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The Power to overcome sin vs. 1-13
We will no longer have the desire – instead we will ‘want’ to live for Jesus!
1st – No condemnation because of the gift of righteousness… vs. 1-4
There is no judgment for those in Christ Jesus… vs. 1
We are at war – between our flesh and our spirit – and we have lost many battles…
There has been many a time when we have given in to our flesh – and sinned…
None of us can say – since believing in Jesus – we have never chosen to sin…
We know when we accepted Jesus – we were forgiven of all our sin (up to that point)
But before Jesus we sinned in ignorance – we did not know any better…
What about the mistakes we have made since then – our sin after our salvation
When we knew we shouldn’t sin – knew what we did was wrong – but chose it anyways
When our flesh won the war over our choices – are we condemned / judged by God
As we ‘walk according to the Spirit’ – God does not condemn us – not judged for our sins
Because the Law of the Spirit has set us free from the Law of sin and death… vs. 2-4
If we were still under the Law of God – the list of rules – we would be condemned
But we have been set free from that Law – because it could not save us…
It was impossible for the Law to keep us from sin – because of our flesh
Like the mirror that reflect who we are – or measuring tape that shows how tall…
The Law can show us we are unrighteous – but not make us do what is right…
Set free by the Law of the Spirit – Jesus…
Jesus came as a man – ‘in the flesh’ as it were – yet lived a perfect sinless life
Jesus did what no one else could– He fulfilled the righteous requirement of God’s Law
Then Jesus – the only perfect man – paid the price for our sin – Death – Romans 6:23
In that moment Jesus condemned sin – defeated the flesh once and for all!
Then came one of the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us Jesus’ righteousness!
II Corinthians 5:21 – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
We failed in the test of life – but Jesus took our grade and gave us His perfect score!
In Jesus – we have lived a perfect life – we have fulfilled the requirement of the Law
Now when God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes/flaws
He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect/flawless!
2nd – Walking by the Spirit… vs. 5-13
Dominated by sin – or controlled by the Spirit… vs. 5
There are 2 paths we can choose to take in life – walk by the flesh or by the Spirit
Think of two roads going in opposite directions – with two very different destinations
You have to choose one or the other – which road do we choose to ‘walk’ down…
As we do not walk according the Flesh – but ‘walk according to the Spirit’…
We receive the great promises of vs. 1-4 – no condemnation & righteousness…
The 1st road – those who are dominated by sin… vs. 6-9
How do you know if you are walking in ‘the flesh’– what is on your mind…
If we are ‘in our flesh’ – we will be dominated by the ‘desires of our flesh’
Momentary pleasures / anger / pride / lust / hate / bitterness / jealousy…
All the while ignoring the things of God – the Word / prayer / fellowship
The result of walking in ‘the flesh’ – DEATH… (3 reasons)
1st – Because the mind dominated by the flesh – literally hates God
2nd – It is not subject (military term) to God’s Law – it is fact in rebellion against God
3rd – Those who are in ‘the flesh’ cannot please God – they are under condemnation…
The end of the road is physical death – as well as the 2nd death – spiritual death…
But you are not in ‘the Flesh’ – but in the ‘Spirit’….
If (1st class) the Spirit of God dwells in us – assuming we do have the Holy Spirit
When we believed in Jesus we received the Holy Sprit within us – I Corinthians 3:16
The 2nd road – those who are controlled by the Spirit… vs. 10-11
How do you know if you are walking in ‘the Spirit’ – what is on your mind…
If we are ‘in the Spirit’ – we will be full of the ‘things of the Spirit’
Eternal perspective – heaven / loving God & others / pleasing the Lord…
Desiring to be in the Word of God / spend time talking to God – prayer…
Not caught up in the pleasures of this world – trying to please men rather than God
The results of walking in ‘the Spirit’ – LIFE & PEACE (2 reasons)…
1st – Your body is truly dead – because of sin – the physical body will certainly still die
But the end of the road – because of Jesus’ righteousness – you will go to heaven!
2nd – Since (1st class) you have the same Holy Spirit in you who raised up Jesus…
He will also give life (future) to your physical bodies – referring to the resurrection…
I Corinthians 15:50 – “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever.”
The our physical – sinful – corrupt bodies cannot inherit eternal life…
They were not designed to live forever – they were not meant to go to heaven…
Like the caterpillar who cannot fly – but one day will become a butterfly…
II Corinthians 5:1 – “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
I like the idea of a tent – tents are never permanent – our bodies are only temporary
One day the Holy Spirit will give us new bodies – meant and designed for eternity!
So we have the choice… vs. 12-14
Death for those who live by ‘the Flesh’…
We are not in debt to ‘the flesh’ to live for the desires of ‘the flesh’…
For those who live for the flesh – must die – are in danger of eternal death
Or the death of ‘the Flesh’ by the power of the Spirit…
We put do death the ‘works’ of the Flesh when we live by the Spirit!
Galatians 5:16 – “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
The power to NOT SIN – NOT walk in the flesh – the power of the Spirit!
Bringing in the big guns (M60 time!)…
We already saw in Romans 7 – the challenge is our desires – our wants…
We constantly face defeat because we bring ‘sticks to a gun battle’
So how do we overcome our desires – how do we change what we ‘want’…
By the Power of the Holy Spirit – who can change our desires and our wants!
Being full of the Holy Spirit…
The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin before we believe in Jesus – John 16:7-8
The Holy Spirit come to live within us when after we receive Jesus – John 20:22
The Holy Spirit is also the gives us the power to overcome the flesh/sin…
The night Jesus was betrayed – He told Peter he would deny Him 3 times…
Peter adamantly denied it stating he would go to prison – even die for Jesus…
But he was trusting in his own ability – his flesh – so he failed…
Yet 50 days later – the day the Holy Spirit was poured out – he preached – 3000 saved!
How do you get the Power of the Spirit – just ask…
Matthew 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Jesus commands us to keep ASKING, SEEKING, KNOCKING (Present/A/Imperative)
Not just once – but over and over and over again for – asking for the Holy Spirit
Luke 11:13 -“Your heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
You need gas to run a car – but you need to keep filling that car up with gas…
We need also need to be daily filling up on the Holy Spirit to overcome our flesh!
The result of being filled with the Spirit…
II Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
If we are full of ourselves – our flesh – then we will have a defeated life in Jesus
But when we are emptied – not depending on ourselves – full of Jesus – Holy Spirit
Then we will find God changes our hearts – our desires – we will find victory over sin
Not that we can no longer do the things we used to ‘want’ to…
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