Principles of Christian Living

Lesson 4

Lesson Text—Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1-41 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:1-4

3 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:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:5-9

Romans 8:5-95 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.6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:5-9

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.9 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.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:10-13

Romans 8:10-1310 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 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.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:10-13

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.13 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.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:14-17

Romans 8:14-1714 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 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.

Lesson Text—Romans 8:14-17

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Focus Verse—Galatians 5:16

Galatians 5:16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of

the flesh.

Focus Thought

Living in the Spirit brings a

relationship with God and freedom

from guilt.

I. The Lost ManCULTURE CONNECTION

The Necessity of Living in the Spirit

From the time of the birth of the church on the Day of Pentecost, receiving the Holy Ghost and beginning a new life in the Spirit has been a normal and necessary part of the new birth. While living in the Spirit has always been essential to salvation, I believe modern North American culture amplifies its necessity more

than ever before.

I. The Lost ManPaul wrote of the struggle within his

own flesh in Romans 7, and he summed up the solution to the struggle in Romans 8:1-14 when he concluded, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. . . . So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. . . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

I. The Lost ManUnfortunately, access to things that

cater to the flesh of a person are more rampant than ever through ungodly sites on the Internet and sensual displays from department stores to billboards along the highway. These things are designed to appeal to and allure the base nature of an individual. They can lead a person into fleshly perversions and addictions.

What can protect the believer from the proliferation of ungodliness on every hand?

I. The Lost ManOnly the active work of the Holy Spirit within can gently guide, prompt, and persuade a believer to close his eyes, turn his head, or walk away from temptation. This occurs when the Holy Ghost lives within a person and that individual lives “in the Spirit.”

I. The Lost ManCONTEMPLATING THE

TOPIC

Bondage is a wretched existence. The flesh, if allowed, sells us into bondage and brings condemnation. On the other hand, being filled with the Holy Spirit gives us sweet liberty, frees us from the guilt associated with sin, and brings us into harmony with God.

I. The Lost ManPaul taught believers that living by the letter of Moses’ law only led to condemnation because the Law did not bring permanent relief from mankind’s mounting sin problem. However, Paul said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). After receiving the Holy Ghost, Paul realized the difference in his life.

I. The Lost ManThe word “now” in Romans 8:1 referred to the new life Paul lived in the Spirit as opposed to the old life of bondage and condemnation he lived under the Law.

Where the Law produced an ever-increasing burden of condemnation without the benefit of forgiveness and liberty from sin, the Spirit-filled life removes the constant burden of condemnation and gives the believer the power to walk in grace by faith.

I. The Lost ManHaving lived on both sides of the issue, Paul expressed an overwhelming appreciation for the victory and liberty he found in the Spirit-filled life.

The Law could not free us from the guilt or the power of sin. It could not provide forgiveness and liberty, but “God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3). Through the Incarnation, God manifested Himself in flesh and became sin for us.

I. The Lost ManThrough obedience to the gospel of Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection—we can receive the Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit we can please God by faith, whereas we could not please Him by our works alone. Living the Spirit-filled life frees us from sin’s condemnation, dominance, and penalty. Now, through Christ’s righteousness, we can live a life that pleases God.

I. The Lost ManSearching The Scriptures

The Lost Man

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans

3:10).

I. The Lost ManAccording to Paul, the entire human

race has a common problem—we are bankrupt when it comes to righteousness. (See Romans 3:10.) Being right with God is beyond our reach apart from Jesus Christ. Even after all those years of obeying the Law, Paul viewed his own spiritual account as horribly lacking. Like Paul, we have “all gone out of the way” and become “unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12). Even with the Law, mankind was lost without Jesus Christ.

I. The Lost ManIt is interesting to observe how

Paul’s writing in Romans 3 refers to the Old Testament. For example, Romans 3:12 refers to Psalm 14:1 and Romans 3:13 corresponds to Psalm 5:9. These corresponding verses illustrate that even under the Law, mankind realized the Law was not the solution to his sin problem. Paul used this to reinforce his argument that “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified” (Romans 3:20).

I. The Lost ManThe Law exposed man’s guilt and led him to Christ, who alone could remedy the sin problem (Romans 3:19-24). God had not promised that the Law would bring victory over sin. Instead, He promised a Savior (Genesis 3:15) and the gift of His Spirit (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

A. Man without God Is Lost A. Man without God Is Lost

In Romans 3:10-18, Paul wrote that a person’s sinful character and conduct reveals his lost condition. The Law did not lift mankind from this lowly position but only exposed his sinfulness, helping him understand his desperate need of a Savior and guiding him to Christ. Only obedient faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection could deliver mankind from his hopeless plight.

