LIVING BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ROMANS 8:1-14
Introduction:
The Believer has the ability to live a successful life that is pleasing the God because he has the Spirit of God living within him. Even the Lord conceded that the flesh is weak, Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
We don’t have to be superhuman to live for the Lord. We just need to follow His Word and obey His commands because we have been redeemed from sin.
I. WE ARE NOT UNDER CONDEMNATION ANY LONGER
Romans 8:1-14, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
A. We are free from the law of sin and death, Romans 8:2-5, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
1. What the Law could not do, Romans 8:3, “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:”
2. Christ fulfilled the Law, Romans 8:4, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
3. Therefore we are to keep on being mindful of the things of the Spirit, Romans 8:5, “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.
a. There is a conflict, Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
b. The Spiritual Man seeks those things from above, Colossians 3:2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
B. We are to be spiritually minded, Romans 8:6-8, “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.”
1. The flesh cannot please God, Romans 8:8, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
a. A premature death can come when we live after the flesh, Romans 8:13, “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.”
b. Living through the Spirit is more desirable, Ephesians 4:30-31, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
2. A Believer is not “in the flesh,” Romans 8:9, “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.”
a. You are not controlled by your sinful nature, but by the Spirit of God, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
b. The Spirit verifies that we are the His children, Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
3. We are in Christ and therefore dead to sin, Romans 8:10, “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
II. AT HIS COMING CHRIST WILL QUICKEN OUR MORTAL BODIES
Romans 8:11, “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.”
A. Therefore we have an obligation NOT to live after the flesh, Romans 8:12, “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.”
1. Our responsibility is a POSITIVE one, —to live each day in the control and power of the Holy Spirit.
2. We are to deny ungodliness, Titus 2:12, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”
a. To live soberly [ with a sound mind ], 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
b. To live righteously [ trusting God ], Romans 4:3, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
c. To live godly [ holy ], 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
B. Living in the flesh grieves [offends ] the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
1. The things that offend, Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
2. The things that please Him, Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
CONCLUSION
Living for the Lord is done through the power of the Spirit of Christ that lives within us.