Wanting What the Spirit of God Wants
Romans 8:5-18
October 8, 2023
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction - We are studying chapter 8 of the letter to the Romans
A. In Romans chapters 4, 5, and 6 are some of the greatest truths ever written…
B. Then came chapter 7, and Paul explores just how depraved and ruined the flesh, and our sinful nature is – it is wicked
C. In chapter 8 Paul presents the brightest and best promises and truths probably ever written for the Christian
D. Chapter 8 is written to every believer and settles so many important facts about salvation
1. I am perfectly pardoned for all my sins
2. I now can mortify (put off) my flesh every time sin tempts me to rebel against God
3. I am Eternally Secure in Christ’s grip, no matter what
4. And a dozen more facts! The Bible is not full of religion… it is full of FACTS!
II. Review
A. “No Condemnation” (Romans 8:1)
1. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. An Absolute Statement - But a present and eternal FACT
a. An undeniable, Absolute Fact of Salvation - NO CONDEMNATION, DAMNATION
1) Condemnation is something every human being needs to worry about
2) Sin WILL catch up with us, and will kill us, and damn us forever
3) The best and most religious cannot be good enough…
4) Jesus speaking to the most religious people of His day, the Pharisees… Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
5) Don’t think YOU will escape damnation, because none of us are good enough
a) We are not “basically good” and sweet, and just misunderstood
b) We are wicked, and vile and evil deep in our heart of hearts
c) That’s what the Bible says, and we all know it is true
d) Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
b. An undeserving believer receives FULL PARDON – no condemnation at all
1) Made free from sin’s dominion over me, and especially over its penalty – death
a) The law exposes sin, and judges me as guilty
b) My conscience being constantly reminded of my sins – keeping me guilty
2) But any sinner is pardoned, forgiven of all sins by Christ’s condemnation of sin, instead of me, when He died, instead of me – a swap, substitute
a) Hebrews 10:16,17 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
3) And all Christ’s righteousness was applied to my life now – ALL of it!
4) Why?
a) So I could move out of death row,, headed for hell, and start to finally live
b) So that I could walk AFTER the Spirit of God – pursue the Spirit, follow the leading of the Spirit to the abundant life Jesus offers every believer!
c) John 5: 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from [THE SENTENCE OF] death unto life.
c. So…
1) No sin we do now can condemn a believer to the devil’s hell – how can you condemn a forgiven man?
2) Sins can only hurt our closeness to God, but not our standing with Him
3) Sins will cause me to be chastised and corrected, but never damned anymore!
B. God’s Pardon Applies to “them which are in Christ Jesus...” (Romans 8:1)
1. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...
2. Does not apply to everybody, but to those who have gotten into Jesus Chrst!
3. Every religious person, trying to be good, and do good, who has not been born again, is seen by God as still in their sins!
4. But every sinner, even the most ungodly sinner, who give up trying to be good enough for heaven, and just trust what Jesus did for them when HE alone died in their place, paying for every one of their sins, is placed (by the Holy Spirit of God) into Jesus Christ, and is now seen by God no longer as a sinner, but as a SON!
5. “In Christ Jesus” is how God sees the person who trusts Jesus Christ
6. We have moved OUT of an old way of living into a new life – into Jesus Christ
a. Not because any of us have stopped sinning
b. Or because we have such great faith, or prayed such long prayers
c. But simply because we entered into a living union between the soul of a sinner and Jesus Christ!
C. Every Born Again Christian now lives a Spiritual Life (Romans 8:1)
1. Romans 8:1 …who walk [LIVE] not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2. Who walk NOT after the flesh – at least not constantly
3. But after the Spirit – a spiritual way of life now
a. Pursuing the Spirit of God! Like people pursue money, girlfriends, etc!
b. We will devote an entire Sunday morning soon to just these words… pursing the Spirit of God
4. Paul is simply saying, We now want what the Spirit of God wants
5. God added His Holy Spirit to our life, and changed its “status”
6. Romans 8:1 states a fact, a reality… what I am now
a. My status has changed from condemned and guilty sinner, to that of an adopted son
b. All because of Jesus Christ
c. Salvation did not change my flesh and make it sinless. It gave my flesh, a new owner… And it is not me! It is the Lord Jesus Christ! ‘Lord’ means ‘boss’
d. But it did change my guilt into worship, and my physical life into a spiritual life
1) Pursuing the Spirit of God instead of their own fleshly desires and sins!
2) Do you live a spiritual life? Or do you just fake it? Just add a sprinkling of religious activities when you feel like it?
