Johann
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2022
- Messages
- 380
WALKING NOT AFTER THE FLESH,
BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT
THE APOSTLE here (Ro 8:1-4) is dealing with the conditions of a holy life; and the condemnation to which he refers is that caused by the constant failure so graphically described in the previous chapter. From my own experience, I think that the introspection which is often induced by ill-health and weakness makes us very sensitive to the failure and shortcoming of the inner life. We know that we are accepted in Christ, and that our sins are forgiven us for His sake; but we are deeply conscious that in us (i.e. in our flesh) dwelleth no good thing from. Rom 7:18-note).
The Reservoir of Eternal Life.--"the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus." We perceive what physical life is when a child comes bounding into our room in a very ecstasy of health and joy. We know what intellectual life is as we see the mind developing under the process of education. We know what the moral life of a stoic is, repelling by force of will the appeal of the senses. But above all these, there is Life which is resident in Jesus Christ, stored in Him, abounding in Him, which He longs to communicate to every soul that trusts in Him. This was the witness of those who knew Jesus most intimately in His brief human life--that "God hath given unto us Eternal Life, and this Life is in His Son." "He that hath the Son hath the Life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the Life." This more than outweighs the down-pull of the serf-life. The aw of that life makes us free from the law of sin and death, for it has mastered death and the grave.
This Life is communicated and sustained by the Holy Spirit. We must be one with Christ; we must be in Him, as the sponge is in the ocean. We must be in Him, not only in our standing, but also in our daily walk. We must be in Him as the branch is in the vine, and the vine-sap in the branch. And this must not only be a theory, but an hourly experience. We must abide in Him and He in us. But how can this become our daily experience? There is but one way. Through the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, as we walk in Him (Gal 5:16-note). He is the essence of the Life which is in Christ Jesus. "The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
PRAYER: Almighty God, I beseech Thee to raise me from the death of sin to the life of righteousness by that same power that brought the Lord Jesus from the dead, that I may walk in newness of life through the aid of the Holy Spirit. AMEN. (F B Meyer)
IN THEFLESH
versus
IN THE SPIRIT
Two "Addresses"
In the flesh
(see note Ro 8:8)
In the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:9)
Two Controlling Forces
Dominated
(controlled) by the Flesh
"according to the flesh"
(see note Ro 8:5) Dominated
(controlled) by the Spirit
"according to the Spirit"
(see note Ro 8:5)
Two Spiritual Conditions
He does not belong to Him
(see note Ro 8:9)
He belongs to Christ
(He is a believer in Christ)
Two Conceptions
(All mankind belongs to one of two families)
In Adam
(1Cor 15:22)
Born of flesh
(John.3:6)
(All men by natural birth
are born in Adam, see note Ro 5:12)
In Christ
(1Cor 15:22)
Born of Spirit
(John 3:5-6)
(Believers are now
in Christ by virtue of the new birth)
Two Controlling Mind Sets
Sets mind on the things of the flesh
(see note Ro 8:5; Ro 8:6-7)
Sets his mind on the things of the Spirit
(see notes Ro 8:5, Col 3:1-2)
Present Condition
Death
(see note Ro 8:6)
(Having no relationship with God)
Cannot please God (see note Ro 8:8)
Life and Peace
(see note Ro 8:6)
Life in a dead world
Peace in a troubled world
Future Condition
Eternal Death
(see note Ro 8:13 cf Gal 5:19-21)
Resurrection life
(see note Ro 8:11; Ro 8:13)
Present Possession
He does not have the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:9)
He has the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:9)
Two Relationships to God’s Law
Lawless
A rebel who cannot even submit
(see note Ro 8:7)
The law is fulfilled
in the Spirit-controlled person
(see note Ro 8:4)
Two Relationships to God
An enemy
(see note Ro 8:7 cf Ro 5:10)
A son
(see note Ro 8:14)
Two Guides
No supernatural guidance
(see note Ro 8:14)
Led by the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:14)
Two Obligations
To live after the flesh (see note Ro 8:12). The unregenerate person simply has no other choice because "That which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John.3:6). The unsaved person is "in the flesh", in total bondage to indwelling Sin and thus can only live dominated by the power of the Sin nature inherited from Adam (see note Ro 8:7). This person can live only to fulfill the lusts of the sinful flesh nature. To mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body (see note Ro 8:13). Positionally this has already been done (Gal 5:24) but Experientially this needs to be done continually by faith (see notes Col 3:5; Ro 6:11) considering oneself dead to the ruling power of Sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Dear reader… the striking contrasts in this simple table beg the question…
Which column are you in?
