Life in the Spirit
Life In the Spirit
The Ultimate Lifestyle
Romans 8:1-39
The Christian life is not all bliss and blessings. We learned that last Sunday. In Romans 7 we saw a picture of defeat. In a Christian’s life there are also struggles, problems and conflicts. The things we want to do we end up not doing and the things we don't want to do we end up doing. That’s the consequence of trying to live under the Law.
When we come to chapter 8, it is the exact opposite. This is the chapter of victory, great conquest, success. What makes the difference? The difference between defeat and victory in our life is the Holy Spirit.
In chapter 7 the word “I” was used 47 times: I…me…my…myself. That’s the problem. Butthe secret of Christian living is not living the Christian life on our own, but letting the Holy Spirit live through youand the key word of Romans 8 is the word "spirit". The word "spirit" is used 19 times in Romans 8. Therein lies the secret, we need to live a life not under the Law but in the Spirit.This chapter, the greatest chapter on Christian Living in the Bible, describes the benefits and blessings of having the Holy Spirit in our lives. This chapter describes to us the benefits, the kind of life, that the Holy Spirit makes possible to live.
These are the benefits of being born again. Notice the key phrase in v. 1 "There is now no condemnation for those who are in ChristJesus." This chapter is not for unbelievers. It's for believers, for Christians. The benefits we're going to look at do not apply to everybody. They apply only to those who are in Christ.
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed Congress on the state of the war in Europe. Much of what he said that day has been forgotten. But at the close of his address, he said that he looked forward “to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.” He named them:freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These words are still remembered, even though their ideals have not yet been realized everywhere in the world.
Life in the Spirit means something similar: it also means freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17– “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
A. Freedom from Judgment - A LIFE WITHOUT CONDEMNATION(1-4)
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (v.1)
This is the high point of our justification or salvation. We will never experience condemnation for our sin because we are made righteous in Jesus Christ.
The only way you can understand how marvelous it is to have no condemnation is to understand what it means to be condemned. You have to go back to Romans 1:18 to 3:20, the section about SIN, and think of the HORROR God’s CONDEMNING JUDGMENT that is given to those who reject God. Only then will you appreciate God’s deliverance of us.
Jonathan Edwards put it this way, "The wrath of God upon the wicked is just as intense as His love is to the saints." And when you understand that, then you can appreciate the reality of no condemnation.
Now, please note one very important thing here. If you are using the KJV, there is the phrase, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” in verse 1. It does not belong here according to the best manuscript. Only the KJV and the 1599 Geneva Bible has this phrase. All other versions of the English Bible do not have them.
What this teaches us is this: There are no conditions for us to meet in order to have this life without condemnation. The basis for this wonderful assurance is the phrase “in Christ Jesus.” In Adam, we were condemned. In Christ, there is no condemnation!
Please note: the verse not does not say “no mistakes” or “no failures,” or even “no sins,” to them who are in Christ. Christiansdofail and make mistakes, and they do sin. Abraham lied about his wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with his sword. To be sure, they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer condemnation.
In chapter 7:24, Paul described his condition as “wretched.” And then he asked, Who will deliver me from this body of death?
v.24– “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
In chapter 8, Paul gave us the answer. The Holy Spirit is the answer to all the problems he brought up in chapter 7. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to live a life without condemnation.
The reason why we are not condemned is because the law of the Spirit of life set us free from the law of sin and death. The Law only brings sin and death and condemnation, but through Christ the law of the Spirit of life set us free from the law of sin and death. (v.2)On the cross Christ suffered and took all that condemnation. The Law could not save; it can only condemn. But God sent His Son to save us and do what the Law could not do.
The “law of double jeopardy” states that a man cannot be tried twice for the same crime. Since Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins, and since you are “in Christ,” God will not condemn you. (v.3)
We have a choice to make. WE must choose to live in the Spirit and not under the Law. We can only live a righteous life in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the power of the Law. The Law does not have the power to produce holiness; it can only reveal and condemn sin. But the indwelling Holy Spirit enables you to walk in obedience to God’s will. The righteousness that God demands in His Law is fulfilled in us through the Spirit’s power.
