Life in the Spirit

Life in the Spirit
Scripture References: Romans 7:5-25 KJV5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 7:1-4 KJV1Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Romans 8:1-11 KJV1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Galatians 5:13-23 KJV13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Romans 5:5 KJV5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Summary
God created the law to expose sin but the law brought with it guilt and condemnation. When you become a Christian, you are to live by the Spirit and not by the law. Through Jesus Christ, you are set free from the law. Walking in the Spirit is the power to live according to the Word and not the dictates of your flesh, or carnal way of thinking. Believers are no longer subject to sin. When you walk in the Spirit, you will not fulfill the desires of your flesh.
A. The law was created by God to expose sin, but it will not deliver you from your sinful nature (Romans 7:5-25, AMP).
1. The law was given by God.
2. The purpose of the law is to expose sin and make people aware of wrong behavior.
3. The law is not the enemy; it just reveals the truth about sin.
a. Things are not sinful unless there is a law stating them as such.
i. Without the law, you would not know a particular behavior was sinful.
4. The law was given to give life, but instead brought guilt and condemnation.
a. When you are under the law you are subject to the judgment of the law.
5. Because of Adam's fall in the Garden of Eden, man is sinful by nature (carnal minded).
6. Man is not released from his sinful state just because of the law.
B. Christians are to walk in the Spirit because they have been liberated from the law through Jesus Christ.
1. Walking in the Spirit means walking and living according to the Word of God.
2. Walking in the flesh is walking and living in opposition to the Word of God.
3. There is no condemnation to those who walk in the Spirit.
4. When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you died to your flesh and became free from the law.
a. The law applies to a person that is living (Romans 7:1-4).
i. Christians are no longer subject to the law or its power.
5. God condemned sin in the flesh through His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:1-11).
a. God sent Jesus to become sin so that the righteous and just fulfillment of the law might fully be met in those who live by the Spirit (Romans 8:4-11).
b. When God gave His Son, Jesus, He superseded the law.
6. Through Jesus you have been called to liberty and freedom from sin; you don't have to sin if you don't want to (Galatians 5:13-23).
7. Liberty has boundaries.
a. Do not use the liberty God has given you as an excuse to sin.
C. Walking in the Spirit will enable you to not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
1. Walking in the Spirit gives life, but walking in the flesh brings death.
2. The flesh, or carnal way of thinking, can only gain supremacy when you are not walking in the Spirit, or according to the Word of God.
a. The answer to all issues and temptations of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit.
b. There is no sin that the blood of Jesus can't cleanse.
i. If you don't walk in the Spirit you will try to restrain yourself from sin through imposing restrictions on yourself and by your own willpower.
ii. When you walk according to the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to help you, your spirit will control your flesh.
3. In order to be successful in life, Christians must walk in the Spirit.
D. Walking in the Spirit ultimately boils down to walking in the love of God.
1. When you walk in the Spirit you will display the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22, 23).
2. When you were born again, the Holy Spirit poured the love of God into your heart (Romans 5:5).
a. You have the ability to love others as God does.
b. Love is the opposite of selfishness.
i. Every work of the flesh is based in selfishness.
c. Think spiritually by thinking in line with the Word of God and the love of God.
d. Love is power.
i. You won't have power unless you are walking in the Spirit.
3. If you don't love others, it is evident that the love of God is not in you.
a. Love is not greedy, selfish or self-seeking.
4. Walking in the Spirit and love of God is a choice.
a. To end the struggle of the flesh, set your mind to walk in love at all times.
Jude 1:24-25 KJV24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion an power, both now and ever. Amen.