You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit

You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit – Romans 8:1-11 The Holy Spirit as Power for holy living. From the valley of despair and defeat, the apostle now ascends to the heights. Miserable of me! Who will deliver me from this body of death? with a cry of triumph: Now then, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Paul understands that the law of the Spirit "of life in Christ Jesus" has freed me from the law of sin and death.

I. The characteristic principle of the Holy Spirit is to energize believers for holy living.

A. The characteristic principle of inhabitant sin is that of dragging a person to death.

1. The Holy Spirit gives the resurrection life of the Lord Jesus, freeing the believer "from the law of sin and death."

2. (V. 3) The law could never lead people to fulfill its sacred demands, but grace has succeeded where the law failed.

3. It was "impossible" for "the law" to produce holy living because it was "weak because of the flesh."

4. It is proper, the problem did not lie in the law, but in the fall of human nature.

5. The law spoke to men who were already sinners and who "had no strength" to obey.

6. But God intervened by "sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh."

7. The Lord Jesus did not come in sinful flesh, but in "the likeness of flesh of sin."

8. He did not sin (1 Peter 2:22), knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and was without sin in Him (1 John 3:5).

9. Coming into the world in human form, He resembled sinful humanity.

10. As a sacrifice for sin, Christ "condemned" sin in the flesh.

11. He died not only for the sins we commit, but also for our "sinful nature."

12. In other words, He "died for who we are" so for what we have done.

13. In doing so, He condemned sin in the flesh.

14. Our sin nature is never said to be forgiven; "It's waved."

15. It is the sins we have committed that are forgiven to us.

16. (V. 4) Now the righteousness of the law has been fulfilled "in us who do not walk according to the flesh," but "according to the Spirit."

17. By passing control of our lives to the "Holy Spirit," He gives us the ability to love God, "and to love our neighbor," and "in the end this is what the law requires."

18. (V. 5) Those who are after the flesh, that is, the unsaved, "set their minds on the things of the flesh."

19. They obey the impulses of the flesh.

20. They live to gratify (reward) the desires of corrupted nature.

21. They gratify the body, "which after a few years would return to dust."

22. But those who are according to the Spirit, that is, true believers, rise above flesh and blood and "live unto eternal things."

23. They are occupied with the word of God, prayer, worship, and Christian service.

24. (V. 6) For to deal with the flesh is death, that is, the mentality of the flesh, the mental inclination of fallen nature, "is death."

25. It is death as far as the present enjoyment and final destination are concerned.

26. It has in itself all the potential for death, as well as an overdose of poison.

27. But "the mentality of the Spirit is life and peace."

28. The Spirit of God is the guarantee of life, which is true life, of peace with God and of a life with serenity.

29. (V. 7) Since the designs (purposes, intention, or plan to accomplish something) of the flesh are enmity against God, "the mentality of the flesh is death because it is enmity with God."

30. The sinner is a rebel against God and has an active hostility against Him.

31. If any proof is needed, it is seen most clearly in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ; What ruthless!

32. The mentality of the flesh does not submit to God's law.

33. He wants his own will, not God's.

34. He wants to be his own master and not bow to His government.

35. His nature is such that he "can't even" submit to God's law.

36. Nor can they; the flesh is dead to God.

37. (V. 8) No wonder, then, that "those who live according to the flesh cannot please God."

38. "Look at this," there is nothing an unsaved person can do to "please" God.

39. First one must recognize oneself as a guilty sinner and receive Christ by a specific act of faith.

40. (V. 9) When a person is born again, "he is no longer in the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

41. Live in a different sphere.

42. Just as a fish lives in water and man lives in air, so a "believer lives in the Spirit."

43. For the Spirit lives in him.

44. (V. 10) Through the ministry of the Spirit, Christ is truly in the believer.

45. It is amazing to think that the Lord of life and glory is dwelling in our bodies, especially when we remember that these bodies are subject to death "because of sin."

46. We can argue that they are not dead yet, as the verse seems to say.

47. No, but the forces of death are already at work in you and will inevitably die if the Lord does not reveal Himself sooner.

48. In contrast to the body, "the spirit lives for the sake of righteousness."

49. Though he was dead to God, he has been made alive through the righteous work of the Lord Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. And because God's righteousness has been put on our account.

50. (V. 11) But the reminder that the body is still subject to death need not cause alarm or hopelessness.

51. The fact that the Holy Spirit dwells in our bodies is a guarantee that, just as He raised (Holy Spirit) Christ Jesus will also quicken our "mortal bodies."

52. This will be the final act of our redemption, when our bodies are glorified as the body of the Savior's glory.