12 DAYS TO PENTECOST

TEXT:  ROMANS 8:9-11

⁹ But 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.

¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

¹¹ But 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…

¹³ 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.

KEY TEXT: Romans 8:9 “…If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his…”

REFLECTION:   Six “If-Then” statements (statements that are divinely inspired and inerrant) clearly distinguish the Spiritual man from the Fleshly.  The Apostle Paul is straightforward.  He offers no middle ground.  Hear the word of the Lord.

1.         If the Spirit of God dwells in you…you are not in the flesh.  (v.9)

Obviously he is writing to Christians who were alive so the term “flesh” cannot be construed to mean “physical bodies.”  The offering of Christ condemned sin—the love of sin and the life of sin and the government of sin--in the flesh so that being justified by faith Christians walk in an entirely new life—the life of the Spirit!

2.         If any man has not the Spirit of Christ…he is none of his. (v.9)

If the Spirit of Christ does not reside in our hearts we are not Christ’s.  All who are born into the family of God are born of the Spirit, transformed by the Spirit, and live in the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonians, “God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).  All of the saved have the Spirit of Christ and live under His holy government.

3.         If Christ be in you…the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (v.10)

Wherever we find the Spirit of Christ, we find Christ!  And wherever we find Christ, we find righteousness. He imparts His righteousness to all who are united to Him by faith. The body is destined for death for “the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) and “death passed upon all men, for all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12). But all who are born of the Spirit will never die.

4.         If the Spirit that raised up Jesus lives in you…he will quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that lives in you. (v.11)

To all who doubt that the Spirit can bring spiritual life to those who are dead in trespasses and sin, (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13), the Apostle promises: the same Spirit that raised up Jesus will raise us up!  If the Spirit could raise the cold, lifeless body of the entombed Savior, He can “do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20).

5.     If you live after the flesh…ye shall die. (v.13)

The Apostle could not be clearer.  Those who live under the government and authority of the flesh will certainly die—physically and spiritually.  In physical death the soul is separated from the body.  In spiritual death the spirit is separated from God.

6.     If you through the Spirit put to death the deeds of the body…ye shall live. (v.13)

The triumph of the Spirit over the passions of the flesh is not only possible, it is essential.  John Wesley notes that “deeds of the body” includes “not only evil actions, but evil desires, tempers, and thoughts.”  If it is the Spirit that brings victory over the “body,” what then is our part? 

We welcome the Spirit to rule, to reign, and to remain within our hearts.  Living under the Spirit’s authority and governance we resist the impulse to fulfill the desires of the flesh.  Each resistance further debilitates (weakens) the fleshly impulse until finally it is put to death. The moral law could never accomplish what the law of the Spirit of life in Christ brings to fruition.  The Spiritual life is a life of victorious faith, unconditional love, and joyful obedience here, and Life everlasting hereafter.

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, Hallelujah, Thine the Glory!  What the Law could not do, You have done for us through the shed blood of Calvary and thy Spirit of Holiness.  Lord, search us and know our hearts.  Show us what is within.  When we have not yielded to your holy will, to your governance, we pray you would convict us, convince us, and then convert us.  We consecrate ourselves to do your will, by your Spirit who lives in our hearts by faith!  Oh how we love you Lord for all that you are doing and all that you are going to do in and through us.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c.”