May 10, 2021: Living by The Power of the Holy Spirit Brings Life, To Live by the Flesh Brings Death.

In previous postings, we have spoken about Chapter 7 of Romans and what the wretchedness of sin does to us in our lives. In choosing to follow our fleshly desires and self-will, can only bring about disaster and hardship into our lives. But where Romans Chapter 7 ends with great condemnation, Chapter 8 of Romans begins the "end of the condemnation of sin" for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8: 1-2

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. (NKJV)

What began with condemnation of our sinful nature that was place upon every one of us, by the sin of one man, Adam, is now taken way with the death of one Man, our Savior, Jesus Christ, when He died on the Cross of Calvary for us. Upon our confessing with our mouths and receiving into our hearts the "free gift of eternal life" through our Lord, Jesus, we are now free from the "sting of death" and now have "eternal life" with Him. "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation". (Romans 10: 10, NKJV)

So, if we are now "alive in Christ" because of His death and the receiving of the Holy Spirit into our lives, we must be willing to "die to sins" and the "lustful desires" of our hearts. And the only way to do that is to "surrender" all of ourselves to God. We cannot pretend or even try to pretend that we can stop sinning by our own self-will. It is only through the "sole power of the Holy Spirit" that we can begin to change our lives and please God.

Romans 8: 10-11

And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (NKJV)

We are no longer "children of this world", but we have become "children of God" because we have been "adopted" through the receiving of the Holy Spirit into our hearts.

Romans 8: 15-16

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (NKJV)

PERSONNAL COMMENT:

Let us therefore "absolutely surrender" all of ourselves to the "Power of the Holy Spirit" and to our God so that we may receive "life" and not the curse of death.