Life in the Spirit
Romans 8:12-17
I want to return back to our verse by verse study in Romans this morning. We find ourselves in the middle of what I believe is one of the greatest chapters when it comes to relaying just what liberty we have and the victory we can have as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, one commentator in years past called Romans 8 the Mount Everest of the New Testament. I would agree. What we have learned thus far in Romans 8 is that there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, and that it is clear to know who is a believer and who is not - just look at their walk, their life. Those who live according to the flesh have a mind that is set on the flesh. Those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. It is an incredible point that is very simple to understand as well.
As Paul continues on in his discussion, he wants the believer to understand another key point when it comes to the Christian life - it is to be lived out, and can ONLY be lived out, in the Spirit. As I shared with you last Sunday morning, not only is it impossible to live the Christian life in our own strength but it is also incredibly insulting to Almighty God to attempt to live it apart from Him. But here is one of the important points of this chapter, and of the apostle Paul as well - to live life in the Spirit is not easy. In fact, it will be a struggle for the believer for the rest of his living days on this earth. Why? We are in a spiritual battle. Paul would tell the Galatian church that the flesh lusts against (fights against) the Spirit and the Spirit fights against the flesh.
You see, this is one the arguments that we hear over and over again as we bring up the subject of flesh and Spirit. As J. Vernon McGee put it, "The natural man says he owes it to his flesh to satisfy it. He may rationalize his dishonesty by saying, "A man has to eat." A movie star has said, "I live for sex, and I have to have my needs met." We hear this today on every hand. Satisfying the old nature has plunged our nation into the grossest immorality! But God says that we as believers are not debtors to the flesh. My friend, the flesh-and we all have it-is a low-down, dirty rascal. And we don't owe it anything."1
So, as we will see in these verses this morning, "Each believer's responsibility is a positive one-to live each day in the control and power of the Holy Spirit." But why? I want you to see four benefits of life in the Spirit.
Romans 8:12-17
8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors -- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
8:13 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.
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."
8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
8:17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him,] that we may also be glorified together.
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Destruction v 13
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The result of living according to the flesh is death v 13a. In this section here a question that needs to be asked is who these words are directed toward - unbelievers or believers. Commentators are split on this issue. Some have said that Paul was addressing non-believers that were in the midst of the congregation of believers. Others argue that Paul is addressing believers. Which one is right? Well, I want you to understand that folks that have never been saved - the end of their life is death - spiritual death. When a heart has never been converted, spiritual death is the end result.
But I want you to understand as well that when a believer lives the carnal lifestyle, there will be consequences to that way of living. In fact, the phrase that we read, "you will die" is better interpreted, "you are about to die," or "you are at the point of dying."3 Believer, I want you to understand this point very clearly - when you and I allow sin to remain in our lives, it's doing a number on us - a dying number. That zeal we once had is dying. That commitment we once had is dying. That yearning we once had is dying. In fact, let me ask you some questions. "If you are a child of God and you have unconfessed sin in your life, do you want to go to church? Do you want to read your Bible? Do you want to pray? Of course you don't. You are separated from God."4
Some of you here are very miserable. I'm glad you're here this morning because you need to understand that the reason for your spiritual miserableness is that there is unconfessed sin in your life. You may have even "justified" it in your mind and heart, but your justifying is not going to change the perfect Holy God and His Word. It's still wrong. And to choose to stay with the sin rather than repent and turn from it will lead to a stunted walk with Christ. The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit will be never be appealing until the desire to confess and forsake the sin has been acted upon.
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The call to the believer is to put to death the deeds of the body. Here is a spiritual reality check, "We owe nothing to the flesh, to live according to its dictates. The old, evil, corrupt nature has been nothing but a drag. It has never done us a bit of good. If Christ had not saved us, the flesh would have dragged us down to the deepest, darkest, hottest places in hell. Why should we feel obligated to such an enemy?"5 So, we are commanded to put to death the deeds of the body. And this leads to two questions,
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How? Notice what Paul says, "by the Spirit." It is the Holy Spirit alone that can put to death the deeds of the body - the sinful desires that would love to have a heyday within us and wreck our lives. When we yield to the Holy Spirit, "He applies to us and in us the death and resurrection of Christ. He puts to death the things of the flesh, and He reproduces the things of the Spirit."6 But you may ask how many times this must happen. Here's the answer - as long as you have a heartbeat, this is to be a continuous action. The phrase, "put to death" can be literally translated, "are putting to death". "But preacher, I get tired and frustrated and discouraged." I understand. And that also helps us to understand the importance of regular church attendance, involvement in Sunday School, godly friends that will hold us accountable. I want you to understand that yielding to the Spirit is a continuous action.
