Spirit and Flesh: Spirit or Flesh?
Text: Romans 8:1-11
Message given at New Hope Christian Fellowship
April 27, 2008
Sterling C. Franklin
Purposes:
• To bless and encourage the congregation.
• To point them in the direction of holiness and purity.
• To convict the sinner.
• To point them in the way of life everlasting.
Prayer
Introduction: Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Potion – transforms Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde, and another potion transforms him back
- Two personalities in one body: a mild man who seeks to do right, and a crazy monster with no conscience against evil.
- We are in a similar situation, though ours does not require any potion.
- Paul elaborates on this paradox found in each one of us – that of Spirit and Flesh.
TEXT
Romans 8:1-11 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Prayer
Context: Therefore ... what's that coming from?
Romans 7:21-25 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God-- through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Paul discusses sin very heavily in Romans.
It's now core to life here on earth --
All have sinned -- it's global.
The penalty of sin is death -- it's deadly.
It wars among our members -- it's cause for battle.
It's utter disobedience to God.
Illustration: It's missing the mark -- just as in archery...
If we miss the target completely or miss by just a millimeter, we’ve still missed the bullseye. With sin, we miss the mark of obedience to God.
Paul sees two conflicting parts to his own self: Flesh and Spirit.
Challenge: God calls us to be obedient and faithful – How well are we doing?
If we have been redeemed by the Blood of Christ, we are not slaves to sin any longer.
As Paul said at the end of Romans 7, "Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
(1-2) With this all in mind, let’s reread the first four verses of Romans 8:
Romans 8:1-4
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Those in Christ have no condemnation -- no penalty (katakrima)
Why?
Because the Spirit of life (the Holy Spirit) sets us free from the condemnation from the Law, which shows us our condemnation of sin & death.
Tense of ‘set free’: Aorist
Set us free & is setting us free
The tense looks back on the action as done in the past (so we are set free), but it is a continual undertaking even into the present time (so we are continually being set free).
Law of sin & death – the Law characterized by sin and death.
This is the same Law which convicts us of sin – Paul talks about this in Romans 7. This is most broadly expressed through God’s standard of moral and life conduct for man, but even more directly, it is what God revealed to His people through the Old Covenant.
We know what sin is because of the Law (cf. Romans 7:8).
There were 613 commandments in the Old Testament – how can we be utterly perfect, especially given our rebellious and wicked heart?
Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart of man is desperately wicked, who can know [its depths]?
The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a).
Sin separates us from God.
Illustration: Living in sin is like having a running car in a closed garage: the more we live in sin, the more Carbon Monoxide will inevitably come out. It is a byproduct of our exhaust as sinful people. The visible smoke will also build up over time, and it is harder to see that we need a solution. Someone must open the garage door to detoxify the situation and lead to freedom.
We are redeemed in and through the Spirit of Life, which is found through faith in Christ Jesus.
Note, though, that we only can be redeemed by this selfsame Spirit.
Acts 4:12 – There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
However, we still have the contrast between Natural and Spiritual mind
(This comes out particularly well in verse 8)
Illustration: Raid: If we are in Christ, then the Holy Spirit is like Raid to our annoying and pesky sin nature.
Our pursuit should be that of holiness and purity, avoiding sin (literally) like the plague.
Note also that the ‘Now’ in verse 1 is a contrast between pre-redemption and post-redemption. We deserved condemnation without Jesus, as shown through the Law. Jesus came so that we could live without condemnation.
(3-4) We have a more perfect covenant –
The Law came through Moses, but Grace and Peace came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17b).
God dealt with sin once and for all through Jesus.
Our conviction under the Law was taken care of by God by providing Jesus as a perfect sacrifice.
He was in the likeness of sinful man.
This doesn't mean that he was some solely-spiritual being.
He was indeed fully Divine – God in the flesh.
However, He was also fully man: He lived a perfect sinless life in order to be able to take our place in order to bring us back to peace with God (Romans 5:1).
Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
He was, as the passage states, our sin offering.
I am reminded of John the Baptist's reaction to Jesus:
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus was our Lamb of God, sacrificed for us (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7).
How much does God love us?
He did not even spare His own Son for us.
While we were yet enemies...
Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 - That's how God shows His marvelous love for us.
As in verse 4, God's justice is shown here, as well -- He condemned that which deserved condemnation.
He condemned that which was in our own lives that deserved condemnation: our sin.
So truly, we are set free through Christ, who has taken our place.
Challenge: This was done once and for all on the Cross. It is our duty to run to it. (also cf. 1 Peter 3:18)
Summary: Through faith in Jesus, our sin-offering, we receive the Holy Spirit, who brings us Freedom (from condemnation) and Redemption.
(5-6) Contrast: Those who walk in the flesh vs. those who walk in the Spirit
Romans 8:5-8
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
On what is your mind set?
Things of the flesh, or things of the Spirit?
Remember Romans 7 Paul?
Law at work in his flesh, tries to take him into captivity yet again.
It’s the same Romans 8 Paul who is more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.
Parallel: Flesh or ‘Sinful nature’ is parallel to "Earthly nature" in Colossians 3
Set your hearts on things above (Colossians 3:1).
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2).
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
…and what does each side lead to?
Flesh -- death
Spirit -- life and peace
Contrast: Fruit of the Spirit -- Galatians 5:22-23
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
What a wonderful list! Since we're all masters of these, though, it's no problem for us to get 100% on any morality quiz (this is obviously sarcasm). We're both flesh and Spirit.
