The Indwelling Spirit

Scripture Text

 Romans 8:9-14

Intro: The apostle Paul makes a statement in Romans 8:8 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” In today's scripture we pick up with a very clear statement in Romans 8:9 of how we can tell if we are in the flesh or in the Spirit of God.

I. The Spirit dwells within the believer. Romans 8:9 (NKJV) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 
Ask God, does Your Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ live in me? If the Spirit does not confirm yes to your question, you need to get saved today!

  a.The Spirit of Christ removes a person from being "in" the flesh. The Holy Spirit is the One who takes us out of the flesh and baptizes us into the body of Christ. The "Spirit of Christ" is said to indwell the believer the same as the "Spirit of God." Both are said to be equally within the believer. Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"

By the Spirit's presence within the believer, he is no longer positioned "in" the flesh: not in God's eyes. The believer no longer lives his life controlled by his sinful nature. He is no longer comfortable with the things of the flesh. The old fleshly man is dead because he was crucified with Christ at the time of salvation and made a new creation in Christ. [2Cor. 5:10]

Since the Holy Spirit positions a Christian "in" Christ, to not have the Spirit of Christ within means to not be a Christian.

II. The Spirit gives life to the spirit of the believer. Romans 8:10-11 (NKJV) ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

  a. We have received Christ, He lives in us and has given us eternal life at the moment of salvation. Our fleshly bodies however are still infected by sin brought into the world by Adam's disobedience and will eventually die because (1 Cor. 15:50)“Flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit in-corruption” Sin has been defeated by Christ, and even though our bodies will die, Yet in these bodies we are alive spiritually because of Christ's righteousness and can live by the Spirit’s guidance.

b. The Spirit will make alive our mortal bodies. (Romans 8:11b above) In addition to eternal spiritual life, we are also promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to our corruptible dying bodies.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NKJV) ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

III. We Believers are debtors to the Spirit. Romans 8:12 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. Because of all that Christ has done and is going to do for us, we are debtors to the Holy Spirit of God, who brought us eternal life. We are under no obligation whatsoever to do what the sinful nature urges us to do. We are to refuse the thoughts and desires of our crucified sinful nature, and say no to ungodliness and worldly passions. The old way of life brings nothing good, only misery, death, and destruction. Remember we have been saved from sin's control over us. In verse 6 of this chapter it says to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace. SO,

IV. Believers determine their own fate: Death or life. Romans 8:13 (NKJV) 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. Our sinful nature shows itself through the way we think, act, and live. Therefore, we must turn from following the sinful nature and its evil deeds, the practices and habitual responses of the sinful nature that leads to death. This is an action to be done, a moral decision to be made. Every day we are to turn away from the desires that draw us away from God. 2 John 1:8 (NKJV) Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. The Jews considered themselves to be children of God because of their heritage; but Paul explains that the True children of God are those who are led by the Spirit of God as evidenced in their lifestyle. In Eph.4:30 we are told to “Not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” May each of us God's children invite the Holy Spirit to lead us in our daily lives .

Invitation: As we close, I would like to ask each of you, Does the Holy Spirit of God and Christ live in you? Have you confessed your sins to Christ and asked Him to forgive you and come into your life by His Spirit and save you? If not, now is the time! If you have been born again by the Spirit of God, are you being led by Him each day? Does He make your decisions for you or does someone else? Surrender to the Spirit of God who lives in you and live the abundant, blessed life!