Our Church's mission statement notes, "Glorifying
God by becoming devoted followers of Christ." Hmm! That is quite a
mouth full. How are we doing with that? Don't we all struggle in our daily life
with making the right choices that line up with our mission statement?
For
example, when a family member upsets you, do you lash out or zip up your mouth?
Do I take the extra scoop of ice cream, second burger, smoke a cigarette, or
exercise self-control?
How about that tantalizing website or compromising
movie? Do I choose a lifestyle of flirtatiousness or a life of purity? In
marriage, do I selfishly want my way, or do I do what pleases my spouse? We all
struggle with sin. The apostle Paul too struggled with sin.
Writing to the Roman believers, he was honest about
his struggles by saying, Romans 7:15, "I don't really understand myself,
for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate."
In utter desperation, Paul cried out to God, Romans 7:24-25, "Oh, what a
miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin
and death?
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. So
you see how it is: In my mind, I really want to obey God's law, but because of
my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin." You might be having Romans 7th
chapter experience, but don't lose heart. The answer to all our struggles with
sin is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. When I read Romans chapter seven, I am
confronted with my sinfulness, but when I read Romans 8th chapter, I
find the remedy.
We can only adequately deal with sin and overcome it
by following the principles in Romans 8:1-17. We will look at the contrast
between a life controlled by sinful nature and a life controlled by the Spirit.
In the earlier chapters of Romans, the Apostle Paul describes man's standing
before God as a guilty and condemned sinner, how he is justified by faith in the
finished work of Christ. Because of that redeeming work of Christ in the
life of a sinner, chapter eight begins with these encouraging words.
Romans 8:1, "There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (NASB). Last week we looked at the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. How does the Spirit work in a believer's life? It is time for us to learn how to live by the Spirit. Let us look at how sinful nature and the Holy Spirit control people differently.
I.
A sin-controlled life. (Vs. 1-8)
Sin begins in the garden of Eden.
When God created everything, he saw everything was good and very good. Sin was
not one of them. It originated in the heart of Satan and then transferred to
humankind. God gave precise instructions and a command to Adam and Eve. They
could eat fruit from any tree in the garden except the tree of knowledge of
good and evil.
God said, "If you eat its fruit, you will surely
die." Satan enticed Eve by sowing seeds of doubt and lie. He said,
"You won't die!" God knows your eyes will be opened as soon as you
eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." Adam and
Eve ate the forbidden fruit.
From the moment they ate that forbidden fruit, though
they didn't die immediately and went on to live over six hundred years, they
died spiritually. Fear, shame, anger, jealousy, revenge, and death replaced
their joy-filled and peaceful existence in the garden.
The world was never the same again. From Adam, all
have sinned against God. Romans 3:23, "For everyone has sinned; we all
fall short of God's glorious standard." Sin is missing the mark, not our
or the culture's mark. It is God's standard, his ideals, and expectations.
Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but
the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Sin separates
us from God and makes us live selfishly.
Not every sin we commit results in immediate death;
some sins do, but certainly, they make us live miserably void of joy. We live
purposeless lives, constantly craving for more yet never being satisfied. No
matter who we are, we all die due to Adam's sin, but God's gift is eternal
life.
The Bible neither glorifies nor condones sin as our
culture does. The Apostle Paul writes to the Roman believers, "Those
dominated by sinful nature think about sinful things." While writing to
the believers in Galatia, he describes these sinful things. Galatians 5:19-21,
"When you follow the desires of your sinful
nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful
pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of
anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties,
and other sins like these." If that is how sin dominates our lives, let's
see how the Holy Spirit controls our lives.
II.
The Spirit-controlled life (9-17)
After explaining that those still
under the control of their sinful nature can never please God, Paul draws a
stark contrast by showing them the Spirit-controlled life. Vs.9 "But you
are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if
you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not
have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all). Those
who are born again are no longer controlled by sin.
Remember, no one can be saved unless God draws them
under the power of the Holy Spirit. We become a new creation once we accept
Jesus' forgiveness of our sins. The old life controlled by sin is dead. Now,
Jesus lives in us. What a wonderful truth this is for us to know.
We must recognize that all believers in Christ have the
same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus. Because the Holy Spirit is living in us,
Paul urges, Vs12, "Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no
obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do."
If you are a believer, you have a new boss. He is kind
and gentle. He doesn't push us but leads us. Therefore, we are no longer
obligated to act as our sinful nature urges us. If we live by pleasing our
sinful nature, we will die (eternally separated from God), but by the power of
the Holy Spirit, when we put to death the sinful deeds, we will live with God
forever.
While we still live here on earth, our relationship
changes when the Holy Spirit leads us. We become the sons and daughters of God.
Therefore, we call God Abba Father. That adoption into God's family has
been made possible by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. It is not
enough to know these truths intellectually; but we must act like God's true
children. How do we do that? By faith, we need to learn to live by the Holy
Spirit.
III.
Learning to live by the Holy Spirit.
When we were little children, we
didn't get up one day and started to sprint. Our parents taught us to stand and
walk step by step, holding our hands. Similarly, the Holy Spirit teaches us how
to live God-pleasing lives. Our learning begins by recognizing the Holy Spirit
resides in us.
Secondly, as we read the Bible, we will grow in understanding who God is and what his will is for our lives. Unlike any other book, the Holy Spirit had authored the Bible. When we read the Bible, we sit with and learn from the author. II Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
One of the works of the Holy Spirit is to teach us all
the truth. When we open the pages of the Bible, the Holy Spirit illuminates the
truth in our hearts. He shows us what sin is, its consequences, and how to
avoid it. He also teaches us about God's nature and how to love Him and others.
Living by the Spirit is a lifelong process of learning.
How are we living today? Are our lives controlled by
sin or by the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. This is
my prayer for myself, my family, and all of you, Ephesians 3:16-17," I
pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner
strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as
you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you
strong." Amen.
