Significance of The Holy Spirit [Romans Chapter 8]

Think God

Think Jesus Christ

Be in the Spirit

[That is, be spiritually minded, be led by The Holy Spirit, live by The Holy Spirit, keep in step with The Holy Spirit]

Body [flesh] + Holy Spirit = life + peace
[Romans 8: 6]

Body [flesh] – Holy Spriti = spiritual death
[Romans 8: 6]

Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” [Matthew 5: 17]. Right from the event in the Garden of Eden through to the Ten Commandments, and the injunctions of the Old Testament Prophets, the Law had been purposed for righteous requirement. However, the Law has not been able to serve this purpose, as it is made weak in the flesh.

Hence, in order that this righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled, God sent His own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of our sin, to condemn sin in the flesh. This means that we would no longer live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. If the Spirit of God [who raised Christ from the dead] dwells in us, then God [who raised Christ from the dead] will give life to our mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in us [Romans 8: 11].

If we live according to the flesh we will die, but if by the Spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the body [flesh], we will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God [Romans 8: 13-14]. The Spirit we receive does not make us slaves, so that we live in fear again, rather the Spirit we received brought about our adoption to the sonship and reconciliation with God [Romans 8: 15].

The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit and life [John 6: 63].

Now, what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess [Deuteronomy 30: 11-16].

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it [Psalm 34: 11-14].

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God [Galatians 5: 19-21].

But the fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law [Galatians 5: 22-23].

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by The Spirit, let us keep in step with The Spirit [Galatians 24-25].