"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of
sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)
Why? "For what the Law could not do, in that it was
weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh -- that the righteousness of the
law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it
is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are
in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:3-8)
But herein is the hope of those who believe in Jesus the
Christ by faith, and have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, seeking
His righteousness, studying His Word, and following Jesus as a disciple in
training -- these are set free from the law of sin and death. (Acts 2:37-42)
That is -- "ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:9-10)
There are several ways to look at this scripture. First,
when Christ lives within us, we are clothed in His righteousness. His garment
of love and grace sanctified us when His blood was shed on the cross, and His
body broken for you and I. As such, we become complete with His desires. His
purposes regenerating and renewing us by faith.
But that is not all.
We are also instructed that when we believe in Jesus by
faith, and are baptized in His name, we are no longer in the flesh, but in the
Spirit. But as indicated in the first part of this scripture -- only if the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Note too this scripture
states: "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of
His." Then, as if understanding was not enough, the scripture goes on to
state: "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:9-10)
I can hear you already saying -- we don't have two Spirits.
And yet, the Spirit of God must dwell in us as well as the Spirit of Christ
according to Romans 8:10. So what does all this mean? Well, you are right. We
do not have two Spirits. There is only One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.
(Ephesians 4:5-6)
So, do you remember what Jesus said to His disciples before
Judas betrayed Him? He told His disciples that He must go before the
Comforter -- the Holy Ghost -- can come. (John 14:26; John 16:7) Jesus also told
His disciples He and His Father are One. (John 10:30) Indeed, Jesus said, if
you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. (John 14:9)
Jesus said, "But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy
Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
(John 14:26)
Jesus said, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I
will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth
from the Father, He shall testify of Me .." (John 15:26)
Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is
expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you." (John 16:7)
In other words, "if the Spirit of Him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you."
(Romans 8:11)
Who is the Spirit referred to throughout Romans 8? The Holy
Ghost -- which one receives when they repent of their sin (asking Jesus for
forgiveness) and are baptized in Jesus name. The one and only who had
overshadowed Mary so that she would be found with child. Call Him Jesus. His
name Emmanuel meaning "God with us". (Matthew 1:21-23)
How do we know? Because on the day of Pentecost apostle
Peter (standing with the eleven) said unto the first 3,000 to be saved in this
new dispensation of grace, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-42)
This is why "therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh ... for if ye live after the flesh, ye
shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye
shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to
fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Abba,
Father." The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified
together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the
earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason
of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also
shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in
pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why doth he yet hope
for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know
not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that
searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit -- because He makes
intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He
did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and
whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also
glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us,
who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for
us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay
anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.
Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather,
that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
As it is written, "For thy sake we are killed all the
day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:12-39)
Is there anything else that can be added to the abundance of
promises in Romans 8? More than we can ever imagine. Still, stand in the offering plate with our Lord God
and Saviour Jesus the Christ, and let Him fill you with His Spirit -- the Holy
Ghost.
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