I want to remind you again; we are in a spiritual battle. We cannot rest, retire, or let up for one instant. We cannot coast. We cannot go on a spiritual vacation. We cannot think that we can step back and we'll be fine and free from enemy attack. We can never retire from the spiritual battle that we are in. Don't allow laziness to creep into your thoughts about what it is that you need to do in order to live a life that will honor our Lord. What do you think the bulk of Paul's letters are about? It's staying faithful and alert to fight this spiritual battle that we're in. But here's the greatest news: greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!
How can the deeds of the body be put to death? By the Holy Spirit. But,
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Why? Notice what Paul says; so we can live. What does he mean by "live"? It means to experience the full and meaningful life that only those that are surrendered to the lordship of Christ can truly experience. It's not waiting till heaven to enjoy the power of Almighty God; it's starting now to get a taste of what is to come. When those deeds are put to death today, and perhaps you'll have to put them to death again tomorrow, what you will find is that your "thoughts and deeds are energized by the presence of the Spirit of God…. Because of the fruit borne by our life, men shall know that the Spirit of God resides in us."7
My question to you dear brother is if you are enjoying by the Holy Spirit the deeds of the flesh being put to death in your life and the Holy Spirit enabling you to live a full and meaningful life. But the Holy Spirit does more. He also gives,
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Direction v 14
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The role of the Holy Spirit is not passive - He leads. Oftentimes it seems that many believers feel like the Holy Spirit is present in a life only to tell them when something went wrong, or when help is needed. That's not the case at all. He wants to lead a life! I want to remind you of the most familiar psalm of all that helps us to see Who the Lord is, and who we are - and don't get the roles mixed up! "The Lord is my Shepherd" - that is, He is the One that has the knowledge and the expertise to lead, guide, direct and protect the sheep (cute animals that are dumb - and that's what a person is when it comes to the spiritual aspect.)
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What evidence is there in your life that the Holy Spirit is leading you? And by the way, to be led by the Spirit does not mean that He is going to wait to the last minute and tell you something crazy and off the wall to do. God's Spirit will never lead you to do something that contradicts His Word - NEVER. So when you hear someone say that God led them to do this or that and it is in contradiction to what He says in His Word, you can know for a fact that person is wrong and is NOT being led by God's Spirit at all. "Well, we're just getting outside the box." No, you're not outside the box; you're outside the Word!
I want you to see an incredible fact that Paul makes in this short verse, "the Holy Spirit's control and direction attests the believer's privileges in God's family as a "son." Is there no leadership of God's Spirit in your life? It may be a clear sign that you are not a child of God. I want you to understand something, and I'm not contradicting myself here. "There is one characteristic quality of all who are truly born again. That quality is that in their thoughts, behavioral patterns, and life-styles they are constantly and habitually led by the Spirit of God."7 What does it mean to be led? It's not to be pulled unwillingly like a kid going to the doctor to get a shot. It means to be willingly led to a place that will make an eternal difference in the life.
Is that kind of leadership evident in your life? The Holy Spirit is responsible for something else,
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Delight vv 14b-17a
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We are sons, not servants vv 14b. It is absolutely incredible what Paul declares here for those that are saved. "When a person is born again, he is not born into a position of servitude. He is not brought into God's household as a slave. [And it would be tempting to have a response even like the prodigal son had when we realize just what it is that we have done, as well as realize the love of the heavenly Father, "I'm not worthy to be called your son, but just put me amongst the servants." Not the case dear beloved brother and sister in Christ!] Rather, he receives the spirit of adoption; that is, he is placed in God's family as a mature son."9
Adoption, in New Testament times as it is today, was never seen as some sort of a second class relationship, but enjoyed the same privilege as the natural born children. And dear friend, this spirit of adoption enables us to enter into a relationship with God the Father that the unbeliever can never experience on his own. Thank God that we are sons of His! But also notice that,
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The outcome is not a relationship of fear but of fellowship. I want you to see an incredible statement that Paul makes. And it was also considered a radical statement in his day. Jews would never think of referring to God Almighty, to Yahweh, as "Abba, Father." That was too intimate or personal a reference to be used with God. "But when the Holy Spirit dwells within us, our relationship to God the Father is such that we may address Him as freely as we would our own father."10 So, instead of cowering in slave-like fear, Christians can approach God in an intimate way.
