Author: Will

Romans 8:18 – Suffering for Glory

Posted on by Will

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory about to be revealed in us.

Truth to Learn

Our future glory is far greater than our current suffering.

 

Behind the Words

The expression “I consider” is from the Greek word logidzomai, meaning “to count, to impute, to estimate, or to reckon.”

“Sufferings” is translated from pathēma, a noun form of the verb paschō, meaning “to feel strong emotion or sensation, to suffer, or to experience.” It is most often used to refer to painful suffering either physically or emotionally.

The words “not worthy” are translated from ouk axia. As we have discussed before, ouk refers to the absolute negative. The word axia is a form of axios which is a reference to two items placed on a balance scales which are of comparable weight, causing the scales to balance perfectly. This perfect balance indicates the relative worth of one of the items on the scales. Hence, the word has come to refer to the comparable worth of an item.

The word “revealed” is from apokaluptō. This is a compound word made up of apo, meaning “from or away from” and kaluptō, meaning “to cover” or “to conceal.” Thus, we see that apokaluptō means “to uncover” or “to reveal.” This is the word that is translated “Revelation” as the name of the last book in the New Testament.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that since we are joint heirs with Christ, as members of God’s family, we can also expect to suffer with Him. Whenever we suffer because of being Christians, we are suffering with Christ. We are sharing in the pain of rejection, misunderstanding, betrayal, false accusation, persecution, and physical torture that Christ knew before and during his crucifixion.

But Paul now gives us a glimmer of hope that we can hang on to whenever we are going through those times of suffering. He starts off with the expression, “For I consider.” It is Paul’s belief that whatever sufferings we might have to go through in this life, they are of little value or consequence when compared with the incredible glory that we will receive in Heaven.

In verse seventeen Paul said that if we suffer with Christ, we may also be glorified with Him. Well, now Paul says that the present suffering that we are going through for Christ’s sake is in no way comparable to that glory that we are going to share with and from Christ. This is something that we should all hold dear to our hearts.

 

Application

The next time you feel like you are being persecuted, mistreated, or attacked because you are a witness for Christ, remember that you are suffering for His sake, and some day you will be glorified with Him and for His sake. No matter how much physical pain or mental anguish you may have to endure now, it is temporary and insignificant compared to the glory He will give to you for eternity.

It just makes the suffering a little more bearable now, doesn’t it?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:17 – Suffering Heirs

Posted on by Will

and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Truth to Learn

We are God’s heirs and we will suffer for it.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “heirs” is the Greek word klēronomos, which means “one who is receiving an inheritance.”

“if indeed”  is translated from the Greek word eiper, which carries with it the notion of “if it is so, and it probably is.” By implication it means “since.” So, Paul is saying “since we suffer together …”

The word translated “glorified together” is sundoxadzō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and doxadzō, meaning “to give honor” or “to make glorious.” It is expressed in the passive voice indicating that it will be done to us.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we saw that it is the Spirit of God who gives witness to our spirit that we are the children of God (if we have been saved). Now Paul goes on to say that if we are children of God (as confirmed by the Holy Spirit of God living in us), then we are heirs.

Note here that only legitimate children can be heirs, and under the Jewish laws of the times adopted children were legitimate children. In fact, an adopted child could not be disowned or dis-inherited the way a natural born child could be. So the fact that we are adopted children means that our inheritance is guaranteed!

So what are we inheriting? Some say we are inheriting heaven, but that’s not all we will inherit. This verse says we are heirs (inheritors) of God himself. That is not to say that we will become gods as some religions believe. It simply means that we are heirs of the eternality of God. Just as Jesus (the man) received an eternal body and shares in eternal fellowship with God the Father, we also will receive an eternal body as God’s heirs and will share eternal fellowship with Him.

