Life in the Spirit

Preached by PastorBrian Robinson on Feb. 11, 2012

Romans 8:9-11

God doesn’t just save us from hell, but He is in the business of transforming us into the likeness of His son—the process of sanctification.
Vs. 1 justification—no condemnation
Vs. 14 sanctification—because of the indwelling Spirit
Vs. 9-11 Paul addresses the readers personally.
A watershed: the destinations are completely different. This is the great divide.
Christianity is radical, revolutionary, supernatural.
It doesn’t just tidy up our morals, it changes our nature.
The Christian swims upstream, fighting against sin; the unbeliever floats downstream, never struggling against his nature.
We are weak and sin and Satan are powerful foes.
In our own strength, we have no strength at all.
With the Spirit, we are Overcomers.
If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not part of Him.
To have Christ is to have the Spirit; to have the Spirit is to have Christ.
Not for a select few, but for all believers.
How could you live life as a Christian without the Spirit?
You received the Spirit when you first believed.
Not denying the desire for a deeper blessing and relationship with Christ, but you only receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit once, at your conversion, although you can have many fillings afterward.
How? Stick close to the word of God.
We should be amazed that our bodies are the temple of the living God.
Now and not yet.
Paul talks about contrasts; live vs. death, outer man vs. inner man, sinful nature vs. Spirit filled nature, Adam vs. Christ, law vs. grace, physical life vs. spiritual life.