Grace realized through God’s Spirit

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Prayer:  Lord, thank You for Your Spirit.  Make us to be very aware of Your presence in within us today.  Help us to glorify You through the work of the Spirit in our daily lives.  We are Yours.  Please use me for Your glory.  Amen.[1] – Rory Mack

Main Scripture: Romans 8:1-11

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  (vss. 1-2).  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. The mind of sinful mane is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (vss. 5-6).  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  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.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  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.

Associated Scriptures:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Correlative Quotes:

“It is the unspeakable privilege and comfort of all those that are in Christ Jesus that there is therefore now no condemnation to them. He does not say, "There is no accusation against them," for this there is but the accusation is thrown out, and the indictment quashed. He does not say, "There is nothing in them that deserves condemnation," for this there is, and they see it, and own it, and mourn over it, and condemn themselves for it; but it shall not be their ruin.”[2] – Matthew Henry

Walk is a term for how people live their lives.  Today we say, "she not only talks the talk, she also walks the walk."  The positive walk is one according to the Spirit, over against the negative walk of the flesh[3].– Walter F. Taylor, Jr.

The key to unlocking the secrets of chapter eight rests in the frequency of the words it employs. The Holy Spirit, the giver of life, is mentioned 19 times – more than any other New Testament chapter. The same Spirit that gave Paul victory, hope, and life resides in every believer and offers the same power today.[4] – Jeffery E. Miller

Study:

Chapter 8 is all about guarantees.  In the first section, we are assured that we are not going to be condemned.  The second section guarantees the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  In the last section, we are guaranteed eternal life.

Romans Chapter 8 verse 1 may be the most important verse in the entire Bible.  It states simply, emphatically, and conclusively that we who have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, are without eternal condemnation.  There are no strings attached to this verse.  It stands alone as the easily understand position of the believer, no condemnation period.  It is the culmination of all Paul has said up to this point.

How wonderful it is to know that we are free from original sin and death and guaranteed by our faith response to experience eternal life with God and Christ.  It is the essential statement that bridges the gap between the complete depravity of Man and uncompromised righteousness and the grace of God.

Christ has fulfilled the law in us.  The law was weak because it relied on our sinful flesh to live by or fulfill.  What the law could not do since it was weak, Christ did for us when he died for our sins and fulfilled the requirement for us.  The law is good, just, and it is holy (Romans 7:12).  However, it could not justify us nor could it sanctify us; it could only condemn us. 

When God sent his Son, in the “likeness of flesh” (vs. 3), He was flesh just as we are but did not commit sin as we did.  He was sent as a sin offering.  In doing so, Christ paid the penalty for our sin and freed us from the position of slavery to sin (Romans 6:20).

We do not fulfill the law by walking in the Spirit.  Jesus Christ fulfilled the law by paying the penalty one time for all time on the cross.  We are assured of “no condemnation” because of an act that has already taken place and not something that we or anyone else might do in the future.

It is God’s Spirit living in us that gives life to unbelievers (John 6:63), convicts us of our sin (John 16:8), teaches us the Truth (John 14:26), allows us to have fellowship with God (1 John 3:24), and encourages us to live in unity with other believers (1 John 1:7).  He maintains order in our lives.

Summary Statement:

The indwelling of God the Holy Spirit is the common mark of all believers in Christ. It is the shepherd’s mark of the flock of the Lord Jesus, distinguishing them from the rest of the world. It is the goldsmith’s stamp on the genuine sons of God, which separates them from the dross and mass of false professors. It is the king’s own seal on those who are his peculiar people, proving them to be his own property. It is the earnest which the Redeemer gives to His believing disciples, while they are in the body, as a pledge of the full redemption.[5] – Joseph S. Exell

Lessons within the Lesson:

How complete is our salvation?  Read 1Peter 2:24 and Hebrews 2:12.

Read Romans 8:3-4 again.  How is the law fulfilled in us?

When are we a child of the flesh?  Read Ephesians 2:3, 1Corinthians 4:1-4, John 3:19-20.

When are we a child of the Spirit?  Read 1John 4:2-3.

[1] Roy Mack, The Gift of Jesus: MyDaily Devotional, © 2015 by Thomas Nelson, All Rights Reserved, p. 149.

[2] Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.

[3] Walter F. Taylor, Jr., Commentary of Romans 1:8-11, © 2015 Luther Seminary, All Rights Reserved,  workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=964.

[4] Jeffrey E. Miller, The Spirit of Life (Romans 8:1-11, © 2015 Bible.org, All Rights Reserved, bible.org/seriespage/16-spirit-life-romans-81-11.

[5], Joseph S. Exell "Commentary on "Romans 8:11", The Biblical Illustrator, studylight.org/commentaries/tbi/view.cgi?bk=ro&ch=8". 1905-1909. New York.