Paul now throws a bit of a wrinkle in here. He says “since we suffer together with Him, we also may be glorified together (with him).” This should be both a challenge and an encouragement to us all. It says that we will suffer as Christians! But it also says that Jesus Christ suffers with us when we suffer. Here is another verse from Paul’s second letter to Timothy that talks about that suffering:

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2Timothy 3:12)

We should be prepared to suffer because we will if we are His children and we are pursuing a godly life. But when we do, He is right there with us. He knows the most intimate details of the trials that we’re going through because He is suffering with us.

 

Application

If you are a Christian then you have been legally adopted into God’s family, and you are an heir to all that God has to offer. Because you are in His family, however, his enemies will hate you like they hate Him and you will suffer for it. Are you ready for that? Consider this: He suffered to pay for your sins. Are you willing to suffer for Him?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:16 – The Holy Witness

Posted on by Will

The Spirit Himself witnesses together with our spirit that we are children of God,

Truth to Learn

The Holy Spirit is the true witness of our salvation.

 

Behind the Words

The words “witnesses together” is from summartureō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” or “with” and martureō, which means “to testify” or “to give witness.” Hence summartureō means “to testify jointly” or “to give witness together.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we were told that we who are saved have the Spirit of adoption and because of this adoption we can call God the Father our “Daddy.” In the secular world today it is often said that we are all brothers and sisters because all people are God’s children. According to the Bible this is not true. Also, there are many supposed Christians who claim that God is their father when He is not. This was also true in Jesus’ day. As He taught in the temple, this is what He had to say to those who claimed to be believing Jews:

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came forth from God; for I have not come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you want to do.  (John 8:42-44a)

So, if there were so many deceived ones then, and many today who think that God is their Father, how can we tell for sure that we are saved and God is our Father? The current verse tells us how. We know that we are saved, that we have been adopted by God the Father, because He has given the Holy Spirit exclusively to His children. The Spirit is not only our seal and the guarantee of our inheritance; He is also the only true witness of our salvation and adoption by God. That’s what the current verse says.

So exactly how does the Holy Spirit “witness together with our spirit?” The Holy Spirit witness together with our spirit in those still, quiet moments, when we sense the peace that only He can give. A peace that passes all understanding, a peace that exists in the midst of trials and tribulation. It is that calm assurance that we have submitted to the Father and we have committed to do His will above our own. We have accepted His grace in the form of the blood of Christ because we believe that Jesus died to pay for our sins, and He rose again from the grave. It’s that assurance that we are saved! It’s the Spirit’s witness.

 

Application

Do you know for sure that you are saved? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit bearing witness with your spirit?

If so, you are a genuine, guaranteed child of God. If not, then perhaps it’s time to fall on your knees before the God of all creation, confessing your sinfulness, and asking Him for salvation, submitting yourself to your Lord and Savior:

Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses unto salvation.(Romans 10:9, 10)

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:15 – Blessed Adoption

Posted on by Will

For you did not receive a spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received a Spirit of adoption by which we cry, "Abba, Father."

Truth to Learn

Christians have been adopted into God’s loving family forever!

 

Behind the Words

“Bondage” is from the Greek word douleia, which is derived from the verb douleuō, meaning “to be a slave” or “to serve.” This, in turn, is derived from the noun doulos, meaning “a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the owner.” So, douleia refers to the condition of being a slave, or being in bondage.

The word “abba” is a transliteration; it is brought over from the original language letter for letter, or sound for sound. This is an Aramaic word that means, “father” as a term of endearment, similar to how we might call our earthly father “dad,” “daddy,” or “papa.”

“Adoption” is from huiothesia, which is made up of huios, meaning “a son” and a form of tithēmi, meaning “to place.” Hence, huiothesia refers to a son who has been placed in another family. According to the Jewish laws, an adopted child could not be disinherited; it was a permanent placement.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous two chapters Paul spent considerable time showing that before we were saved, we were slaves to sin and the condemnation of the Law. In this chapter he has been showing us that we are free from the bondage of the Law and slavery to sin. We who are saved have a free will to sin or not to sin. In other words, we are not forced to sin due to our being ruled by our sin nature. Instead, we are free to resist that temptation to sin. The reason for this freedom is shown to us in the current verse. The Spirit that we have dwelling in us (according to verse 11) is the Spirit of God. What Paul now tells us is that this Spirit is not a Spirit of bondage. Paul has been showing us throughout this letter that there are two states of being: bondage and submission. Bondage implies a condition that is forced on us, whereas submission is a condition we choose. If we are not saved, we walk according to the flesh and we are under bondage to sin. If, on the other hand, we walk according to the Spirit it is because we are saved and have chosen to submit ourselves to God. The Holy Spirit does not hold us in bondage against our will; we received the Spirit because we willingly submitted ourselves to God.

Now for another of the most precious truths of the New Testament! The Spirit that we have received, the Holy Spirit of God, is one of adoption. In other words, when we accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for our sins, we also willingly submitted ourselves to His Lordship (He is our master now, our sin nature is no longer our master). In response to this we were adopted by God as His child. And, as a seal of that adoption He gave us the Holy Spirit. Once God has adopted us, He cannot un-adopt us because of that sealing Spirit. He is our Spirit of adoption and because of this we can refer to God as our Father, and we can call him papa or daddy.

One of the primary benefits of our adoption by God is that we now can have a close personal relationship with our Heavenly Father because He has chosen to adopt us.

 

Application

Do you experience that close personal relationship with your Heavenly Father? Do you converse with Him regularly? Do you share your deepest desires and fears with Him? Do you listen to his wise advice? Or … is He more of a stranger than “daddy?”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:14 – Heavenly Guide Service

Posted on by Will

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Truth to Learn

The Spirit of God is our “life coach” and guide.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “led” is agō, which means “to lead” or “to bring.” This is expressed here in the present tense and indicative mood. This can mean a single, one-time action in the present, but more often it refers to current, continual action. This is the sense in which it is used here. It is also expressed here in the passive voice indicating action that is being done to someone.

 

Meaning Explained

In chapter eight Paul talked about how a person who tries to obtain righteousness by obeying laws and rules will never achieve his or her objective. This is because the law actually causes us to sin. He then went on to proclaim his own frustration with the fact that even though he wants to do what is right all the time, he doesn’t always do it. He even proclaimed:

For the good that I determine to do, I do not do; but the evil I determine to not do, that I continually do. (Romans 7:19)

This tendency in all mankind is the result of our sin nature. Paul starts off the current chapter with the proclamation, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus,” And, in verse four, he describes a characteristic of those who are in Christ Jesus: “who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” We who have been saved by the grace of God have been declared as righteous in God’s record book, so we are free from the penalty of our sin. We also have been given the Holy Spirit of God as our guarantee and as our guide. If we are saved, then we should be walking “according to the Spirit.”

In the current verse Paul says something very similar: “For as many (of us) as are being continually led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” We see, then, that this is another characteristic of a true child of God. If you are a son (or daughter) of God, then you are continually, every day, in the present, being led by His Spirit. The picture is of a guide who is leading the way through a wilderness, showing the proper paths to take so that the follower won’t get lost.

Note, though, that it is difficult to lead someone who won’t follow. And, it is difficult to follow someone with whom you have very little communication. In fact, the closer the relationship you have to the guide, the easier it is for the guide to direct you and the easier it is for you to hear and trust the advice of the guide. Sometimes the choices of paths are obvious and sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes, what appears to be the obvious path is not the way to go at all. That’s why we need a guide.

 

Application

We have a Guide who knows all, and He wants to lead us in the paths that will bring Him the most glory and praise.

Are you willing to follow your Guide? Do you talk to your Guide? Do you listen to Him and obey Him when He talks to you?

Are you daily being led by the Holy Spirit of God?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:13 – Evidence of Faith

Posted on by Will

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.

Truth to Learn

Your actions indicate whether you are spiritually dead or alive.

 

Behind the Words

The words “you will” are from the Greek word mellō, which usually means “it is about to happen.” It is normally followed by a verb in the future infinitive form. However, in this verse it is followed by a verb in the present infinitive form. This makes the expression stronger than a future verb. It indicates a necessary consequence. Hence, we could translate this as “you are at the point of death” or “you are going to die.”

“Put to death” is from the verb thanatoō, meaning “to kill,” that is, “to take an active part in causing the death of something.” Paul is telling us that a person who habitually satisfies their sin nature will cause their own death.

The word “deeds” is from the Greek noun praxis, which is from the verb prassō, meaning “to practice,” that is, to perform an action over and over. Therefore, we see that the word “deeds” refers to habitual, repeated actions.

“Body” is from sōma, which refers to our physical body.

 

Meaning Explained

Let’s look at this one phrase at a time. Paul starts out with, “For if you live according to the flesh.” We have already talked about “according to the flesh,” meaning “satisfying the desires of the sin nature.” The end of this phrase is, “you will die.” It’s not a matter that you may die, but that you definitely will die. This is another indication that Paul is now talking about someone who is not saved. One of the characteristics of an unsaved person is that their actions are dictated by self, not by the Spirit of God, and he or she will suffer eternal death.

The second half of this verse is, “but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” In other words, if we personally take an active part in putting to death the deeds of our body, we will have life. This is a characteristic of a Christian. As born again Christians, we live by the power of the Holy Spirit, and we will actively fight against and put to death the selfish deeds of our sin nature.

Remember back in verse ten Paul said that if Christ is in you, the body is dead but the spirit is alive. He is now saying that one way for you to tell if Christ is in you (if you are truly saved) is that you will not continually be living to satisfy your sin nature because the Holy Spirit is living in you. Through the Holy Spirit we are continually working to kill the fleshly practices that our body (influenced by our sin nature) wants to do. But, those who are not saved are continually letting their body and its fleshly desires have their way. As a result, they are destined to die and be eternally separated from God. That’s precisely what James meant when he wrote:

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18b)

 

Application

So where do your actions say you will spend eternity? Do they say that you are destined to die eternally or that you will live eternally in God’s presence as His adopted son or daughter?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:12 – Indebted to Whom?

Posted on by Will

Therefore, brothers, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Truth to Learn

We owe a debt, but not to our sin nature.

 

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from the two Greek words, ara oun. The word ara in an inferential conjunction which indicates that the following phrase is an inference, a conclusion, drawn from the preceding thoughts. It is most often translated “therefore.” The other Greek word, oun, is also an inferential conjunction, but it is also used as a transitional conjunction, indicating that a new train of thought is on the way. It is sometimes translated as “then” or “now.” We could translate these two words as “So now” or “Therefore then.” The effect is to introduce a strong conclusion that the writer is emphasizing.

The word translated “brothers” is the plural form of adelphos. This is made up of a, indicating unity and delphus, meaning “the womb.” So, this word indicates someone who has come from the same mother. The word is used metaphorically throughout the New Testament to indicate those who have the same Heavenly Father. Paul uses this term in reference to Christians and Jews alike.

“Debtors” is from opheiletēs, which comes from the verb opheilō, meaning “to owe something to someone else.” Hence, opheiletēs refers to someone who owes something to someone else, that is, a debtor.

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked how God promises those of us who are truly saved that He will give us the same kind of immortal body that Jesus Christ has right now. That’s part of eternal life, having an eternal body. It will be a body that will not know pain and will not grow old; a body far superior to the one that we now possess.

Now, he makes a very strong conclusion: since we will receive an immortal body, we have no reason to live as debtors to this mortal body. In other words, we should not treat this body as if we owe it anything. We should not satisfy the desires and cravings of this body because not only does it not own us, but it will be replaced by a much better body some day.

We should not live kata sarka or “according to the flesh.” You will remember that we talked a number of verses back about the fact that kata, means “according to” or “with respect to.” We should not conduct our lives in such a manner as to cater to our fleshly desires. We should, in fact, act as if we were dead when it comes to satisfying the desires of our flesh. That’s what Paul will tell us in the next verse.

 

Application

The next time one of those sinful fleshly desires begins to get you into trouble, remember that you are not required to obey it; you don’t owe it anything! In fact, we are debtors to someone else. We owe God a great debt, our lives. We owed Him the penalty for our sins (death), but Jesus Christ paid that debt for us so we now have eternal life. Therefore, we owe Him a debt of gratitude for rescuing us. We owe Him our life!

How are you paying off that debt?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:11 – God’s Irrevocable Promise

Posted on by Will

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Truth to Learn

God promises all Christians that they will be raised from the dead and given an immortal body.

 

Behind the Words

The word “raised” is from egeirō, which means “to rouse from sleep” or “to awaken.” In its usage here it refers to awakening from the dead.

“Give life” is from the Greek word dzōopoieō, which is made up of dzōon, meaning “a living thing” and poieō, meaning “to make.” Hence, dzōopoieō means “to make a living thing” or “to make alive.

The word “mortal” is from thnētos, which is from thnēskō, meaning “to die.” Thnētos refers to something that is dead or subject to death.

 

Meaning Explained

This verse contains one of the great promises in the Bible. Paul starts off with, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you.” The first question we have to ask is, “Who raised Jesus from the dead?” Did He raise Himself, or did someone else do it, and if so, who was it? To answer this question let’s look at a few verses.

Having raised up His son Jesus, God sent Him first to you, blessing you in turning every one of you away from his iniquities. (Acts 3:26)

Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), (Galatians 1:1)

and to wait for His Son from the heavens (whom He raised from the dead), Jesus, who is delivering us from the wrath to come. (1Thessalonians 1:10)

It is obvious from these verses that it is God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore, in the current verse Paul is talking about the Spirit of God the Father, who is none other than the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity. And Paul says that if the Holy Spirit dwells in you (remember that He has been given by God as a pledge, as a seal of the promise of redemption to all who are saved), then God the Father will also make your mortal body alive by this same Spirit who dwells in you. In other words, for all of us who are saved by His grace, God the Father has promised that just as He raised up Jesus, He will also make our dead bodies alive by his Holy Spirit.

For those of us who are alive when Jesus returns at the rapture, this means that our dead body will be changed “in a moment, in a twinkling of the eye” into an immortal body. If we have already passed from this earthly life, it means that our dead body will be awakened and made alive as an immortal body.

 

Application

If you believe you are a sinner and that Jesus died to pay the penalty of your sin, God promises that He will give you the same kind of immortal body that Jesus has right now! That’s an eternal promise that can’t be undone. Since the Spirit is our seal and our promise, we can’t lose it no matter what we do. We have the Spirit of God and His promise of eternal life.

That’s eternal security!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:10 – A Spirit of Righteousness

Posted on by Will

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

Truth to Learn

Because we have been declared righteous, we are alive with a life that will last eternally.

 

Behind the Words

In order to fully understand the current verse we have to look at a Greek grammatical construction known as “Correlative (or paired) Conjunctions.” That is, a pair of conjunctions that have a correlation between each other. The conjunctions are men and de. They are used in the following manner, “men (followed by the first phrase) … de (followed by the second phrase).” The effect of this construction is to say, “on the one hand (first phrase), but on the other hand (second phrase).” In today’s verse men is used before the phrase “the body is dead because of sin” and de is used before the phrase ”the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”

The word translated “because of” is dia, which means “through.” As in English, this word has two meanings. The first is a preposition of motion; it implies motion through a place. The other is a preposition of instrumentality; it implies the instrument or cause of something In this situation it can be translated as “by reason of” or “because of.” In today’s verse dia is used instrumentally.

