Is It In You?

(Rom. 8:1-14) "...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The book of Romans is, in my opinion, the very best doctrinal thesis on the subject of Salvation and the Christian walk!

Romans Chapters 1, 2 & 3 describe man’s sinful condition and declares him GUILTY before God.

Romans 4 & 5 describe God’s salvation more than adequate to cover man’s sin.

Romans 6, 7 & 8 show how man should live in light of the Salvation from Man’s sinful condition.

Romans FIVE shows how that we were MUCH MORE saved by grace than we were ever lost by sin!

Romans SIX asks the question, Since we were saved by grace and not of works...

> And, since Grace did MUCH MORE abound...

> "Should we continue in sin, that Grace may abound?"

> GOD FORBID!

> Romans SIX tells us we are now dead to sin, and therefore alive unto God.

Romans SEVEN brings us back to reality and reminds us that SIN remains a significant force in our lives.

> "The good that I would, I do not..."

> "The evil that I would not, that do I..."

Romans EIGHT then reminds us that even though sin still remains a significant part of our lives...

> We now have the POWER of the Holy Spirit indwelling us...

> We now have the POWER to WALK in the Spirit...

(Rom 8:15-16) "The Spirit ITSELF beareth witness with our spirit..."

IS IT IN YOU?

I. An Exposition of Romans Eight.

A. Salvation Means No Condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4).

1. "Therefore".

> Rom. 1-3: doctrinal thesis on the sinfulness and guilt of man...

> Rom. 4-5 Jesus MUCH MORE covered our sin and redeemed us to God!

> THEREFORE: NO CONDEMNATION.

2. "NOW".

> This is already accomplished.

> I am as saved as I will ever be, RIGHT NOW. No condemnation, NOW!

3. "Condemnation".

> Literally means "A guilty verdict handed down by a judge."

> I have been acquitted of all guilt.

> I walked in a condemned man, and walked out FREE!

4. All because of what Jesus did for me (v. 2-3).

> I could not fulfill the law, because of the weakness of my flesh.

> I could never have saved myself.

> But, what the law could not do, God Did (v. 3)!

> God condemned sin in the flesh of Jesus Christ.

> God laid the condemnation of sin on His only begotten Son.

> That Jesus’ righteousness might be fulfilled in me (v. 4)!

B. Since I am no longer condemned to death, I should live for God (Rom. 8:5-8).

1. The Holy Spirit of God has come to live in me.

> I now posses in my body the image of Christ.

> The result of having the Spirit of Christ in my heart (v. 9-10), is the life of the Spirit living in me.

2. Without the presence of the Spirit of God in your heart, You could NOT walk in the Spirit.

> The natural man walks in the flesh by Nature.

> The Spiritual man walks in the Spirit because the Divine Nature of God has taken abode in him.

3. A born-again person has a MIND to walk with God (v. 5 "mind").

> The Carnal mind is ENMITY against God (v. 7).

> You cannot reform carnal man; You must be Born-Again!

> Before you are born-again NOTHING you do pleases God (v. 8).

C. If you do not have the filling of the Spirit, your not saved (v. 9).

1. Your not in the flesh if the Spirit of God dwells in you.

> If you have the Holy Spirit in your heart, you belong to God.

2. But, if you do not have the Spirit of God in your heart, YOU ARE NONE OF HIS!

> That’s just plain!

D. If you are saved, the life of the spirit will be manifested (v.10-11)

1. When you are saved, your old man dies, and the New man is born-again!

> You become Spiritually alive!

2. And when the Spirit comes in your heart, He quickens your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (v. 11).

> He makes it alive and full of Power.

> Power to live for God!

E. Therefore we owe our souls eternal state to Jesus Christ (v. 12-14).

1. Our debt is not to the law, but to Christ.

2. We have become the children of God.

II. Evidence of a Carnal Walk.

A. The works of the flesh are manifest, which are these (Ga.5:19)

1. Works of Immorality.

> Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness:

> The flesh is immoral, perverted, and full of lust.

> We have become a nation of gross immorality.

> Sodomites, pedophiles, among our national leaders & Teachers.