I. The Lost ManThe Jews attempted to gain

righteousness by observing the moral code of the Law. Paul showed a better way to obtain the righteousness of God “without the law” (Romans 3:21): by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). Neither earned nor deserved, this righteousness comes by grace through the redemption made possible by Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24), who imputes His righteousness to us.

No matter how religious, moral, or upright people may consider themselves to be, they are lost apart from faith in Jesus Christ.

I. The Lost ManThey can exercise extreme confidence in their own goodness only to fall short of eternal salvation. (See Matthew 19:16-22.) In his book Home Where I Belong, B. J. Thomas describes his meteoric rise as a country/pop vocalist and entertainer, his drug addiction, and how he turned to God. He tells of his struggles after his conversion experience as a Christian, and he notes, “I can’t be perfect and it’s futile to try to be. What I do try to be is surrendered.”

I. The Lost ManLike Thomas, it is impossible for us to be perfect, but this does not justify a lack of effort on our part while throwing good judgment and conduct out the window.

We must seek to lead responsible lives. We also must realize we cannot achieve righteousness apart from faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As Robert Lowry’s song “Nothing but the Blood” says,

Nothing but the Blood Nothing can for sin atone,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Only the blood of Jesus can remit our sins (Hebrews 9:22).

B. Man without God Is without Hope

B. Man without God Is without Hope

The Law revealed that mankind cannot realize an eternal hope through his own efforts at being righteous. His only hope of salvation is through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. People’s expectation of a good outcome in eternity must be grounded in their obedience to God’s plan of salvation. They anchor their hope to their belief that Jesus Christ is the only One who can save them.

I. The Lost ManWithout this belief, they will most assuredly die in their sins. (See John 8:24.)

God expressed His love for the fallen human race through the life and death of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-17; Romans 5:8). Without Him, redemption from eternal destruction is hopeless. The good news is that Jesus Christ did not come to condemn mankind but to save him from sin.

II. The Man in ConflictThe Man in Conflict

The Law was beneficial, but it left mankind in a quandary. It gave him knowledge of sin and revealed his moral deficiencies, but it did not empower him to rise above them. (See Romans 3:20; 7:7.) Only Christ’s Spirit can enable us to live in agreement with God’s Word. (See Ezekiel 11:19-20.)

Ezekiel 11:19-20 “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give the man heart of

flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my

people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

I. The Lost ManAccording to Paul, the Law provided

the knowledge of sin but left mankind powerless to do anything about it. Apart from God’s indwelling Spirit, the flesh rules mankind. Without the Spirit of Christ’s empowerment to conform to the will of God, people often surrender to the overwhelming influence of the sinful nature and are caught in the vortex of conflict. Although a person may want to do better, he has no power to overcome the inherent tendencies toward sin. (See Psalm 51:5.)

I. The Lost ManThe Law, though good, could not

produce holiness of heart and peace within mankind. The Law convinced mankind of his sinfulness but provided no solution. He knew he should do right, but instead did wrong. This created the struggle to which Paul alluded in Romans 7.

A. Inward StruggleA. Inward Struggle

Paul wrote of the inner struggle that raged within him as an observer of the Law. The Law provided knowledge of right and wrong, but in itself did not empower him to overcome sin and be free of the resulting guilt and condemnation. Under the Law, Paul recognized what was good and right, but struggled with “how to perform that which [was] good” (Romans 7:18).

I. The Lost ManOne of the wonderful benefits of living the Spirit-filled life is the power to walk in obedience to God’s will. It does not leave people floundering in contrary waters, but provides the wind in their sails that empowers them to pursue the course God’s Word has charted for them.

Spirit-filled people must realize they still live in conflict with the flesh. Someone observed it is like having two dogs penned up inside. The one a person feeds the most will be the stronger of the two.

I. The Lost ManIf a believer continually feeds the spiritual man on the good things of God like prayer, fasting, Bible reading, and church attendance, he will build up his faith, and the spiritual man will be the stronger. However, if he neglects the spiritual man and feeds the carnal man, he will succumb to the stronger influence of carnality. The carnal man will drag us through the mire of guilt and condemnation and deprive us of the joy and strength the Holy Ghost would otherwise provide.

I. The Lost ManIf a person constantly ingests a

daily diet of Hollywood drama that appeals to the sensual nature, or listens to secular music that promotes sensual thought, how can he live a modest or moral life on any higher plane? What we feed our minds determines our behavior. Each of us makes daily choices as to what we feed our minds and spirits. This in turn becomes the dominant force that drives and directs our lives.

I. The Lost ManSimilarly, when we choose to pray, fast, read the Bible, attend church regularly, listen to wholesome music, and fellowship with godly people, these influences shape and direct the course of our lives and help us become stronger Christians.

The reason serving God and living the Spirit-filled life seems to be a constant struggle for some individuals has to do with their allowing too many wrong influences to weaken their spiritual man.

