mySundaySermons

Romans 8:6-11

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

 

6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. [NRSA]

 

The Holy Spirit in Paul’s Letters

Paul’s letters contain numerous references to the Holy Spirit, which he often refers to as the “Spirit of God” or the “Spirit of Christ.”

 

Paul emphasizes the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, he writes, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” Here, Paul is emphasizing that it is through the work of the Holy Spirit that believers are transformed into the image of Christ, growing in holiness and conformity to God’s will.

 

Another key aspect of Paul’s understanding of the Holy Spirit is its role in enabling believers to live out their faith. In Galatians 5:16-18, he writes, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Here, Paul is emphasizing that it is through the Holy Spirit that believers are able to resist temptation and live out their faith in obedience to God.

 

Paul also highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers and providing them with wisdom and understanding. In 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, he writes, “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” Here, Paul is emphasizing that it is through the Holy Spirit that believers are able to understand the mysteries of God and discern His will.

 

Specifically Paul writes about the Holy Spirit in Romans in our text today: In Romans 8:9, he writes, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” This passage highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian, as it is through the Spirit that believers are able to live in accordance with God’s will.

 

Romans 8:6-11 provides a blueprint for discipleship and Christian living in the Holy Spirit that can lead to transformation and empowerment.

 

So we will focus on

1.  The Mind Set on the Spirit,

2.  Hold on to the indwelling, and

3.  Reach out knowing the Resurrection

The Spirit that Brings Life and Peace

 

I. The Mindset on the Flesh and the Spirit (Romans 8:6-8)

 

Put most simply, to singularly attentive to the needs of the flesh is to focus only on the things late end in death.

 

When our mindset is on the bills, the politics, our ailments and worries about how we manage everyday life… we are focused on the flesh…we are not set on the Holy Spirit.

 

While there is a level of responsibilities for things of the flesh, when these concerns become our highest priorities and the measure of our worth and value, we are working on that which ultimately ends at death.

 

·     Can our money or lack of money take with us to heaven?

·     Will our fears and worries lead us to eternal life?

·     Can our health, mortgage? troubles? Or Our politics? No.

 

Paul is calling us to be passionately, on fire, committed to our spiritual connection to Jesus Christ.

 

The contrast that Paul is inviting us to see is that live in the Spirit is peace and eternity. Paul’s point is that it is a daily choice.

 

·     The work of living in the Spirit is a continual, constant choice of living by God’s power or our own?

·     God’s worth or our self-worth, or

·     the value the world gives us or God’s

 

Step 1 is being connected to the things of God that provide the consistent flow of divine energy source:

a.  The fellowship of those who are in the Spirit

b. The power of the Word, Songs of our faith,

c.  The love of Christ… we cannot live alone, we must be connected to the Holy Spirit.

 

II. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-10)

Paul reminds us that God’s Spirit is living in us.

 

Think of God’s Spirit as a family member living in your house. If we don’t feed our souls with the Spirit, if we are not interacting with God’s Spirit in our spiritual home, we become distance, alone and prone to chaos.

 

Think of the importance of having the Holy Spirit setting the tone for our daily choices. When we said to God. “We are trusting that what you have for us, is not only enough, but is the very best, for the lives and the time we have.”

 

Live knowing the spiritual self and being is in these earthly tents.

 

Contrast a life filled with God with a life filled with stuff, things, and people that we strive to please and satisfy, but can never quite ever do enough to provide everything for everyone.

 

On a individual and a global scale: Living life in the Spirit, is transforming the flesh, worldly, self-focused life into life that is as large as God’s hope, dreams, and grace can provide for us.

 

III. The Resurrection Power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11)

 

Finally, Paul writes to connect the reality of the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit comes to give us life itself.

 

We are able to live as people of the resurrection, before our bodies fade away, because Christ’s Spirit is living in our souls.

 

We are able to live our eternal lives now, because we have our minds set on spiritual realities, and the very Spirit of Christ is in us, gives us the fuel to

 

The Three Steps together: mindset, connected, new life= disciples

 

Call believers to a deeper commitment to discipleship and Christian living in the Holy Spirit.

 

Forgive and Restore us that we might set our minds, be connected, and share the resurrection life with all the world.

closing prayer for transformation and empowerment through the Holy Spirit.