Romans 8:1-11
What defines a good life? Is it having money, enjoying many social events with good friends, or having your dream job? We know that all these are fleeting things; they soon pass.
How do we determine if we are really living or not?
Jesus said in John 10:10 that he came to give life and life abundantly. But what does that mean? The apostle Paul addresses this in Romans 8:9-11. In verse 9, we read, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
There is a big “If” in this verse. How do we know if the Spirit of God lives in us?
The evidence of conversion is the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, witnessing that we are children of God (see Romans 8:16 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Every true Christian has become a temple of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Holy Spirit comes at the moment of placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross in repentance and conversion (see Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit is a seal of belonging to Jesus.
Nothing to be Added
Be wary of anyone who teaches that there is an additional encounter that somehow makes someone a true Christian or a better Christian. Of course, after conversion, there are additional fillings of the Holy Spirit, encounters with God that can be called fresh anointings, or rich encounters with the Lord – these are often during times of fasting, focused prayer, repentance or preparation for a specific task that the Lord has for us.
Some people teach that after conversion, there is a future date when the person is filled with the Holy Spirit. Often, the dates are far apart. I am not denying their initial salvation experience, or that they had a powerful encounter with the Lord later on, but we don’t believe in the name of Jesus, have a true conversion experience, and then somehow, the Lord leaves us to try to live the Christian life on our own without the Holy Spirit. No, God gives us what He promised at conversion for us to live as followers of Christ.
This can be an example of spiritual elitism, where someone claims to have a superior encounter or special knowledge of the Holy Spirit, and as a result, they look down on other “lesser Christians.” This destroys faith and makes people feel less than who God created them to be. This kind of teaching has done incredible harm in the Body of Christ, causing some people to leave the church and even walk away from following Jesus.
The Bible is clear that the evidence of the Holy Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. This is the evidence we should look for in people’s lives. Many humble believers simply go about their lives as followers of Jesus, sharing the Gospel, praying, fasting, and caring for the broken-hearted. These people are often the ones who display the fruit of the Spirit to a greater measure. The Bible teaches that the Christian life is not defined by supernatural encounters, but rather by steadfast endurance and obedience (see 2 Timothy 4:7). Much like character, the Christian life is not defined by mountain top experiences; rather, it is defined by steadfast obedience to the will of God. I am not diminishing the miraculous and powerful moves of God, but we must not make that the benchmark of what it means to be a good Christian.
Dying But Alive
In verse 10, we read, “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
We are saved from sin, but the effects of sin in our bodies is still killing us; we are living in broken and fallen bodies, only to receive our resurrected bodies when Jesus returns. While our physical bodies decline, life in the Holy Spirit becomes more vibrant as we follow his leadership. The more our desires and passions for the things of this world are replaced by eternal and spiritual desires, the more we become increasingly alive.
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11.
There is an interesting difference between the word life in verses 10 and 11 – in verse 10, the Greek word is “zóé,” which is a noun and simply means “life.”
But in verse 11, the Greek word is much more complex and means to make alive, or to give life where there was no life before. The Holy Spirit gives us life where there was no life before; this is life in and by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). There is a tremendous difference that takes place in our bodies when the Holy Spirit resides in us; it is new life, even affecting our physical faculties.
How do you Know?
God does not want us to be uncertain of His presence in our lives. The gift of the Holy Spirit is a promise at conversion (see Acts 2:38-39). It begins with repentance, a turning away from sin and turning to follow Christ. Baptism is an act of obedience that signifies death to your old life and being raised to new life in Christ. The core of repentance and baptism is faith. The Holy Spirit is given to everyone who trusts Christ as savior.
Three Activities of the Holy Spirit
1: The Holy Spirit gives us victory over the flesh.
This is more than simply being able to resist temptation, as the Spirit gives us life; He gives us direction for our lives. This is not always doing what our flesh desires, but being led on a distinctly better path.
2: The Holy Spirit is a Seal of Belonging to God.
In Revelation 5:9, we read that Jesus purchased people for God by his blood. We are a part of that people. The presence of the Holy Spirit means belonging; we have been adopted into God’s family.
3: The Holy Spirit gives New life.
This is not revised life, but a new life. The Holy Spirit gives life where we had no life before.
Do you know this life?
This is not an optional extra; this is the definition of being a Christian.