How I pray that the Spirit has drawn you and reborn you,
taking you out of Adam and placing you into Christ. Amen
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BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT
THE APOSTLE here (Ro 8:1-4) is dealing with the conditions of a holy life; and the condemnation to which he refers is that caused by the constant failure so graphically described in the previous chapter. From my own experience, I think that the introspection which is often induced by ill-health and weakness makes us very sensitive to the failure and shortcoming of the inner life. We know that we are accepted in Christ, and that our sins are forgiven us for His sake; but we are deeply conscious that in us (i.e. in our flesh) dwelleth no good thing from. Rom 7:18-note).
The Reservoir of Eternal Life.--"the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus." We perceive what physical life is when a child comes bounding into our room in a very ecstasy of health and joy. We know what intellectual life is as we see the mind developing under the process of education. We know what the moral life of a stoic is, repelling by force of will the appeal of the senses. But above all these, there is Life which is resident in Jesus Christ, stored in Him, abounding in Him, which He longs to communicate to every soul that trusts in Him. This was the witness of those who knew Jesus most intimately in His brief human life--that "God hath given unto us Eternal Life, and this Life is in His Son." "He that hath the Son hath the Life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not the Life." This more than outweighs the down-pull of the serf-life. The aw of that life makes us free from the law of sin and death, for it has mastered death and the grave.
This Life is communicated and sustained by the Holy Spirit. We must be one with Christ; we must be in Him, as the sponge is in the ocean. We must be in Him, not only in our standing, but also in our daily walk. We must be in Him as the branch is in the vine, and the vine-sap in the branch. And this must not only be a theory, but an hourly experience. We must abide in Him and He in us. But how can this become our daily experience? There is but one way. Through the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, as we walk in Him (Gal 5:16-note). He is the essence of the Life which is in Christ Jesus. "The Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
PRAYER: Almighty God, I beseech Thee to raise me from the death of sin to the life of righteousness by that same power that brought the Lord Jesus from the dead, that I may walk in newness of life through the aid of the Holy Spirit. AMEN. (F B Meyer)
IN THEFLESH
versus
IN THE SPIRIT
Two "Addresses"
In the flesh
(see note Ro 8:8)
In the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:9)
Two Controlling Forces
Dominated
(controlled) by the Flesh
"according to the flesh"
(see note Ro 8:5) Dominated
(controlled) by the Spirit
"according to the Spirit"
(see note Ro 8:5)
Two Spiritual Conditions
He does not belong to Him
(see note Ro 8:9)
He belongs to Christ
(He is a believer in Christ)
Two Conceptions
(All mankind belongs to one of two families)
In Adam
(1Cor 15:22)
Born of flesh
(John.3:6)
(All men by natural birth
are born in Adam, see note Ro 5:12)
In Christ
(1Cor 15:22)
Born of Spirit
(John 3:5-6)
(Believers are now
in Christ by virtue of the new birth)
Two Controlling Mind Sets
Sets mind on the things of the flesh
(see note Ro 8:5; Ro 8:6-7)
Sets his mind on the things of the Spirit
(see notes Ro 8:5, Col 3:1-2)
Present Condition
Death
(see note Ro 8:6)
(Having no relationship with God)
Cannot please God (see note Ro 8:8)
Life and Peace
(see note Ro 8:6)
Life in a dead world
Peace in a troubled world
Future Condition
Eternal Death
(see note Ro 8:13 cf Gal 5:19-21)
Resurrection life
(see note Ro 8:11; Ro 8:13)
Present Possession
He does not have the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:9)
He has the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:9)
Two Relationships to God’s Law
Lawless
A rebel who cannot even submit
(see note Ro 8:7)
The law is fulfilled
in the Spirit-controlled person
(see note Ro 8:4)
Two Relationships to God
An enemy
(see note Ro 8:7 cf Ro 5:10)
A son
(see note Ro 8:14)
Two Guides
No supernatural guidance
(see note Ro 8:14)
Led by the Spirit
(see note Ro 8:14)
Two Obligations
To live after the flesh (see note Ro 8:12). The unregenerate person simply has no other choice because "That which is born of the flesh is flesh" (John.3:6). The unsaved person is "in the flesh", in total bondage to indwelling Sin and thus can only live dominated by the power of the Sin nature inherited from Adam (see note Ro 8:7). This person can live only to fulfill the lusts of the sinful flesh nature. To mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body (see note Ro 8:13). Positionally this has already been done (Gal 5:24) but Experientially this needs to be done continually by faith (see notes Col 3:5; Ro 6:11) considering oneself dead to the ruling power of Sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Dear reader… the striking contrasts in this simple table beg the question…
Which column are you in?
How I pray that the Spirit has drawn you and reborn you,
taking you out of Adam and placing you into Christ. Amen
