The Benefits Of New Life- The Spirit Series

Text: Romans 8:1-17

Title: The Benefits of New Life- The Spirit

Romans 8:1-17 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

I. The Spirit Brings Eternal Security- vs. 1-4

II. The Spirit Brings Sanctification- vs. 5-8

III. The Spirit Brings us to Christ- vs. 9-11

IV. The Spirit Brings Life- vs. 11-13

V. The Spirit Brings Adoption- vs. 14-17

Please turn in your Bibles to Romans chapter 1. I know we’ve already been there. Don’t worry, I’m not going to start over. I’d like to start out today with a quick summary of where we’ve been and a look ahead to where we are going. I know that over the past few months a lot of people have been out sick or on vacation, so I want to bring us all up to speed.

If you remember I started out this series by talking about how Paul systematically constructs a theological house for us through the book of Romans.

The foundation of the doctrinal house was what? That’s right, revelation. The fact that God has revealed Himself to us through redemptive history, through the scripture, and through Jesus Christ is absolutely critical. It is how we know what God is like.

The first wall of our theological house was the doctrine of sin. In the first three chapters of Romans Paul explains what sin is, how it affects us, and what the consequences of it are.

In his discussion of the doctrine of sin Paul address three groups of people. In chapter 1 he addresses the pagan or the person who completely rejects God. In chapter 2 he deals with people who think that good works is enough to overcome the condemnation of sin. They are wrong.

Finally in chapter 3 he deals with the Jewish people who think that they will be saved simply because they have always been God’s chosen people. Paul illustrates in chapter 4 how salvation isn’t about your birthright, it’s about faith. If you remember, chapter 4 is all about Abraham as an illustration of justification by faith.

The second wall of our theological house is the doctrine of salvation. We have been talking about this one for the past few weeks. The doctrine of salvation can be split up into three parts; justification, sanctification, and glorification. In the last part of chapter 3 and all of 4 and 5 Paul explains justification.