A life in the Spirit means freedom from judgment, a life without condemnation; second…
B. Freedom from Defeat - A LIFE WITHOUT DOMINATION(5-17)
This means, sin cannot control your life any more. Unlessyou choose to allow it, to give into it. We now have a power in us that helps us overcome sin.
In the following verses, Paul is contrasting the saved and the unsaved.
v.5– “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.” (NIV)
The unsaved person does not have the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:9) and lives inthe flesh and forthe flesh. His mind is centered on the things that satisfy the flesh. But the Christian has the Spirit of God within and lives in an entirely new and different sphere. His mind is fixed on the things of the Spirit.
Now, does this mean that the unsaved person never does anything good, or that the believer never does anything bad? No!
It just means that their focus in life is different. One lives for the flesh, the other lives for the Spirit.
v.6-7– “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.” (NIV)
The unsaved person is alive physically but he's dead spiritually. His old nature, which is the only nature he has, is dead toward God and does not respond to the things of the Spirit. He may be moral, and even religious; but he lacks spiritual life. He needs “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). But those who have trusted Christ enjoy“peace withGod” (Rom. 5:1). They are friends and not enemies.
v8– “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”(ESV) The unsaved person lives to please himself and rarely if ever thinks about pleasing God. The root of sin is selfishness — “I will” and not “Thy will.”
We have a choice to make. Are we going to be controlled by the flesh or by the Spirit of God? Which mindset do we want: a “mind set on what the flesh desires…or a mind set on what the Spirit desires?”
Life in the Spirit, the ultimate lifestyle, means freedom from judgement, defeat…
C. Freedom from Discouragement - A LIFE WITHOUT DESPERATION
Romans 8:18– “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.” (NIV)
Even in our suffering we have a hope. No matter what happens in your life, no matter what trials, there is hope. No situation is hopeless if you have the Holy Spirit in your life. That's what verses 18-25 talk about. Paul says, Sure we're going through some suffering. When you became a Christian did God take away all your problems? No. You probably got a few because all of a sudden you had a new enemy. God has not promised us a problem free, stress free life. Christians are not exempt from suffering. But Christians have something that non-Christians don't. They have a hope that gets them through that suffering. Paul also says, you can't compare the glory that you're going to have with the present suffering.
What glory?
2 Corinthians 4:16-17(NIV) – “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Even the suffering in our lives, God has a purpose behind it. He's producing things in our life. We can hope for two things (Romans 8):
- We have the hope of a future resurrection.
v.23– “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” (NIV)
Isn't that good news when you think of your aches and pains? One day you're going to be given a perfect body. One thing that suffering does is loosen your grip on this world and gives you a greater longing for heaven. In heaven there is no pain, no tears, no problems. We have the hope of the resurrection. It all doesn't end just in death.
- We have the hope that the Holy Spirit is praying for useven when we're going through these troubles.
- 26-27– “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans…the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
Have you ever been so confused or in so much pain that you didn't know how to pray? The Bible says that when you cannot even express the hurt in your life the Holy Spirit prays for you -- He looks inside of your heart and sees thing even you can't see and prays them to God. Even in our weakness the Holy Spirit prays for us.
D. Freedom from Worries - A LIFE WITHOUT MISCALCULATION
Vs. 28– “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Now, this is my life verse. And I am here to testify to you that this is true: all things, whether it is good or bad, work for our good. You do not want the bad things in your life be taken out and just have the good things. It doesn’t work that way. Problems and difficulties and needs are there to spice up our life. Ang ikinasasarap ng pagkain ay nasa rekado o ingredients nito.
God never makes a mistake.Everything that happens in your life there's a purpose for it and He allows it because it fits into His plan. If you're a Christian absolutely nothing ever comes into your life by accident. Nothing!
God couldn't care less what is the source of your problems. You may have brought it on yourself. It may be brought by other people. It may be brought by the devil. He doesn't care. We blame circumstance. We blame the government. But it doesn't matter where the circumstances are coming from.
