“The Spirit of Christ in You”

Romans 8 From Signs of the times 1896-1897 p.74

Today we are going to take a quick look at the first few verses of Romans 8,

a chapter which has wonderful promises from the Lord for those that love Him.

 And we should begin with an idea that is brought to life in Romans 8 verses 9 and 10. And that is:

“The Spirit of Christ in you”

“But 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. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9-10

From this we understand that “The Spirit is life, because of righteousness;” and “if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.”

And so we see that the Spirit is life because of His righteousness, because it is Christ in us, and if anyone has not the Spirit of Christ, then He has nothing to do with them.

 

And the promise is that if we have the “Spirit of life in Christ”, then “we will be sons of God”, as well as, “heirs of God with Christ.”

And we also find that it is the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ” which gives freedom and peace with God.

In Romans 8:2 it says:

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

This verse is telling us that if we walk in the spirit, and not in the flesh, then we are “free from the law of sin and death”

And so we ask, what is the “law of sin and death”?

Let’s consider Romans 8:3-5

“For 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: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For 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.” Romans 8:3-5

And so without Christ, the law brings death; this is the law of sin and death that Paul is speaking of, it is the result that the law brings when we do not have Christ, for the law without Christ is death, but if we walk in the Spirit, and have Christ, then the law brings piece and life by righteousness which is fulfilled in us.

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Therefore the law in Christ is life. It is His life which is the law of God; for out of the heart are the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23), and the law was in His heart. (Psalm 37:31) The law of sin and death works in our members; that is our flesh. (Romans 7:5) But the law of the Spirit of life in Christ gives us freedom from this; it liberates us from the “law of sin and death”.

But we must be careful to notice that it is the life in Christ that does this. This does not give us freedom from obedience to the law, for we had that freedom before, but it was not freedom, it was in fact bondage.

What Jesus gives us by His life; is freedom from transgression of the law.

This is made plain in verses 3 and 4. God sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.” for “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” There is therefore no fault to be found with it, but the fault is with us, because we have transgressed it. Christ’s work is not to change the law in any particular, but to change us in every particular.

And so then we will become sons of God: How so? For: “…as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14

That spirit is not the spirit of bondage, it is the spirit of adoption, “whereby we cry Abba Father.” This spirit witnesses that we are children of God, and if children of God, then it follows that we are heirs of God, and therefore joint heirs with Christ.

And these are not condemned: “There is therefore no condemnation in them which are in Christ… who walk after the Spirit, and not after the flesh.” Romans 8:1 Christ in you

Because: “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Why? Because He received the curse of the law so that the blessing might come upon us. (Gal 3:13-14).

Nothing will come to anyone who is in Christ, without first passing through Him; for all curses are turned to blessings, and sin is replaced by righteousness. His endless life triumphs over everything that comes against it, and we are made “complete in him.” (Col 2:10)

What we have studied thus far is powerful testimony in support of the idea that one will only be saved who has the spirit of Christ dwelling in them. This is indeed in harmony with the mystery of the gospel which is “Christ in you”.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” Colossian 1:27

So one must ask the question: Who then, is this other spirit which some call “god the holy spirit”?

For the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, and if you have another spirit, or another god, then you have not the Spirit of Christ, and are therefore none of His.

“For the Lord (Himself) is that Spirit” (II Corinthians 3:17)
As Jesus said to His disciples: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:18
“For I am with thee…” Acts 18:10
“…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20

May God bless you all.

 

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