Lesson 4735

(Lesson 4735) (01-21-25) Romans 8:9-15 

   “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. But 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. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” 

 

   In today’s quote, Paul explained that believers, unlike those who live according to the flesh, are in the Spirit because the Spirit of God dwells within them through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He emphasized that if anyone does not have the Holy Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Him. Paul stated that the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of the imputed righteousness of Jesus. If the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in believers, He will also give eternal life to those who believe. Paul then encouraged believers not to live according to the flesh, as this leads to spiritual death, but to live by the Spirit, which brings eternal life. Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God, and have received the Spirit of adoption, enabling them to call God "Abba (dad), Father." This relationship confirms the identity of those who believe as God's heirs, co-heirs with Christ. ~