(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.
2. Works of Idolatry & Witchcraft.
> Idolatry and Witchcraft are acts against God.
> The worship of humans & demons.
3. Works of Contention and Strife .
> Hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders!
> These are crimes of passion.
> Variance and Emulations are sins of self-exaltation and exclusion.
> Wrath and strife speak of having a quarrelsome spirit.
> Sedition means to rise against authority.
> Envying is to be eaten up with jealousy.
> Murder is the result of a life of a hateful and contentious spirit.
4. Works of self-gratification and pleasure.
> Reveling means wild parties.
> And, of course drunkenness means getting drunk.
B. "They which do such things...." (v. 21).
1. SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
> The reason your not convicted of these wicked emotions, is because YOUR LOST.
2. Hate, variance, sedition, and strife follow you where ever you go...
> You are always fighting with somebody.
> You are always angry about something!
C. "Now the works of the flesh are manifest..." (v. 19).
1. They are REVEALED; Shown; Manifest!
> It will come out in your face.
> It will show in your character!
> The works of the flesh ARE manifested!
2. It will SHOW!
> "Thy speech betrayeth thee..."
> Your cheating heart, will tell on you.
3. A Life Characterized by the Works of the Flesh Reveals A Person Who Does Not Know God!
> A person who is always angry and always arguing is of the flesh.
> A life characterized by trouble, reveals a person who has NOT the Spirit.
III. Evidence of a Spiritual Walk.
A. (Gal. 5:22-23) BUT, The fruit of the Spirit.
1. The word ’BUT’ means that a contrast is about to be shown.
> The works of the flesh are to be compared against the Spirit.
> (v. 17) These are contrary.
> Like Oil & Water; Light & Dark; Their OPPOSING forces.
2. Notice the word ’FRUIT’.
> Works of the Flesh; BUT FRUIT of the Spirit.
> Works is what you do; Fruit is what is produced in you!
> Works are your actions; Fruit is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in you!
B. Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance...
1. Most of the works of the flesh are chosen actions:
> Adultery, fornication, wrath, strife, sedition, murder...
2. ALL of the fruit of the Spirit are inherent attitudes.
> Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness...
3. The works of the flesh is the lifestyle CHOSEN by a lost person.
> The fruit of the Spirit is the RESULT of God working in you.
C. A life characterized by LOVE, JOY and PEACE, compared to HATE, ENVY, and STRIFE!
1. Do you LOVE the people of God?
> Do you seek to encourage and help God’s people?
> Is your heart filled with LOVE for the LORD Jesus Christ?
2. Are you excited about God’s work in your life?
> Do you feel the JOY of knowing what it means to be saved?
> Are you excited about the prospect of serving God?
3. Do you have PEACE in your heart?
> Even though the world around you crumbles, you have an inner peace that keeps you going!
> You have HOPE in God, and know that no matter what HE will see you through!
4. Are you able to suffer long with people, even though they fail you time and time again?
> Can you forgive and forget?
> Can you let go of a grudge, and love the person anyway?
> Can you still love people after they have hurt you?
5. Are Gentleness and Meekness evident in your life?
> Are you soft spoken and gentle, or loud and stubborn?
6. Can you control yourself when tempted?
> Do you have Temperance to resist the draw of the world?
7. Are you a GOOD person?
> Do you live a life of FAITH?
These are the Character Traits of a person who knows God, and has Yielded his life to God.
IS THIS IN YOU?
