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Sunday, April 11 , 2004 pm

WALKING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT 2

ROMANS 8:9-13

In our last study in the book of Romans we noted that the first part of chapter 8 is believed by some to be a summary of the first part of this epistle.  In these verses, 1-9 Paul has contrasted he who walks according to the flesh (the way of death and of the world, the way of the lusts of the flesh) with he who walks according to the spirit which in these verses had reference to the determination of one to follow after God.  He makes up his MIND that the course he will take is righteousness (7:25).  The concerns that the Jew might have was in the fact that the Old Law was limited in what it could do (i.e. – it could NOT take away sins forever).  However, God sent Jesus to die so that the law might be fulfilled and we could live “according to the Spirit.”

                In vs. 9, the focus of the Spirit changes from the spirit of man (to do right) to the Holy Spirit who is to be within us.  This is where we pick up our study.

I.  The Holy Spirit in Us

A.      Vs. 9 – BUT, we are not in the flesh, but in the Sprit

a.        Here is where a change in the word spirit takes place – Paul is saying, we are not following this worldly course, but “in the spirit” we have made up our minds to follow after God.

b.       Why? Because the Spirit of God is dwelling within us.  Here we change to the Holy Spirit, being sent from God (John 14:26 – God will send the Helper in the name of Jesus).

c.        Lesson: What does it mean that He dwells within us?  Who dwells within us?  HOW does He dwell?

                               i.      The idea of dwelling within us is something I readily admit I do not fully understand.  The word means that He inhabits or is living within us.

                               ii.      That fact that He dwells there is not debated.  The question is HOW!  While I believe the Spirit (and God and Jesus) are present within us, I do not believe it is a DIRECT indwelling as used in charismatic religions and Calvinism – that is, they say the Spirit literally indwells and controls or enables our lives, physically guiding our steps and talking to us (leading our thoughts) - independent of the Word.  But I am convinced they are there.  I am also convinced that while it is THROUGH the word that the Spirit is in us, the Spirit is NOT the word.
The phrase used in vs. 9 is literally, “indwell”.  Within scripture we find this word used 6 times and together these explain HOW the Spirit dwells within us (at least in this context)

1.        The Holy Spirit here – Vs. 11, 2 Timothy 1:14

2.        God – 2 Corinthians 6:16

3.        The word is to dwell within us – Colossians 3:16

4.        Faith dwelt in Lois and Eunice – 2 Timothy 1:5

5.        ALSO, we are NOT to let sin dwell within us – Romans 7:17,18, 20.  NOTE: that this is in the same context as chapter 8 which we are studying.  We are NOT to allow sin to dwell, but in place of that the Spirit of God is to dwell within us – this is the WHOLE contrast we are getting at.

                              iii.      As we study the New Testament we find that the presence of the Spirit cannot be separated from the Word of God.  In other words, as we learn and comply to the teachings of the New Testament, the Spirit, and God and Jesus are in us.

d.       In the last part of verse 9, Paul is stating that if anyone does NOT have the Spirit of Christ, he is NOT His.  If Christ is not ruling your life (through the Spirit and word), you do not belong to Him – which means you are walking according to the flesh.

B.       Vs. 10 – And (moreover) IF Christ is in you

a.        The Body is dead because of sin –

                               i.      Christ died so that your sins could be removed

                              ii.      You put to death that old man of sin  (Romans 6:3-4, 8:13)

b.       But the Spirit is life (or alive within you), because of righteousness – you have been declared right before God.

C.       Vs. 11 – But if (moreover if – In this text it is the idea of ALSO) the Spirit of Him…

a.        Who raised Jesus from the dead – that would be God - dwells within us

b.       Then God will also raise our mortal (or fleshly) bodies through the Holy Spirit.

c.        This is a verse dealing with the resurrection and hope that we as we serve Him. 
Lesson: Our loyalty and service will NOT go without reward.  And we can have assurance that the same Spirit who was with and raised Jesus from the dead, will one day do the same for us – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Also 6:14 where we read that God both raised up Jesus and He will raise us up.

D.      Vs. 12-13 – Paul’s conclusion of vs. 1-11

a.        Therefore brethren - Paul acknowledges that because of our hope of the resurrection, our being made righteous in Christ and many other blessings that he has outlined both in this chapter and throughout the book up to this point …

b.       We are debtors – a word that means we are under obligation to God.

c.        He points out then that our debt is “not to the flesh” to live according to its precepts. 
Don’t EVER become debtor to the flesh!

d.       Because to live that way will bring about death

e.        BUT, if by the spirit (both our mind to do what is right and the Spirit of God who indwells in us as discussed earlier) we put to death the deeds of the flesh, we WILL live (as opposed to the death brought about by the flesh.

As you examine this text, truly it requires slow, dedicated study.  And it seems to be very repetition and perhaps confusing as the same word is used in different senses.  BUT, in all of this the point is clear – you want to follow after the Spirit and NOT after the flesh.  That having been said, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE YOUR LIFE?  Are you going to give into and serve your fleshly desires, or are you going to serve God with your spirit and in the Spirit? The servant of God will wisely choose Him.