For those who are
in Christ, the Holy Spirit substitutes their sinful nature by directing their
path and correcting their behavior through His power. Therefore, the Holy
Spirit functions as the person who continues the work of regenerating for those
who are in Christ. His works of regeneration is to lead believers away from sin
and closer to Christ-likeness. Paul described the work of the Spirit at least
in two ways. Firsts, those who have the Spirit of God will crucified the flesh
and the Spirit will give them life. It means they will be death in Sin and live
with Christ. Second, those who received the Spirit will share the suffering of
Christ as well. One of the key messages of the text is to demonstrate life in
Christ as the Children of God means living “in” or “by” the Spirit. On the
other hand, the text is clear that the Spirit of the flesh and the Spirit of
God cannot be co-indwelling. Paul firmly concluded that if the Spirit of God lives
in a person the spirit of the flesh cannot be co-exist. In verse 9 Paul Said, “You, however, are not in the realm of the
flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in
you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to
Christ.” Paul’s repeated emphasis in
this text is about dying to the flesh and living in the Spirit. There is no
life and a person will not be able to please God without the indwelling of the
Spirit. In verse 10 Paul said, “But if
Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of
sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.” From the beginning God send His son to condemn
sin. God dealt sin through Christ and those who are in Christ receive the
Spirit in order for them to walk according to the Spirit. In another word,
those who do not have the Spirit of Christ do not belong to Him (V. 9b). And
only those who are in Christ have hope for resurrection from death. Therefore,
there is no hope for resurrection for those who do not have the Spirit of
Christ but live according to the flesh. Only those who have the Spirit and live
according to the Spirit of God who raises Christ from death will have
resurrected life though their body is subject to death because of sin. Base on
this text it is impossible to build the Church without the power and guidance
of the Spirit. The text clearly demonstrated the active participations of the
Spirit in individual salvation and walk with God. The works of the Spirit
remind us the sensitivity and seriousness of God's plan for saving people from
Sin. Christ not only saves us from sin but he invites us to have intimate
relationship with him and to walk with him. Paul demand physical, outward
changes for those who believe in Christ. Those who believe in Christ will
received the Spirit of Christ who will lead them to live a life that pleasing
God the Father. Faith is not just a confession but active obedient to follow
the leadership of the Spirit of Christ. The indwelling of the Spirit of God
must be actively manifest in believer's lifestyle. Therefore, the Church
shouldn't preach the gospel just merely as saving from hell but rather a
journey to haven. Christians must always acknowledge the active participation
of the Holy Spirit of their daily walk with God.
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