Romans 8:12-17
Romans 8: 1-17 is all about life in the Spirit. These verses really lay out for us the change that happens when we accept Christ as Savior and commit to following Him. It's full of detail (which I love) and it's such an incredible and encouraging read.
So based on Romans 8:1-17 what are some of the benefits of living "according to the Spirit" or "by the Spirit"? What do those benefits mean for you as you live the Christian life today? Tami W.
He can keep us from traveling on the wrong road. Sometimes our curiousity desires to see that wrong way, not believing it to be wrong. But with the Holy Spirit, when we allow Him to live and breath and have our being will keep us from choosing incorrectly and give us the power to overcome through Jesus.
I need to read Proverbs everyday and He teaches me wisdom but I must act on it! God is greater than my heart though so when I do wonder away from wisdom I know He will convict and bring me back. I will never no never turn from His direction.I love Him so! I am not worthy to recieve Him but by His Holy Word I will be saved!
'Once a fool always a fool' and such sometimes I fear I am in this earthly life. Thus if I don't trust Jesus to save, help, protect and live in me I would truly be a fool.
Benefits of life in the Spirit are FREEDOM from striving under the law, LIFE in the Spirit, ADOPTION as children of God and BECOMING HEIRS of God along with Christ.
When our Spirit is attuned to God's within us, we walk in freedom and in faith. We let go of our 'pleaser' mentality--working our way to God--and allow God to do the work within us. He changes us from the inside and our heart attitude changes our behavior. Paul says,"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Crucifixion is a painful process. Suffering with Christ is part and parcel of the life. There is a positive outcome on the other side of it. Our willingness to trust God in the midst of suffering and the cutting away of self allows us to be molded and shaped more completely into His likeness. Suffering is an oft misunderstood part of the path we walk to glory.
I find it interesting that no one else made comments on these verses. What really sticks out is verse 15. Not having the spirit that makes me a slave to fear. He is my FATHER. For some that might be hard to grasp a father without fear especially these days and that is why we need to understand even more the life of Christ and the love God had for him here on earth and now.
But there is something else that really sticks out and that is with this privledge comes a price that is hard to give up. My worldly nature. Truly putting Christ the center of all and being led by the Holy Spirit not by emotions and wants. I don't think the death it is talking about here is physical but spiritual. I would rather die to myself then die spiritually but there was a time that was not true. Selfishness gets in the way. What an awesome reminder these verses are.
Great comments everyone. I enjoyed reading them all. I have been thinking a lot lately about how different we are than those who live according to the flesh - this world. Our views on so many things are so different. Sometimes it's hard because I know they don't understand. I guess the best thing is just to live a christ-like life in front of them the best I can.
What stood out to me in these verses was For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! What a good verse. In Christ all we need to is cry out Abba! Father! and do His will and He keeps us from fear. We are his beloved children!