The word "Abba" is an Aramaic word that can mean "papa"-a term of endearment. Abba expresses a "heart-cry, especially in times of trouble."11 But still some may hesitate to use it for fear of becoming overly familiar with Him, but the great news is that "He who is infinitely high is also intimately nigh."12
Believer, I fear that many have not understood this aspect of the Christian life - that we have a loving heavenly Father with whom we can have a loving and deep relationship. Thank God for so great a salvation that enables us to not only know our Lord but to deeply love Him as well.
But we see our Lord's delight in another way,
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A child of God also has an incredible blessing of being an heir. We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. Think about this. Not only do we have the privilege of bearing His Name, but we also have access to His resources! And the way to His resources is a life lived by faith. Listen again to Scripture; it is impossible to please God apart from faith. I want you to understand that this is not health and wealth preaching. I'm not going to stand here before you and tell you that God wants you driving a Roles-Royce and living in a 15,000 square foot house. For most in here you couldn't handle that. It would push you away from Christ rather than to Him. But I also know what you're thinking, "I'd like to give it a try!" Do you want some wealth that you'll never find in this world? Here's one nugget. "Godliness with contentment is great gain." Believer, God has saved you from your sin - that's far greater than anything and everything this world can throw your way!
And God says, "Because you are Mine, you are an heir - and by the way, the best is yet to come. You may not get much on that sin-laden earth, but that place doesn't count as much as the one to come. When you get here with Me, then you'll have the treasure that can't be stolen or destroyed or decayed. Here, it will be forever and here it will be worth it all." We are heirs! What a delight our Lord has taken in us!
There's another part of the working of God's Spirit in our lives,
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Diligence v 17b
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For those that love health and wealth and telling how our best life now will be one that is problem free, somehow this verse doesn't register. It's easy to stop at verse 16 and not talk about what else it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. But I want you to understand that being a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ means that there may very well be suffering involved with it. We noticed that last Sunday morning in Paul's letter to the Philippian church. Is that easy? I don't know about you, but I usually find myself running from pain. I don't like it and I don't want to be anywhere near it. I don't like to suffer either. I don't like being made fun of. I don't like being humiliated. I don't like being beat up or ridiculed. And left in my own strength, I'm going to run from it. But when it comes to the cause of Christ, would I be willing to go through whatever for my Lord? I will WHEN I am empowered by God's Spirit. You see, with Christ "we look at the world a bit differently when our lives are responsive to His commands."13 And Paul shares as a certain fact that to live for Christ means that there will be some suffering for Christ.
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When the Holy Spirit gives us the diligence to stay committed to the cause of Christ, it doesn't mean that we go looking for suffering, but we won't run from it either. I like how Jesus put in the Sermon on the Mount, "sufficient for the day is its own trouble." But let me tell you that if you have made a firm commitment to Christ and you're not turning back, you'll run into struggles and tough times and even some broken relationships. But what are you going to do? Left in the flesh, you may very well tuck tail and run. But not so the believer living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay at it and stay the course, believer!
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Is the suffering worth it? Here's the natural response of an individual - we want all the glory without any of the struggle. Do you want to know why there are so many more armchair quarterbacks than professional quarterbacks? Most of them didn't want to go through the struggles of training, exercise, and more training and study. I want you to know that what is to come is so much greater than our mind can comprehend that we cannot even begin to fathom what heaven is going to be like. That is the glory that is to come. And when we compare the suffering that we may experience here on this earth to the glory that is to come - no comparison!
So what do you have your sights set on today? Is it a life of ease and enjoyment now? Or is it the glory of what is to come? In fact, take a moment right now and truly and honestly assess how the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Is there some destruction of the sinful fleshly lifestyle going on? In other words, can you tell some changes in the way you are living, some habits or attitudes that used to be a problem are no longer holding you up? Can you tell some areas that used to not bother you, now they do? When God's Spirit is in control, there will be some of that taking place.
Look at the direction you're going in life. Is it 100 different directions? Is it the way you think your life should go? Or is your number one desire and drive to do as God desires?
Is there truly a delight you have in your relationship with Christ? Do you know Him and relate to Him as Abba Father, daddy, daddy? Is He your first love, or have you left Him?
Is there truly a diligence, a sanctified dissatisfaction in your life to go God's way, even when it will not be the easiest or the most popular way to go?
Where is your commitment level? What about zeal for the Lord? When we live a life controlled by the Spirit we live with everything in the proper perspective.