God uses all things. Even the things I don't like. It says He uses them for His purpose.
What is God's purpose? Verse 28 makes no sense at all until you read verse 29. Verse 29 explains the purpose mentioned in verse 27. "For those God foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Sonthat He might be the firstborn among many brothers." (ESV)
God's number one purpose in your life is to make you like Jesus Christ. It's been God's plan from the very beginning of time. When God made man He said, "Let us make man in Our image." God wanted to make people in His image -- godly. But man sinned, blew it, and the image was distorted. Jesus Christ came to earth to restore that image. When the Holy Spirit comes into my life, He begins making me more like Jesus. That's the transforming process and God uses every trial, problem, grief, hassle, everything in your life to make you like Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:11–“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” (ESV)
Please notice how secure we are in Christ? Even when we make dumb decisions, God still has a way of using it for good in our life. Isn't that great? He takes into account our choices and include them in His plan! Even when we choose the wrong thing! It all works together for good. God uses everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. And what is God’s purpose for us? His purpose is to make us like Christ.And when you are like Christ you will have fulfillment, security, confidence-- because all of those things are in Christ. You will have the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, etc. That’s the ultimate lifestyle!
E. Freedom from Fear - A LIFE WITHOUT INTIMIDATION
v.31–“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (NIV)
If you're a Christian, one plus God equals a majority. Christians ought to be the most confident people in the world. If you get put down, forget it! It's nothing!
v.33– “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” (NIV)
If you like yourself and God likes you and if others don't like you, that's not your problem! It is their problem. You are under no condemnation!
v.34– “Who is to condemn? Christ is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." (ESV)
Who can condemn us? No one! It was Christ who died for us. If there is anyone who can condemn us, it is Christ. But the Bible, “there is therefore now no condemnation who are in Christ Jesus.” If Christ won’t condemn us, no one can. We should not fear anyone or be intimidated by anyone!
The Holy Spirit is praying for us; Jesus Christ is praying for us. When you're criticized don't worry about it! If it's true, listen and learn from it. If it isn't, ignore it and forget it. Ultimately only God is the judge of your life. Don't be intimidated.
If you live in the Spirit, you should be confident.
Hebrews 13:6– “So we say with confidence, `The Lord is my helper. I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'" (NIV) The Proverbs says, "The fear of man is a snare.” The moment you start worrying about what other people think, you're in trouble. You start being manipulated by them. The Lord's my helper. I won't be afraid. What can man do to me? One plus God equals a majority.
Romans 8:37– “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (NIV)
If you're a Christian don't ever call yourself a victim. You're not a victim, you're a victor. When things get you down, you're choosing to let them get you down. Always remember that we are more than conquerors, not because of our own strength or our own genius,but “through him who loved us.” Philippians 4:13– “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." If you have the Holy Spirit in your life you can live a life without condemnation. Stop saying, “I can’t do it.” Don’t be intimidated.
F. Freedom from Want - A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITATION
v.32- “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (NIV)
God will provide for all our needs. When God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you, He made the ultimate sacrifice. There isn't anything more that He can do to prove He loves us. If God loved us enough to send Jesus Christ to die on the cross, don't you think He loves us enough to make sure that all our other needs (physical, spiritual, emotional needs) are met? When God saved you, He solved your biggest problem, everything else is downhill. He wants you to live a life without limitation.
G. Freedom from Isolation - A LIFE WITHOUT SEPARATION(35-39)
Nothing can ever separate me from God's love. Absolutely nothing.
v.35– “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (NIV)
What a great truth to realize I will never go through an experience in life by myself. No matter what happens in the future, we are going to go through it with God. Although I do not know what the future holds, I know who holds the future. And I know that I will not face it on my own.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. We are eternally secure.
John 10:29– “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (NIV)
Isaiah 43:2– “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” (NIV)
No matter what you go through, God will be with you. Notice He says through. We don't like to go through our problems; we like to go around them; back off from them. God's not going to take you away from problems. He will take you through the problems and He will be with you.
I hope you have caught a glimpse of the wonderful privileges we have as Christians, as believers.
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