LIVING BY THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:12-17

1. OUR OBLIGATION IN THE SPIRIT.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

verse— “Therefore brethern”--- in light of the fact we have been born again of the spirit, given a lively hope

verse— “we are debtors”—one who owes another, one held by some obligation ---ELABORATE

We are indebted but VERSE “not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.”

The NLT “you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.”

“Flesh” orig. (sarx)—the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit)—denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence. and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

- v13--”for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die”

Our mortal body has a debt of death---“for the wages of sin is death” Romans 3:23

Matthew Henry-points out ”In the midst of life we are in death: be our bodies ever so strong, and healthful, and handsome, they are as good as dead (Heb. 11:12), and this because of sin,”

-We are actually obligated to the LORD and as His and called to live as such---

1 Cor. 6:19-20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

-We don’t have to try and do this on our own for we have the spirit of the living God within to give us the victory over the flesh ---”Thanks be to God who gives us .....” “We are more than conquerors through Him who Loved us and .....”

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:”

verse 13 “but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

This victory over the flesh is what Paul meant in Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Many people claim to be saved but their lives aren’t reflective of one that is surrendered to Christ, They may go to church and do some good things but this is just outward ----Jesus refers to this in Matthew 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

What is the result of this unfruitful false profession

Matthew 7:22-24 “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Douglas Moo-verse 13- We will ultimately inherit the new eternal life God has promised us only if we actively use the Spirit to “put to death the misdeeds of the body.”

Does this mean I won’t ever sin again, No, I’m not sinless but I sin a whole lot less and am progressively looking less like the world and more like Christ.

That is living the life Christ intends for us as His, being a Light in the darkness of this world.

Jesus said Matt 5:16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” AMEN!!!!

2. OUR ADOPTION IN THE SPIRIT

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

v14-”For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Matthew Henry-- "It is the undoubted character of all true believers that they are led by the Spirit of God. Having submitted themselves in believing to his guidance, they do in their obedience follow that guidance, and are sweetly led into all truth and all duty. (2.) Their privilege: They are the sons of God, received into the number of God’s children by adoption, owned and loved by him as his children.”

v15-- For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;

Ellicott---pointed out the Greek corresponds very nearly to what we should naturally understand by the English Phrase, “such a spirit as would be found in slaves.”

He points out here the word spirit is the referring to “the dominant habit or frame of mind.” Then the next verse it is used both for the Spirit of God and the spirit of man.

verse- “again to fear”

This refers to the fear/terror during the Old Testament dispensation under the Law

verse 15b- “ but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

Praying here is called crying,

Why both? Matthew Henry points out “Because Christ said so in prayer (Mk. 14:36) Abba, Father: and we have received the Spirit of the Son. It denotes an affectionate endearing importunity, and a believing stress laid upon the relation. Little children, begging of their parents, can say little but Father, Father, and that is rhetoric enough.

Abba is Syriac for father or my father, which is the term the Jews would use.

pater, a Greek word for father, would be used by the Gentiles.

This denotes a common adoption to Jews and Gentiles; for in Christ Jesus there is neither Greek nor Jew.

Every child longs to be loved and they long for a father, what a privilege we have to be able to call God, the ONE TRUE GOD OF ALL CREATION OUR FATHER! AMEN!!!

v 16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”:

Confirmation of the adoption as the spirit bears witness, as v9 confirms “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

v17 “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;"

Joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ to the Eternal Glories of God! PRAISE GOD!

verse- “if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Suffering is not something we are familiar with and definitely not something we want but the scripture is clear “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” 2 Ti 3:12.

Jesus warned in John 15:20 “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;”

This persecution may be as simple as some mocking at us for standing up and speaking up for the things of God but many around the world are suffering the loss of family, home and even life for their faith.

May we not quench the spirit for fear of man but rather let us SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT “For we are ambassadors for Christ”

And let us not be ashamed remembering the words of Our Lord “whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed,

APPLICATION

We should be seeking to be more like Christ putting to death the deeds of the flesh, through the power of the Spirit.

Examples

And we should be unashamedly witnessing for Christ (seeking the Spirits power for this as well---2 Timothy 1:7