Life In The Spirit Series

Romans 8:12-17 - Life in the Spirit

When we come to know Christ, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells within us.

• What does that mean for us? Is our life going to be different? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in my life?

• These are important questions. We know God the Father, we know Christ our Saviour, and we need to know the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

• Paul makes it clear to us in Romans 8 that the Holy Spirit is in our lives and plays an important role.

From Romans 1 to 7 Paul mentions the Spirit only a couple of times (4 times) but in Romans 8 alone, he said it 19 times.

• Paul wants us to understand the work of the Spirit in our lives because we need Him.

• Most of the time in this chapter Paul addresses Him as “the Spirit”. Twice he uses "the Spirit of God" (v.9 and 14); twice he called Him "the Spirit of life" (v.2 and 10), one time as the "Spirit of Christ" (v.9) and once as the "Spirit of adoption" (v.15).

• We cannot run away from this central figure in this chapter.

He is very involved in our lives and I want to share these 3 points today - recognising the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit, the WORK of the Holy Spirit and the WITNESS of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

He is not an occasional visitor; He takes up residence in us. He lives in us:

• 8:11 “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.”

Jesus said it earlier before He left, in John 14:16-17 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

• Jesus said this after verse 15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

• Right after saying “you will keep my commandments” Jesus says He will ask the Father to provide us with another Helper, who will help us keep His commandments.

• John 14:26 “…the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Jesus says this Helper will be with us forever (v.16), He dwells with us and will be in us (v.17). And “we know Him” (v.17) for He will bring to our mind the words of Christ. Jesus calls Him the Spirit of truth.

Secondly, Romans 8 tells us of the work of the Spirit in our lives.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

• Last week we heard that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

• The Holy Spirit assures us that we are forgiven, because He, the Spirit of life, set us free from the law of sin and death (8:2).

• He convicts us of the truth of the Gospel and He assures us of our forgiveness when we repent and believe Jesus.

Romans 8 says with His presence in us, we can now live by the Spirit and not the old ways of the flesh.

• The Spirit guides us and enables us to live right so that “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us” (8:4).

• He empowers us to live in obedience to God’s will, not under the dictates of the flesh but in the enabling power of the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has a role to play in our salvation and our sanctification.

• In salvation, bringing conviction and assurance; in sanctification, helping us walk and grow in holiness.

Romans 8:12-17 ESV

12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For 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. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.