I. The Lost ManLiving the Spirit-filled life is not a struggle when we surround ourselves with the right influences. This requires us to make good choices daily. We should wisely and carefully choose people, pastimes, interests, hobbies, and forms of recreation and entertainment that encourage and inspire us to be strong spiritually. To do otherwise is to make provision for the flesh to usurp greater control of our lives and destinies.

I. The Lost ManIn his book Family Man, The Biography

of Dr. James Dobson, Dale Buss refers to Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy, one of America’s most sophisticated and heinous serial killers who was executed by lethal injection at the Starke Penitentiary in Jacksonville, Florida, in late January 1989. Ted Bundy was not the average rapist or murderer. He grew up in what he described as a “solid Christian home” in the state of Washington. Bundy completed high school and then graduated from the University of

Washington.

I. The Lost ManHe entered law school but then dropped out to nurture a career as a Republican political aide. In many ways, Bundy’s life was normal until, as Buss states, “pornography helped drag him into depravity.”

Prior to his execution, Bundy requested an interview with family advocate and psychologist Dr. James Dobson.

I. The Lost ManDuring the interview, after having probed the issue of pornography and how it fueled Bundy’s obsession with sexual fantasy, Dobson asked, “What would your life have been like without that influence?” With tears in his eyes, Bundy replied, “It wouldn’t have involved the kind of violence that I’ve committed, I’m certain.”

We should be careful of the influences we allow; they direct and shape our lives, causing us to be carnal or spiritual.

B. Spiritual ImmaturityB. Spiritual Immaturity

When we allow the flesh to have the upper hand, it diminishes our spiritual progress and we often conduct ourselves in ways that evidence a lack of spiritual maturity or development. Paul mentioned this in his first epistle to the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 3:1-4 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto

you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed

you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it,

neither yet no ware ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,

are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and

another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (I Corinthians 3:1-4).

I. The Lost ManPaul drew a parallel between

immature conduct—such as envy, strife, and division—and carnality. Carnality results in spiritual immaturity, or allowing the flesh to rule rather than the Spirit. As Matthew Henry’s Commentary indicates, the Corinthian believers “were much under the command of carnal and corrupt affections.” The flesh, not the Spirit, dictated their attitudes and appetites. Like the Corinthian believers, when we argue, fuss, criticize, or judge, carnality is ruling us.

I. The Lost ManSuch conduct should alert the believer that he needs to pursue a closer relationship with God by yielding and submitting to the Spirit of God.

If the Corinthians had allowed the Spirit instead of the flesh to control them, they would not have acted like self-willed children determined to have their way, bickering and fracturing relationships. The same is true for us today. Our attitudes and conduct reflect whether we operate under the influence of the carnal mind or the mind of the Spirit.

I. The Lost ManSpirit-filled believers should closely monitor their attitudes and conduct to align them with sound biblical teaching, instruction, correction, and spiritual authority. It is imperative that a believer recognize any symptoms of carnality that would impede his spiritual growth.

By his example, Paul taught that church leaders must use wisdom when dealing with carnal, immature people. Recognizing the immature condition of the Corinthians, Paul neither fussed nor fought nor ostracized them.

I. The Lost ManRather, he sought to nurture maturity within them by feeding them “milk,” the fundamental principles of God’s Word. Paul was considerate and patient like a mother nursing her infant child. He sought to minister to the carnal believers at their present level, not at the level he thought they should be. A caring, discerning leader is patient with immature believers and seeks to lead them into maturity. After all, the objective of the church is to restore people to fellowship with God.

I. The Lost ManOf course, at some point a leader

expects some evidence of maturity, for no one can be fed milk indefinitely. Further, the leader himself must exercise spiritual disciplines and grow in maturity if he hopes to lead his followers into the spiritual depths. No leader can lead us deeper than he is personally.

I. The Lost ManIn his book Sodom Had No Bible, Leonard Ravenhill quotes Hamish Mackenzie as saying, “We have sometimes been guilty of exercising a ministry which could no more produce a new Christian than a skeleton can bear a living child.” The point is that skeletons cannot produce live, healthy babies. Likewise, weak and immature leaders cannot produce strong spiritual Christians.

I. The Lost ManThe sincere leader should observe his followers and if he sees more carnality than maturity, he should ask himself a hard question: “Is their carnality due to a lack of strong spiritual leadership and teaching on my part?” A lack of sound teaching leads to carnality.

The writer of Hebrews taught that “milk” belongs to babes or immature believers, and “meat” belongs to those who are more developed and mature (Hebrews 5:13-14).

I. The Lost ManBelievers who feed on the sound teachings of God’s Word are better equipped to discern good from evil because of their expanding knowledge of the Scriptures.

Immature believers tend to resist or oppose sound biblical instruction, and in the process find themselves vulnerable to fleshly weakness and temptations. It is normal for a newborn believer to be referred to as a babe in Christ. However, it is not normal for an aging believer to remain in an infantile state.

