Groanings Too Deep For Words Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

We are continuing our study in the book of Romans, and we are going through chapter eight. I find Romans chapter eight one of the most exciting and encouraging chapters in all of Paul's epistles. Looking back to the beginning of the chapter, we move from the hopeless condition of man apart from the redemption of Christ to the glorious words that should bring every believer a swell of praise within them.

There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

From here, Paul continues to distinguish the believer’s life. Rather than walking according to our flesh and our fleshly desires and responding to the world around us through our flesh, we are now guided by the Spirit of God.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

And that's an important distinction. As we looked deeper into Galatians chapter 5 we see that distinction in a list of those who live according to the flesh and those who live according to the Spirit. The reason why we make the conscious effort to live according to the Spirit is because it is the Spirit of God that dwells within us.

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. (Romans 8:11)

Last week, Keith did an excellent job bringing all this together by underscoring that we live differently and the Spirit of Christ dwells within us because we are no longer heirs of death, but we are heirs of God through Jesus Christ. However, with that inheritance comes enmity. Because as heirs of the living God, we have made enemies of the god of this world and the systems of this world. Therefore, the spiritual victory we enjoy means we also share in the suffering of our king. But, our temporary and momentary light afflictions mean nothing compared to the glory we will share with our Lord.

And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:17)

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)

And this brings us to our study for tonight. We continue in the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit works through us and then us. Regarding the topic of the Holy Spirit, it seems like He is dishonored more than any other person in the Trinity. And I must pause here and give some commentary. Because there is a lot of confusion, especially in the church today, about what the Holy Spirit does. And this has brought to wide abuses within churches. To the point that any kind of manifestation, be it of the flesh or some other spirit, is attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit. I think this is it

“The Charismatic movement sort of leads the parade on abusing the Holy Spirit, grieving the Holy Spirit, insulting the Holy Spirit, even blaspheming the Holy Spirit. And it just seems to be unbridled, relentless abuse that is heaped upon the Holy Spirit. As I said very early on in the series, the unpardonable sin that Jesus addressed in the gospel of Matthew [22:32] was attributing to Satan the works of the Holy Spirit. And I think there is a reverse of that sin today, and that is attributing to the Holy Spirit the works of Satan.” (MacArthur).

The very essence of the work of the Holy Spirit is to direct us to a closer relationship with Christ. This is what the 8th chapter of Romans is all about. It is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the life of the believer that leads us to a more fruitful and closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not for charismatic manifestations, it is not for display, it is not for signs and wonders, and it is not to make Him some sort of genie in the bottle that gets you whatever you want. He is our helper for us to live a victorious life while we remain in these sinful bodies living in a creation full of sin. We could say that the two works of the Holy Spirit are sanctification and security. And that brings us to our text tonight: