Romans 8 begins with No Condemnation and ends with No separation from God- EVER! Which is absolutely, utterly amazing! But how? Ah, that is the work of the Holy Spirit within us. He is mentioned 18 times in these 36 verses and that is key for us to understand all that he does for us and in us. When we recognize the power that is within us to overcome sin is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, well why wouldn’t we shout for joy, “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” How does He strengthen us! He does so by the work of the Holy Spirit within us and His fervent intercessory prayer for us (Hebrews 7:25).
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Sets us Free from Death’s Penalty
“For the law of the life-giving Spirit[b] in Christ Jesus has set you[c] free from the law of sin and death” Romans 8:2 (NET). He can do this because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. He, who knew no sin, bore the penalty of our sin—erasing our debt. “3 For God achieved what the law could not do because[d] it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.(Romans 8:3-4 NET).
I know you might be thinking, “but what about those times that my flesh takes charge and I don’t seem to be walking according to the Spirit?” Ah, but you see, that will become clearer as we keep moving forward. Remember as I pointed out, Romans 8 begins with No Condemnation and ends with NO Separation, ever! The Holy Spirit’s work not only is to bring us to a saving knowledge of Christ, but to keep us ever step of the way through our transforming sanctification.
For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NET
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Provides you with a New Outlook and Focus.
5 For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by[e] the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. 6 For the outlook[f] of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. 8 Those, who are in the flesh, cannot please God. (Romans 8:5-8 NET).
Without the work of the Holy Spirit drawing you, awakening your desire for God—you could never possibly decide to follow Christ. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws (drags) him” (John 6:44). The word translated draws here actually is the same word translated elsewhere, as drags him. He drags us to the altar and sometimes He drags us through this life until we come to realize He is life, hope, peace, joy, love and our greatest treasure.
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Raises us up to Newness of Life
9 You, however, are not in[g] the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but[h] the Spirit is your life[i] because of righteousness. 11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one[j] who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ[k] from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.[l] (Romans 8:9-11 NET)
Very clearly it states—if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells you. If He does not, you never accepted Christ as your Savior. Therefore, if the Holy Spirit indwells you, He utilizes the same power that raised Christ from the dead to raise your mortal bodies from death to life. Only alive can you defeat sin. The Holy Spirit has the power to defeat the sin in your mortal flesh. I must cling tight to that truth if I hope to ever win over the sins of this flesh. It is not I, but the Holy Spirit that has the power and I must let Him.
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He seals the adoption papers for eternity.
“14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are[q] the sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear,[r] but you received the Spirit of adoption,[s] by whom[t] we cry, “Abba,[u] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to[v] our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)[w]—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.(Romans 8: 14-17).
I am sealed forever as His child. The Holy Spirit reminds me of that. Will that mean there are at times suffering? Yes! It is so much easier to give in to our temptations, our anger, our selfish desires, and going along with the crowd. It is easier to give in to sin than to live in loneliness or to deal with rejection, to forgive when someone hurts you, or for some to remain sober. But the Holy Spirit gives us the power to march forward, even into the fiery furnace if need be to do the next right thing.
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The Holy Spirit instills hope
22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. 23 Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,[z] groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption,[aa] the redemption of our bodies.[ab] 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.[ac] (Romans 8:22-25)
It is the Holy Spirit that reminds us, this is not our final home. We will one day cease to battle with this sinful flesh. One day we will have the perfect heart like that of Jesus. Just hold on, He will complete the work He began and say. “Well done good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt 25:21)
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The Holy Spirit Prays for Us
The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with the right prayer according to the Father’s perfect will. “26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray,[ad] but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he[ae] who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit[af] intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27). You remember those times you prayed incessantly, and it seemed God did not hear you? Then years later you could have sung the song, “Thank God for unanswered prayers”. Well, my guess is that the Holy Spirit had to do a lot of interceding prayers for me throughout the years.
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The Holy Spirit instills faith while transforming us.
28 And we know that all things work together[ag] for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son[ah] would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.[ai] 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30).
Everything that happens in the life of the believer is used by God to transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Often, I could look back over my life and wonder, “What if?” What if I had made the right choice? Or what if, I had been a better Christian or spoken wiser? Yet, you see, God knew before He saved me everything bumbling stupid thing I would do. And He saved me anyway.
But He never wasted a single failure of mine either. Because ultimately, He used them each to teach me how to love Him more. I paid at times a terrible price for my sin; but in the end God, with the work of the Holy Spirit, transformed me and continues to do so. He teaches me every day how to lean into Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in me.
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The Holy Spirit Is Our Protector in this World
31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Indeed, he who[aj] did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?[ak] It is God who justifies. 34 Who is the one who will condemn? Christ[al] is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. (Romans 8:31-34).
You need not worry what others may say or do against you when you are cradled in the arms of God. Jesus Christ is always at the right hand of the Father interceding for His own. Read John 17 and realize all that He prays on your behalf.
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The Holy Spirit Hold Us Secure
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?[am] 36 As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[an] 37 No, in all these things we have complete victory[ao] through him[ap] who loved us! 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers,[aq] nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)
In the recesses of my Bible, I wrote many years ago. “not even I.’ Is not that the most precious of thoughts! Through all the years, He has guided me and transformed me. Yes, there were times He had to rip things out of my hands when I clung too tightly to them, so He could show me—He is my greatest treasure. I have been through great trials and great sorrows; but I know that He has taken all the broken pieces and is creating a tapestry of my life to look like Jesus one day. It is for that reason I can sing from the hymn, IN Christ Alone. “No guilt in life, no fear in death, that is the power of Christ in me.”
I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. Psalm 57:2-3
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Previously
What about this dilemma between life and death?
How does the Holy Spirit Empower the Christian’s Life?
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
credits:
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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