTAINLY OF OUR ETERNAL HOPE

Romans 8:11 ESV

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.

AGAIN, THIS VERSE IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS BECAUSE OR SINCE....

TRANSITION TO NEXT POINT

II. OUR POSITION IN CHRIST EQUALS OUR PRESENT POWER TO PROVE OUR ASSURANCE

Romans 8:12 ESV

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

So then (Therefore)

brothers (them not individuals)

we (includes himself): all

DEBTORS: We are obligated to behave in ways that reflect and prove the testimony that the Spirit of Christ is within us

WE ARE OBLIGATED TO KILL SIN (OUT IT TO DEATH)

Romans 8:13 ESV

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.

DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE MOTIONS OF OUR LIVES

“BE ALWAYS KILLING SIN LEST SIN BE ALWAYS KILLING YOU” (JOHN OWEN)

SO WE ARE OBLIGATED, AS PROFESSING CHRISTIANS, TO KILL SIN

WHY ARE WE OBLIGATED?

BECAUSE RIGHTEOUS LIVING IS THE ONLY LOGICAL RESPONSE TO POSSESSING THE BLESSING OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST

THE BLESSINGS OF BEING IN CHRIST IS THREE FOLD:

1. Blessings we have received (freedom from penalty of the sin of our past)

2. Blessings we are receiving (freedom from penalty of our present sin)

3. Blessings we will receive (freedom from the penalty of future)

THESE BLESSINGS ARE REFLECTED IN PAUL’S WORD TO THE PHILIPPIANS

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

THIS IS A WORD OF ASSURANCE: HE WILL FINISH THE WORK IN US THAT HE BEGAN

What does Philippians 1:6 look like in life?

It is the Spirit of Christ working through our disciplined and united efforts to kill the principle of sin that remains an agitator in our lives

NOTICE THAT I SAID OUR DISCIPLINED AND UNITED EFFORT

I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THIS IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE

HOLINESS IS THE RESULT OF COLLECTIVE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

COLLECTIVE OBEDIENCE

Paul is not speaking to individuals: he is speaking to the church

PAUL SPEAKS IN VERSE 12 TO THE “BROTHERS” AND SAYS “WE”

Romans 8:12 (ESV)

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Part of the struggles we, as individual believers, have with sin is due to our unwillingness to be part of the whole

1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

SO PHILIPPIANS 1:6- THE YOU IS PLURAL

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

SO PAUL’S WORD IN VERSE 13 IS FOR THE BODY - THE YOU IS PLURAL

Romans 8:13 ESV

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.

SO HOW DO WE PUT SIN TO DEATH

1. We help each other to see our actions for what they are:

2. We help one another to hate sin for what it does:

- Corrupts the whole body

1 Corinthians 5:6 (ESV)

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

- Celebrates slavery over freedom

Romans 8:15 ESV

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

3. We help one another to be disciplined in not practicing sin

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 9:26 ESV

So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

a. Eliminate its power:

i. Do not go into the space that prompts its temptation

ii. Be mindful of the space that prompts its temption

Romans 8:17 ESV

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE BATTLE WITH SIN AS SUFFERING BECAUSE SIN SEEKS TO CORRUPT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.