Living According to the Spirit
The Good News of God Series
By Greg Johnson
November 19, 2006
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Romans 8:1-17
Beloved, thank God for His Spirit that lives within the believer. The moment one exercises saving faith, God pours out His mercy and grace. God declares the individual righteous through the blood of Christ; He justifies them. The Holy Spirit regenerates them; they are born again. The Holy Spirit sets up residence in the believer and continually sanctifies them; setting them apart for God’s use and purpose. The believer becomes a Temple of God. The Holy Spirit gives the believer a new power, a new mind, a new life and a new family!
A NEW POWER
God’s Word says (Romans 8:1-4 NIV) "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."
God’s law was given under the old covenant to reveal that we are sinners and need help with our sin problem. The law had no power to help one obey it. No matter how hard one tried, they could not obey God’s law because their nature was sinful. At the cross, Christ did something about our sin problem. Not only did He die for our sins; He broke the power of sin over us. Now sin has no dominion over us because we have been given the Holy Spirit that gives us power to obey God and His Word. The Spirit of God not only regenerates us, but also empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God. The regenerate no longer walks in the flesh. The regenerate walks in the Spirit.
A NEW MIND
God’s Word says (Romans 8:5-8 NIV) "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."
The unregenerate have their mind set on what they desire. Their way of thinking is self centered and selfish by nature. This type of mind can not please God. The regenerate is given a new mind by the Holy Spirit. It is the mind of Christ and is a whole new way of thinking. This new mind is not centered on self, but instead it is centered on how one can lose their self in helping others. Sin gives us a selfish mind. The Holy Spirit gives us a self less mind.
A NEW LIFE
God’s Word says (Romans 8:9-11 NIV) "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."
Beloved, you have the same Spirit in you that raised Christ from the dead. Please let that sink in and fully realize who is within you. Christ not only died for your sins; you died with Him. Christ not only rose again: you rose with Him. The life that is within you is powerful. It’s resurrection power. This resurrection power gives you eternal life. The body will die, but your spirit that is in Union with Christ will live forever. You have been given new life!
A NEW FAMILY
(Romans 8:12-17 NIV) "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. {13} For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, {14} because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. {15} For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." {16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. {17} Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Beloved, you are now a part of God’s family. You are adopted in by the Spirit. You are given a new Father. You are given a new brother. Christians are all related because we all have the same Spiritual Father. That’s why there is no prejudices in God’s family. We are all related! The blood of Christ draws us nigh. The Spirit of God brings us in union. We are one new family. The family of God!
The Holy Spirit gives us a new power, a new mind, a new life and a new family. Thank God! Thank God for the regenerating and sanctifying power of His Holy Spirit that He gives to all that believe!
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org/greg_johnson_blog
