THE OBLIGATION AND THE EVIDENCE
Text: Romans 8:12-17
Rom 8:12-17 So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— (13) for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (14) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (15) For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" (16) it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
"Frederick II ruled the Holy Roman Empire in the thirteenth century. He was curious to know if the original language was Hebrew, Greek or Latin. In his innocence, he decided to take several infants and isolate them from any sound of human voices. The nurses who attended the children were sworn to absolute silence, and the children were reared without ever hearing the sound of a human voice. Within several months, they all died, even with the best of human care." (Jim and Doris Morentz. ed. Minster's Annual. D. Timothy Robinson. "Void If Detatched." Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989, p. 69). The problem was that even the best of care is incomplete if it cuts off the social and spiritual aspects. here are people who can feel lonely even in a crowd, just as those babies felt estranged from the interaction that they both desired and needed.
At Pentecost, God not only unites us through His Holy Spirit, but God also provides for our growth and fellowship. God sent Jesus and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us and Jesus sends us in the the Church---the Spirit filled, and the Holy Spirit sealed back into the world to make disciples.
Today we want to explore the obligation, the evidence and assurance of what it means to be led by God’s Holy Spirit.
OBLIGATED
What does it mean to be obligated to live in the nature of the Holy Spirit? If we look at Romans 6, 7 and 8 as a whole, then we can get a better picture of what Paul is talking about in today’s text.
1) Baptism: In Romans 6 Paul talks about what it mean to be baptized into Christ meaning that we who have been baptized in the Name of the Father, the Name of the Son and the Name of the Holy Spirit and become new creatures in Christ. Paul says that we have been united with Jesus in a death like His and will be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:5).
2) Civil war: So since Jesus died for our sins, we must not let sin reign in our mortal bodies (Romans 6:12). In Romans 7 Paul talks about how we are like walking civil wars because we are at war with our flesh. Rom 7:17-18 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. (18) For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. The only way we can win that “civil war” is by the help of the Spirit who can help us with our blind spots. We are therefore obligated to stay in step with God’s Holy Spirit.
What does it mean to be “an obligated debtor”?
1) Debtors: (Paraphrasing Auteur G. de Koning) “It means that we have become a debtor to live in accordance with the new place that God has given us through His life giving Spirit because the flesh’s nature has been put to death”. (paraphrased from: KingComments. (Nederlands). © 2021. Used by permission. E-Sword Download translated by Googletarnslate). I like the way Koning explains what “debtor” means.
2) Being born again: Nicodemus struggled with the concept of being “born again” when he met with Jesus (John 3: 7 -10). Our first birth came by a natural means. We did not decide that we wanted to be born. We did (and do) have a decision concerning our second birth which is to be born of God’s Spirit.
“Perhaps the most ferocious animal in creation is the “hamster rat.” When it takes a grip, rather than yield it will allow itself to be beaten in pieces with a stick. If it seizes a man’s hand, it must be killed before it will quit its hold. How like this “hamster rat” is our own proud, unyielding, sinful self. That selfish spirit would cling to and suck the life out of the new heaven-born creature, will not quit its hold until it has been put to death.” (James Smith. Handfuls On Purpose. Volume VIII. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1947, 1997 reprint, pp. 310-311). “So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”, the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven” (I Corinthians 15:45-47 NIV). “Flesh gives birth to flesh but Spirit gives birth to Spirit” (John 3:6 NIV).
3) Adoption: “ Paul uses adoption to illustrate the believer's new relationship with God. In Roman culture, the adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate child in his new family. He became a full heir to his new father's estate. Likewise, when a person becomes a Christian, he or she gains all the privileges and responsibilities of a child in God's family. One of these outstanding privileges is being led by the Spirit (see Gal_4:5-6)”. Life Application Notes. Another reason adoption is a big deal is because a slave could have no place in a household, unlike a son (John 8:34 -35). Being adopted made one part of a family. All sinners are slaves to sin until they repent, believe and receive God’s gift grace and get adopted in God’s family.
4) Spirit-led: To be Spirit led means that we seek to follow what God would have us to do as one of His children. That means that we are called to live God’s way, guided by the truth of everything that Jesus has taught us (John 16:13). We are taught and reminded of the truth of Christ's teaching so that we can apply it in our daily living. ”… it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16 NRSV).
THE EVIDENCE
Is it possible to be a born again believer and not follow the Spirit? Yes, it is possible. The label given to Christians who are not Spirit led is “carnal Christians” .
1) Carnal Christians: Carnal means the “ways of the flesh” not flesh and bone ways, but the “human nature and worldly ways” . Consider Galatians 5:19 -24: Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, (21) envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
2) Tinder: “Dr. W.G. Scroggie detected ten shades of meaning used in the Bible. In nine of the ten, there is no ethical or theological content. But the tenth, which is the one Paul mainly employs, does have such significance. The flesh may be defined as “man’s fallen nature as under the power of sin.” It is the evil principle in man’s nature, the traitor within who is in league with the attackers without. The flesh provides the tinder on which the devil’s temptations can kindle”. Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press. [Original source: J.O. Sanders, Enjoying Intimacy with God, Moody] I John 2:16 describes this tinder very well: “for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world” (NRSV).
