Spirit 03: God’s Spirit Brings Life

Orientate

Many years ago (when I was at Uni), there were a lot of people having special experiences of the Spirit. God was really at work powerfully through his Spirit and it was an exciting time. The trouble was that some people began to say that unless you had these special experiences you didn’t really have God’s Spirit living in you. They argued that the Spirit comes into Christians as some kind of second experience that you have to ask for. Well while fresh experiences of God’s Spirit are wonderful; these people were wrong. The Scripture you are reading today rules out the idea that some Christians have God’s Spirit and others don’t. As Paul says, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Rom. 8:9). Jesus and God’s Spirit come together of course, whether you have a special experience or not.

Explore: Romans 8:9-14

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  

Journal

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What do I want to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. What help does Paul say that God’s Spirit provides?

Reflect

Romans 8 is an incredible passage of Scripture. We’ve already looked at some readings from this great chapter. When you get a chance, read the whole thing. In this section, Paul (the author) is outlining the ways in which God’s Spirit, who lives in all believers, brings them life. In this Scripture, I can see two ways in which he brings life to us.

First, God’s Spirit is a down payment and guarantee that we will live forever (11). We already have God’s presence in our lives and therefore death is only going to impact our mortal bodies. Our physical death will just be a pathway to an even better life that God’s Spirit will provide for us. So God’s Spirit in us provides us with eternal life, ensuring our future with God.

Second, God’s Spirit helps us in our battle with sin (12-13). He brings life and freedom to us so that we don’t have to give in to sin and its painful consequences. He leads us and protects us and gradually kills off our brokenness so that we begin to look more like Jesus. So with the help of God’s Spirit, we experience more of God’s life now.

Third, God’s Spirit keeps telling us that we are God’s kids (14). That God is not someone to be feared or held at arm’s length. We have a dad who welcomes us with open arms and promises us all that he gives Jesus. The Spirit (who is God of course) whispers away in our hearts until we begin to appreciate this incredible family life we have through Christ.

Pray

Thanks Holy Spirit for the life you are opening up to me – guaranteeing my future, helping me in my battle with sin, and assisting me in loving my heavenly Dad. May I listen more and more to your quiet whispers and appreciate my precious relationship with God and its implications.

Respond

Pick one of the ways the Spirit brings life to you: Life forever (8:11), freedom from sin (8:13), or life as God’s kid (8:14). Write out the verse (on your phone or on a piece of paper), repeat it aloud at least five times, and take it with you today.