Among the Living
Romans 8:9-17
To understand the concepts of this passage, one must do the hermeneutics and study it in context. Paul just finished discussing the concept that we can walk according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. The pro to the flesh is that sin is pleasurable for a season. However, the result is death. The pros to living in the Spirit are endless and there are no cons. To do so, one must be poor in spirit as Paul discussed earlier. We cannot be full of ourselves and full of the Spirit.
When one walks in the Spirit, the focus of our life’s eye is changed. We begin to see eternity and the blessings of serving our God and we begin to see this world as what it really is, carnal and temporal. A life lived in and guided by the Spirit is lived for eternity not the day giving us stability when this world is in chaos.
There is also a difference between having the Spirit and the Spirit having you. When one repents, is forgiven, and accepts Christ as their Savior they receive the Spirit of God and you never loose it. You might quench the Spirit and cut off the power of God through you, but the Spirit is still there. So, one can live in the flesh and still have the Spirit.
When one has the Spirit, the flesh still dies because of sin, Hebrews 9:27, 28. You also become the temple of God, I Cor. 6:19, 20. You are no longer yours but God’s both body and in spirit. Next, you have the ability to live to God, I Cor. 6:20, Gal. 2:19, Eph. 1:11. There is nothing holding you back except your choices. In addition, the body dies but the Spirit seals you until the day of redemption, Eph. 1:13, 14.
When the Spirit has you, you can mortify the flesh, Gal. 2:20, 21; 5:24, 25. Apart from the Spirit, you and I can do nothing for as Paul said earlier, there is no good or power in us apart from God. You can also experience the abundant life, John 10:10. Lastly, you are no more in bondage through the adoption into God’s family, Rom. 5:2, Eph. 2:18. When a Christian is in bondage to sin or a habit, it is because they are walking in the flesh. So, the choice is yours. Will you walk in the flesh or Spirit?