3) Denial: If you are driving down the road and start to hear a funny noise do you stop to see what's wrong or keep moving and turn up radio the to tune out the noise? When the Holy Spirit convicts us where we have or are about to go astray, do we turn up the noise of the world or tune into God’s Holy Spirit?
What evidence do we have that we truly are led by God’s Holy Spirit?
1) Fruit: Can the fruit of the Holy Spirit be seen in the way that we live?
Galatians 5:22 …. the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. (24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
2) Display : Why is it so important to crucify ---put to death the deeds of the flesh? Consider this answer : “God’s evangelistic strategy in a nutshell: He desires to build into you and me the beauty of his own character, and then put us on display.—Joseph Aldrich” Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed., p. 777). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
When others look at us what do they see on display? We might be the only example of Jesus that some will ever see. That is why we need to be the best example of Jesus that we can be with the help of God's Holy Spirit.
ASSURANCE
Why is assurance so important?
1) Children: We received a Spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15). Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son, the rest of us are His adopted children. If we are not sons and daughters, then we would be illegitimate children. God has given us the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and fill us so that we might live a life that is disciplined (Hebrews 12:8). To be called one of God’s children is an assuring thing.
2) Connected: “Corrie Ten Boom put it like this Connected with Him in His love, I am more than conqueror; without Him, I am nothing. Like some railway tickets in America, I am “Not good if detached.” ( Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed., p. 1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publisher) . Being connected means that we remember who we are and our obligation to live the way God calls us to live in obedience. Being obedient helps us in our understanding of assurance. Staying connected means that we strive do what is right in God’s eyes rather than what is popular in the eyes of the world.
3) Heirs: All of God’s children are heirs. The Bible plainly tells us that since we are heirs, we will share in the sufferings of Christ so that we might also share in His glory (Romans 8:17). We will share in His sufferings until we get to share in His glory. That is why we face pressures in the world and from worldly people in our witness.
We do not always know what the future holds, but if you know the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, you can be assured that he holds your future.
How can we share something we do not possess?
“The degree to which a person allows the Holy Spirit to direct and empower his or her life depends somewhat on that person’s voluntary dedication. Otherwise, Paul would not have commanded, “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). The tense indicates that the Holy Spirit is to fill our lives continuously”. (T. T. Crabtree. Ed. The Zondervan 2001 Pastor’s Annual. Charles Wade. “Power Of The Holy Spirit In Peter’s Sermon”. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000, p. 368). We have to first believe in order to receive the benefits of faith.
Assurance to the Christian is what an anchor is to a ship.
“If we are not careful we may find ourselves in a situation like that in the story of some “bush missionaries.” They camped for several days near a monkey colony. When they returned to the camp one day, they saw the monkeys scurrying about, appearing to imitate the missionaries. In the center of the camp the monkeys had gathered firewood into a pile and were sitting around it as though warming themselves. Their only problem? They lacked fire! The church can be like that: we can have firewood but no fire!” (T. T. Crabtree. Ed. The Zondervan 2001 Pastor’s Annual. W. T. Holland. “The Spirit For Renewal”. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000, p. 248). The Holy Spirit not only renews us and empowers us, but the Holy Spirit also helps us to have the assurance of God’s promise of eternal security.
“In ancient Rome a guard felt sorry for a Christian prisoner, who was soon to die because of his faith in Christ. He secretly allowed his daughter to visit him. After she was gone the guard stared at his prisoner. "Why do you gaze at me?" she asked. "Because you do not seem worried," was the answer. "You are to die tomorrow. Tonight you saw your daughter for the last time." "Oh, but you are wrong," exclaimed the prisoner. "I shall see her again. My daughter is a Christian, too. She will soon follow me. Christians never see one another for the last time. They meet in heaven, there to live forever. Now do you understand why I am happy and why I am ready to die for my Christian faith?" (Choice Gleanings)”. (Walter B. Knight. Master Book Of New Illustrations. Grand Rapids:William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956, p. 15).
Like the mother in this story, we too, have the assurance that one we will see our loved ones who preceded us to heaven. But, until that time comes, we are obligated to God to be filled with His Spirit and witness with the evidences of the fruits of the Spirit.
God gives us His Spirit to empower us for ministry. God set us apart to be sanctified so that we might continue to walk with Him. God gave us His Spirit as a deposit (II Corinthians 5:5). We are at home in this earthly body (II Corinthians 2:6), banking on the Spirit’s deposit, until Christ will call us home to be with Him in heaven when we will receive the place that He has prepared for us (John 14:2). Until that time comes, God has empowered us for ministry that we might forward His kingdom here on earth. The Bible tells us not to quench the Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19 KJV) but to “fan the flame” (II Timothy 1:6). We fan the flame by our prayer life, our devotional life, our fellowship with God and our fellowship with each other. It is in this way that God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:13) as we are led by His Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14). God wants us to be Spirit-filled, Spirit-fed and Spirit led which means we have to strive to stay in step with God’s Holy Spirit.
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
