LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
Text: Romans 8:1-2 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death".
5-10: 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
Life in the Spirit is the life of Christ made manifest - The Spirit of Christ. It is the supernatural living. It is living above condemnation and principalities and powers. It is an eternal mystery. (I) It is freedom from curse - Galatians 3:10,13. (ii) It is freedom from the guilt of sin - Romans 8:33. (iii) It is freedom from the power of sin - Romans 6:14. (iv) It is freedom from the fear of death - Hebrew 2:15. (v) It is freedom from the fear of man - Acts 4:18-20.
There are two governments/governors/rulers in Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Firstly is the government of the flesh which operates with the a law - law of sin and death - Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. This government condemns and kills, hostile to God, cannot submit to God and cannot please God. Secondly, is the government of the Spirit and this operates with the law of the Spirit of life, it sets free and empowers, fellowships with God, submits to God and lives for Him.
However, If we are saved by grace through Christ, we are not in the realm or world of the flesh but in the realm of the Spirit. We belong to Christ - Romans 8:9 -You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. Although one may fall into sin but if the person is in the realm of the Spirit - God's kingdom, he can be stand again because he is never under the government/control/law of sin and death but the law of the Spirit of life is his justification.
Simply put, salvation is Christ Jesus given to man and for man. It is a gift - grace. Eg. Jesus Christ was followed by people and they struggled to have His power do wonder in their lives but Jesus Christ stood and looked up a tree and saw a short man named Zacheaus whom they called a "thief" but Jesus Christ said to him, Zacheaus come down, today I will be in your house. He left all and went with the man - this is Grace. So salvation is not an award of Excellence but a gift from God to an excellent living and life.
WHAT BEING SAVED IS NOT - Acts 10:2-3
1. Devout- devoted to religion
2. God fearing
3. Giving generously
4. Praying regularly
5. Seeing visions and angels.
Acts 10:44-48 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Being saved is better explained in Colossians 1:13 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves". It is a total translation from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God/light. It is the Spirit of God indwelling in our spirit- sets us free and begins to lead.
THE POWER IN THIS LIFE
First to note, the value of the soul of the born again is the same as that of Christ Himself. The same Spirit of Christ is in you; which gives us:
~ Authority to bind and loose : Matthew 18:18
~ Authority to forgive sin - John 20:23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” We must understand that this authority is the person; Jesus Christ. Remember that when Christ met them, firstly He breathed into them. He gave the Church the life, He took over the Headship of the Church. So here, about the forgiveness of sin. He is the referred One in the Church who forgives.
~ Authority to give light and become Light : Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. We have the authority to become light because Jesus Christ who is the true light lives in us. The manifestation of the spirit of Christ simply expresses light. The life of Christ in us expels darkness in our environment.
~ Authority to live like Christ : The Christ is in me. I am in Him - the old is gone - the new me is Christ and I am one with Him and the Father. When the Father sees me, He sees Christ who is Himself in me. Romans 8:18-19. The life in the Spirit is an issue of condemnation which is the target of the devil but you see, if you are in Christ; the One that has the authority to condemn is now in you and is you so He cannot condemn himself.
So there is now no condemnation if you are in Christ. Finally, we know that in science, like terms repel but in the spiritual realm, like terms attract. Rapture shall be the coming together of the same Spirit of Christ. Christ is coming back to call himself in us to Himself. He is not earthly so cannot be earthbound.
He is not grave bound so the dead in Christ shall rise first - 1 Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first."