So what about the Fruit of the Flesh? Go back a few verses.
Galatians 5:19-21 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
So what do we do about this?
Even Paul struggled even so much as to say, "Who will free me from this body of death?!" (Romans 7:24).
Romans 13:14 Instead [of following in the works of darkness], put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
What is the fruit of what you think about?
(7-8) Flesh -- cannot submit to God's Law
Flesh -- hostile to God
It is because of this sinful nature that we were originally enemies of God (cf. Romans 5).
Flesh -- cannot please God
This text sure does flies in the face of the notion of 'being a good person.'
By God's standards, you cannot please Him unless you have been redeemed in Christ Jesus, and even then, sin is a struggle that we will all have until the Lord returns and ushers in a New Era.
Wonderfully so, we have a God who makes all things new, both inwardly through salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and outwardly through a new creation to come (Revelation 21:5).
Challenge: What mind do you have?
(9-11) Note Paul's audience -- those called to be Saints in Rome (cf. Romans 1:7).
Romans 8:9-11
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Important: Since the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are not in the flesh.
Issue of belonging.
Challenge: Who or what is your master?
God or mammon?
Materialism?
Happiness?
You can't serve two masters (cf. Matthew 6:24).
Illustration: That would make a horrible soldier in a battle.
Here, Sergeant, reporting for duty!
Here, Sergeant, reporting for duty!
A house divided cannot stand... (Mark 3:25)
Trying to please two masters would cause you to be a house divided.
Challenge: Flesh or spirit?
Choose wisely!
Christians are essentially branded (sealed) with the Spirit
We're like cows on a farm...
The Spirit is our assurance of hope, as we will see more pronouncedly in verse 11.
Contrast: Body and Spirit
Body (soma, not sarx): [will be] dead because of sin
Spirit: life because of righteousness
The term is referring to our physical bodies now, not just our fleshly nature.
Faith in Christ brings our Spirit to life, and it will bring us into eternal life after this earthly life is over.
Our hope: Empowerment & Resurrection
Hope: This ‘hope’ is not the same ‘hope’ as used in, ‘I hope I win the lottery’ or, ‘I hope things go well for you in Siberia.’ Biblical hope is an assurance of things to come. There is no chance in it, as the American view of ‘hope’ includes.
Verse 11 is a very Trinitarian verse...
God the Father raised Jesus from the dead by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit also dwells within us
He will give life to our mortal bodies by the selfsame Spirit which He used to raise Jesus from the dead.
Note: Mortal bodies -- they will die at some point
We are not exempt from sin's curse of death.
We can be exempt from the ultimate judgment that comes from sin (Hell)
Even though the body is mortal, the Spirit is eternal...
Paul talks about a glorified body in 1 Corinthians 15 to those who enter into God's Presence
This body is subject to tons of maladies
This body is subject to sin
This body is subject to the effects of sin
So which is worth following – Spirit or Flesh?
Summary: Though our bodies will die, we have a living hope of the Resurrection if the Spirit of God lives in us.
(cf. 12-17)
Paul makes some great revelations in the verses subsequent to our text.
We are not debtors or slaves to the flesh.
We must live by the Spirit of God, mortifying our flesh.
Walking in the Spirit leads to life!
Application: We need to grow in holiness and purity before God.
We have one who is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins & to cleanse us of our unrighteousness: Jesus Christ.
He is our advocate to the Father (1 John 2:1).
By Him we have confidence to approach the throne of God (Hebrews 4:14-16).
He is the mediator between God the Father and man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Spirit of adoption -- we are no longer in bondage
Abba, Father: He is our loving Father
He is the Father to the fatherless
He knows our every need (cf. Matthew 6)
He has provided us with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (cf. Ephesians 1)
He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 86:15)
He deserves our praise
The Holy Spirit bears witness that we are children of God.
Because of the Holy Spirit, we can be heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, sharing in eternal glory.
We suffer with Him, and thus we will also be glorified with Him.
Again, this is our hope.
Conclusion
So though we’re both spirit and flesh, who are you following? Spirit, or flesh?
Each has its consequences:
(1) If you follow after the Spirit, you will have hardship and suffering in the future. Philippians 1 makes it clear that we’re not only entitled to believe in Christ, but to suffer for His sake (cf. Philippians 1:27-30). The world will give you odd looks. Besides, why follow what you can’t visually see every minute? Paul makes note that believers walk by faith and not by sight. Even more, he states in Romans 8:18, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The Spirit leads to life and peace, and eternal life through Jesus Christ is much more valuable than following after the flesh in this temporary life on planet earth.
(2) If you follow after the flesh, you will continually be hardened against God. Even though life may be good in some sense, there will always be something that is ‘missing.’ Blaise Pascal suggested that everyone has a “God-shaped vacuum” in their hearts. God is not merely just a missing piece. He is a missing purpose, and we are spiritually dead without Him. Jesus has come to give us life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10). It is life experienced through the lens of faith, and life lived by trust in Him. We do not have eternal hope and assurance if we reject the Spirit.
Response
Application: There are many ‘ifs’ in this passage. Have you experienced forgiveness and redemption through Jesus Christ? If not, I would urge you to choose Spirit and not flesh.
Are you struggling with sin? 1 John 1:8 and 10 states outright that if we say that we are without sin, then we’re lying. Thankfully in the passage seated in between these two verses, we have One who is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us of our unrighteousness.
Pray with me to our Almighty Father…
