Life by God's Spirit
We do not find victory within ourselves, but in the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. Paul explains it in his letter to the Romans as follows: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, because the Spirit of God lives in you. And whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then although your body is dead because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.” (Röm 8,9-11)After Paul explained to the Roman Christians that they were "not carnal" but "spiritual," he revealed five central aspects of their faith, and also of ours. They are as follows:
abode of the Holy Spirit
The first aspect emphasizes the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in believers (verse 9). Paul writes that the Spirit of God dwells in us and has found his home in us. The Spirit of God dwells in us, it is not passing through. This constant presence is an essential part of our Christianity, as it shows that the Spirit is not just working in us temporarily, but actually alights in us and accompanies us on our journey of faith.
life in spirit
The second aspect relates to living in the Spirit and not in the flesh (verse 9). This means that we allow ourselves to be guided and influenced by the Holy Spirit so that it is the decisive influence in our lives. Through this intimate union with the Spirit, we are transformed as He unfolds in us a new heart and spirit like Jesus. This aspect shows that true Christianity means a life ruled and guided by the Holy Spirit.
belonging to Christ
The third aspect emphasizes the believer's belonging to Christ (verse 9). When we have the Spirit of Christ within us, we belong to Him and should count ourselves as His beloved possessions. This underscores the close relationship we as Christians have with Jesus and reminds us that we were bought by His blood. Our worth in His eyes is immeasurable, and this appreciation should strengthen and encourage us in our life of faith.
Spiritual vitality and righteousness
The fourth aspect relates to the spiritual vitality and righteousness that is given to us as Christians (verse 10). Although our bodies are mortal and doomed to die, we can be alive spiritually now because the gift of righteousness is ours and Christ's presence is at work in us. This spiritual aliveness is central to being a Christian and shows that we are alive in Christ Jesus by the Spirit.
assurance of the resurrection
The fifth and final aspect is the assurance of our resurrection (verse 11). Paul assures us that the resurrection of our mortal bodies is as certain as the resurrection of Jesus because the Spirit that raised him from the dead dwells in us. This assurance gives us hope and confidence that one day we will be resurrected and be with God forever. So the spirit dwells in us; we are under the influence of the Spirit; we belong to Christ; we are alive spiritually because of the righteousness and presence of Christ, and our mortal bodies are resurrected. What wonderful treasures does the spirit bring for us to think about and enjoy. They offer us complete security and absolute certainty, both in life and in death.
As Christians we are called to be aware of these aspects and to live them out in our daily lives in order to live in intimate communion with God and to fulfill our calling as his beloved children.
by Barry Robinson
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