I. The Lost ManThe recipients of the Hebrews epistle apparently were behind schedule in their development of maturity. These believers should have been teaching or instructing others, but they were too immature to do so (Hebrews 5:12).

C. Spiritual DeathC. Spiritual Death

`Failing to mature as a Spirit-filled believer carries significant consequences. Just as a natural infant cannot survive indefinitely on milk alone without progressing to a more solid diet, a believer cannot survive without progressing from “milk to meat” in his diet.

Hebrews 5:13-14 “For every one that useth milk is

unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses

exercised to discern both good and evil”

(Hebrews 5:13-14).

I. The Lost ManSound Bible teaching is vital to the

spiritual welfare of all believers. The Chief Shepherd entrusts the care of His flock to undershepherds, or pastors, who are responsible to feed the flock of God. (See Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-4.) They must teach sound doctrine so believers can mature in their understanding and knowledge of God’s Word. Without such knowledge, believers will fail to discern right from wrong and may fall prey to many snares of the enemy.

I. The Lost ManFailure to appreciate and value sound Bible teaching can prove disastrous spiritually.

III. The Spiritual ManThe Spiritual Man

In Romans 8:9 Paul mandated that we be filled with and live under the influence of the Spirit of Christ, for without His Spirit we do not belong to Him. A person living under the influence of Christ’s Spirit will produce the fruit of the Spirit. (See Galatians 5:22-23). The person’s attitudes and behavior will evidence the powerful, holy influence of Christ.

I. The Lost ManA truly spiritual person is born by the Spirit, freed by the Spirit, and led by the Spirit; in the end he will be raised triumphantly by the Spirit!

A. Born by the SpiritA. Born by the Spirit

The imprint of a person’s nature speaks volumes of his origins. The old saying is true: “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, it’s a duck!” Principally, the same is true of Spirit-filled believers. If they are genuinely full of the Holy Ghost, the imprint of Christ’s gentle, peace-loving, and holy nature surfaces in the way they conduct themselves. They walk and talk like Christ would.

I. The Lost ManFailure to do so indicates they are not living under the influence of Christ’s Spirit, but by the influence of their flesh. Jesus distinguished between flesh and Spirit when speaking to Nicodemus (John 3:6). This distinction is noticeable in the difference between the way Spirit-filled believers conduct themselves and the way unbelievers conduct themselves. If one is truly born of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit leaves a noticeable imprint.

B. Freed by the SpiritB. Freed by the Spirit

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law

of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and

death” (Romans 8:1-2).

I. The Lost ManUnbelievers do not enjoy freedom from the power and bondage of sin as do those who are filled with the Spirit. Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). It is a tribute to God’s delivering power as people testify about a past life of addictions to tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or pornography, only to begin a life that is crucified to such wanton desires.

C. Led by the SpiritC. Led by the Spirit

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”

(Romans 8:14).

I. The Lost ManLeading a horse to the watering

trough influences the animal to take a drink. Likewise, we who are Spirit-filled should live under the influence of the Holy Ghost. Once the Lord Jesus takes up occupancy in our hearts, His Spirit seeks to influence our thoughts and direct our lifestyle, desires, and conduct. Those truly filled with the Holy Ghost crucify the flesh with its unruly affections and lusts (Galatians 5:24). They strive daily to live under the influence of Christ’s Spirit and allow Him to lead them.

D. Resurrected by the SpiritD. Resurrected by the Spirit

The answer for mankind’s dilemma is to be filled with the Spirit of Christ. If the Spirit of Christ dwells within us, He raises us to live in the power of the Spirit. Just as the Spirit of God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, so His Spirit raises us from sin and death. Because of the Spirit, sin and death could not have dominion over Christ, and if His Spirit indwells our life, we too can overcome sin and death. Jesus said, “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).

I. The Lost ManThe final triumph of every believer is

to be raised incorruptible from physical death in the resurrection of the dead. However, the law of sin works within them every day, promoting and leading to spiritual decay. Only the indwelling Spirit of Jesus can deliver individuals from this death. (See Romans 7:22-25.) No matter what sins or weaknesses we battle against, there is hope and help. Only the Spirit-filled life can give us peace, joy, and victory over sin, and then life eternal.

I. The Lost ManInternalizing the Message

The Law, though it once served a worthy purpose, could not in itself provide relief from the guilt and condemnation resulting from sin. Peter preached to the many Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost about their culpability in the death of Jesus. He declared that Jesus had conquered death and although they had crucified Him, He was both Lord and Christ. Convicted, they sought a remedy for their sins.

I. The Lost ManPeter commanded that they should repent, be baptized in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins, and receive the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues. This is still the only remedy for sin.

Acts 2:37-38 “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said

unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto

them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus

Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy

Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38).