“Who is a
Christian?” I am asked that question often? “What is
the gospel?” is another question often asked. Here
is the answer the apostle Paul gives to these
questions.
“However, you are not in the
flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God
dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the
Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If
Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of
sin, yet the spirit is alive because of
righteousness. But 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 8:9-11).
These verses should cause us to
ask am I a Christian? Mere profession of faith is
not enough. Am I really a Christian deep down in my
soul? Where is the evidence? Has
the Holy Spirit made me alive? Have I come to an
intimate love relationship with Christ?
In the context of these verses
the apostle Paul has been stressing the evidence in
the lives of those who are under control of the Holy
Spirit and in control of the evil actions of the
non-Christians. The behavior of the person under the
control of the Holy Spirit gives evidence that he is
a Christian. Living in accordance to the Holy Spirit
is true of all Christians. Living according to the
sinful nature is true of all non-Christians.
Let us be very clear as to what
the apostle is saying. If you belong to Jesus Christ
you will live like Him. If your lifestyle does not
conform to His likeness you do not belong to Him,
regardless of what you may profess.
1.
If you do not have the Spirit of Christ, the
Holy Spirit, you are not a Christian.
2.
If you have the Spirit of Christ you are a
Christian.
3.
If you have the Spirit of Christ in your life
you will be under the control of the Holy Spirit and
your behavior will give evidence of this great fact.
4.
If your life is controlled by the “flesh” or
“sinful nature” you are not a Christian and your
behavior will demonstrate that fact.
In verse nine Paul draws a
strong sharp contrast, “You, however . . .” He turns
his attention from the fleshly, sinful nature to the
person who is under control of the Holy Spirit. He
has confidence in the believer sin the church at
Rome. “However, you are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you”
(v. 9). The “you” is emphatic in the original
language. Whatever may be true of non-Christians,
you are different. You do not live according to
sinful nature, but are “in the Spirit.” It is the
same as being “in Christ” (v. 1). Here the Spirit is
“in” the believer just as Christ is “in” the
believer (v. 2; Gal. 2:20). The emphasis he is
making is the “mutual indwelling” of the believer
and his Savior. We are in Christ and He is in us.
This is what makes the Christian different from the
non-Christian who is controlled by his sinful nature
or the flesh. The true Christian is in an intimate
relationship with God. The Christina is under the
dominion of the Spirit of God. Paul normally
speaking of the Christian being “in Christ” and the
Holy Spirit is us.
The life in the Spirit is a
life of a different quality from life in the flesh.
It has different foundations, and springs form
different sources. Life in the Spirit is a life made
possible only because the Spirit of God has come to
dwell in the believer. He is not an occasional
visitor, but an occupant of the believer. He has
taken up permanent residence in the Christian.
Therefore, the Christian is under the direction and
control of the Holy Spirit. Ina strong negative
point Paul says, “If anyone does not have the Spirit
of God, he does not belong to Him” (v. 9b). Anyone
who lacks the Spirit is not a Christian.
The “Spirit of Christ” is
another way of saying “the Spirit of God,” the Holy
Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17, 18; Gal. 4:6; Phil. 1:19; 1
Pet. 1:11). The abiding indwelling of this Spirit in
the believer is the normal and necessary feature of
being a Christian. If you do not have Him you do not
belong to Him. The presence of the Holy Spirit in
believers is not a gift of a few “spiritual” people,
or an option in the Christian life; it is true of
every believer. If you do not have the Holy Spirit
you are not a Christian. The Holy Spirit indwells
every believer.
The Christian has been
delivered from the realm of sin and death, and
transferred to the ream of life and peace in the
Spirit. The Christian has been born again. The
Christian has been credited with the righteousness
of Jesus Christ and justified. “If Christ is in you,
though the body is dead because of sin, yet the
spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Romans
8:10).
Our physical bodies will die,
and are as good as dead now, but our spirits have
been made alive by the Holy Spirit in the new birth.
The Holy Spirit has regenerated us.
But the apostle Paul also gives
us a grand promise of a glorious future (v. 11).
“But 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).
When our physical bodies die and lie in the grave
God will one day raise us up to be with Him in
glory. At that moment we will be freed once and for
all from the penalty of sin, the power of sin and
the presence of sin. Do you have that wonderful
assurance in your heart today?
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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