As we have mentioned before, in Biblical Greek there are three types of conditional clauses. The first class condition assumes the condition to be true and can sometimes be translated as “since,” although not always. In today’s verse Paul is speaking to Christians and is assuming “Christ is in you.”

 

Meaning Explained

What Paul says in this verse is “And if Christ is in you, (assumed to be true) on the one hand the body is dead because of sin, but on the other hand the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” In other words, if Christ is in you, that is, if you are saved, then your body is technically dead because of your sinfulness, but because you have accepted Christ as Savior, through the grace of God (who has declared you to be righteousness), your spirit is alive and you will spend eternity in the presence of God because of that righteousness.

In the next verse Paul will explain further what he means when he days that our Spirit is alive.

What he doesn’t say, but clearly implies, is that if you aren’t saved (if you don’t have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you) then your body is still dead because of sin. But, because you are a sinner and have not been declared righteous, you have no hope of spiritual life. You will have to pay the penalty for your own sins and you will enter the presence of the Almighty as an unrighteous sinner; you are spiritually dead (now and forever).

 

Application

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then praise be to God that your entrance into His presence will not be just as a cleansed former sinner, but as an adopted son (or daughter) whom God has declared “righteous.”

This salvation that we hold so dear is not just our “get out of Hell free” card. It’s not just our “ticket into Heaven.” It is the undeserved privilege and honor of standing before our Holy God as one who has fulfilled all righteousness and one who possesses His life giving Spirit for all eternity.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 8:9 – Are You Sealed?

Posted on by Will

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Truth to Learn

If you are saved, you are sealed and your life should show it.

 

Behind the Words

“Dwells” is translated from the Greek verb oikeō, which means “to reside, to dwell, or to remain in a house.”

 

Meaning Explained

In verse eight Paul summarized the preceding three verses by stating, “those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” We mentioned in that verse that the expression, “those who are in the flesh,” refers to unregenerate people, that is, those who are unsaved; they are not Christians. Part of the reason for this conclusion is what Paul says in the current verse.

“But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit.” This is a contrasting statement to the previous one indicating that those who are in the flesh cannot also be in the spirit. You are either one or the other. But how do we know who is in the flesh and who is in the spirit? Paul explains this in the next phrase. He says, “But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Paul explains this in Ephesians 1:13,14  where he says,

in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Those who are saved are sealed with the Holy Spirit and He is our guarantee. This guarantee is a token given as a promise that a transaction will be completed. If for some reason the transaction is not completed, the guarantee is retained by the recipient. Hence, if God were not to grant us our inheritance at the end of the age as He promised, then He would have to leave the Holy Spirit (our guarantee) with us, thus causing light to be united with darkness, which He tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 cannot happen. Hence, once we are saved and have the Holy Spirit, we cannot lose that salvation! It is guaranteed!

What Paul tells us in today’s verse is that the one who has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him (or her) is not in the flesh; he (or she) is in the Spirit. Now, just to make sure he is understood, Paul then says, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” In other words, if you don’t have the guarantee, you are not saved and do not belong to Christ.

Those who aren’t saved don’t have the Spirit of God and, therefore, are in the flesh. They are controlled by their sinful fleshly desires. However, those who are saved have the Holy Spirit living in them and should not be controlled by the flesh. Notice I said “should not.” As we have said before, Christians have a free will to obey God or not. Sometimes we let our flesh control us, causing us to sin. We have a choice: to be controlled by our flesh or to be submitted to God. The unsaved can’t make this choice. They do not have a free will; they are bound by the law of sin to obey their sinful desires because they are “in the flesh.”

 

Challenge

So, I ask you again, are you in the flesh or are you in the Spirit? What would the people who know you best say? Would they say that there is clear evidence that you are “in the Spirit?”

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved