AM July 3rd Romans 8

July 3^rd Romans 8 (Security)

In Christ we walk in the Spirit

1: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 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. 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.

So far Paul has established that those that have put their faith in Christ are declared righteous before God. Now because of this they are now unable to come into condemnation. God will never condemn the Christian for sin because he is the one who has declared him righteous. Paul continues his point, that the Law of Moses which brought the realisation of sin and separation from God is something that the Christ finds he is free from. The law was unable to help us because of the weakness of our flesh. Now God sending his Son in the flesh and as a sacrifice for sin condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not live after the flesh but who live in the empowerment of the Spirit. Here Paul contrasts two sorts of Christian those who live according to the flesh and those who live according to the Spirit. He says that those who live after the flesh have their minds set on fleshly things but those who live after the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Paul is not talking about salvation here, that has been dealt with in Chapters 4-5. Here he is talking about Christians who live either for the flesh or in the power of the Spirit. To live a carnal life is to have no practical daily fellowship with God but to be spiritually minded in life and peace. The life of the flesh is a life contrary to God. And it is not subject to the will of God and this life is not pleasing to God. Paul says you Roman Christian are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, because the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if a man does not have the Holy Spirit then he is not a christian. The Spirit of God is the one who gives power to live the Christian life. It is the same power that enabled Christ to rise from the dead. Therefore we are to live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. If we as Christians live after the flesh then we loose fellowship with God but if we live empowered by the Spirit of God then we put to death the deeds of the body. Those who live like this are led by the Spirit – they are Sons of God. Paul says, you Roman Christians have not been placed under the spirit of law again to bring you into fear of God, but you have received the Spirit of adoption and in that Sprit we cry – Father. The Holy Spirit also bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. We are heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ. And if we suffer with him we will also be glorified with him.

• What does it mean to be justified?
• What is the difference between living carnally and living in the Spirit?
• How can we know that we are saved?