3) You ought to be able to point to your past and say it is PAST!
e. It is just like a marriage changes our “status”…
1) Saying someone is married, declares the fact about their direction and their new life with one person for the rest of their lives
2) It does not exclude failure on the part of the flesh to live up to the law.
3) It simply changes their status, from single and miserable, to married and blessed!
D. Because We Are Free NOW From the Law’s Condemnation (Romans 8:2-4) How?
1. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
2. Jesus Christ gave His life for mine – making ME free (Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3. Jesus Kept All God’s Laws FOR us
a. Our flesh, body is weak, and unable to obey all of God’s expectations
b. So Jesus Christ came and obeyed every requirement for heaven, and then… took our place in death, Paying off all the sins of our past, giving us free access to the Father!
c. Jesus did that for US – He did it for YOU too
4. Every believer is seen by God through the lens of God's Son
a. God sees the old me, my past, my sins, my failures as dead and gone now!
b. God sees the inner me hiding in Christ, who stood-in for me, became my substitute
c. What a wonderful way to be seen – as if I had never sinned, and as a son, instead of as a sinner!
d. A believer is treated by God now as a SON who sins instead of as a sinner who sins - ponder that for a little bit
e. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are THE SONS OF GOD… not SINNERS!
5. Every believer is no longer stuck to their body, their sinful flesh
a. There are three parts of me: (THIS IS WHAT CONFUSES MOST PEOPLE)
1) 1Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2) My outer me – my body, my flesh
3) My inner me – my soul, the real me – the part that will live forever
4) And my new me – my spirit – where Christ now lives, and where the Holy Spirit works on me from the inside out!
b. Marvellously, that part of me that ruined my life (my sinful flesh) has been severed / cut away from damning my soul – like a brick tied to your ankle!
c. The body can now scream, and demand and pull us away from God, and die, and it doesn’t matter anymore!
d. I can now follow after and pursue righteousness and life and peace and joy, as “this old man” lives out its day ignored and defeated! AMEN!
E. Didn’t I tell you that this chapter was amazing? Some of these truth I just want to repeat week after week until you all get them, and start praising God!
III. Message
A. Walking After the Flesh, or After the Spirit (Romans 8:5-8)
1. Romans 8:5-8 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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
2. Paul warns us about what we find ourselves living FOR
a. The things of your flesh? It is called lusting for them, desiring them
b. Or whether we are pursuing, following after the things of the Spirit of God?
c. So, What are YOU living FOR? What are you after in life?
1) The biggest house?
2) The most “partners”? People are being mocked for sexually knowing only four partners! SHAME!
3) The most money?
4) What tickles your fancy? What gets YOU up in the morning?
5) Only the things your flesh, your stomach, your wallet want?
6) Or the things of the Spirit of God???
d. My OLD life is described as…
1) Doing all the things that my body wanted me to do and experience and enjoy, even though I knew they were wrong to do
a) Minding the things of the flesh
b) Paying attention to what my flesh wants and lusts for
c) Pleasing people; Pleasing myself
d) Drinking what I want, eating what I want, watching what I want, saying what I want
2) It is like giving in constantly to a spoiled brat!
3) That has to be the way we used to live!
4) If you still mainly seek after those things, and have no desire for spiritual things, then you are not saved my friend!
5) You are still in your sins, and under the wrath and condemnation of God
a) Jesus said in John 3:19,20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
e. Thankfully, My NEW life is described as…
1) No longer feeding the old me, my flesh… Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
2) Don’t provided food and comfort and attention for your flesh dear Christian
3) But instead, Mind (obey) the things of the Spirit of God
4) Live IN the Spirit now
5) Pursue the things of the Holy Spirit, like holiness, and the will of God, and loving the word of God, and the people of God!
6) Are you known as a servant of your own lusts, or a servant of God and others?
B. A Comparison (Romans 8:5-8)
1. Romans 8:5-8 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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
2. Warning about Minding the Flesh “they that are after the flesh”
a. What we naturally desire, lust after, pursue
1) We obey what we love – the pleasures of sin
2) We will become slaves to what we mind, obey – the whole point of chapter 6
b. Carnally minded – slaves once again to the flesh
c. Causes death
1) When your mind is on yourself, your past, your successes, your failures…
2) It all leads to DEATH
3) I don’t care HOW long you have been saved, if you go back into that old stuff Jesus freed you from, it is going to kill you!
4) It can’t damn you, but sin WILL shorten your life, ruin your marriage, destroy your testimony!
d. Is at WAR with God – enmity means conflict – rebellion – at war
e. It will NEVER be subject, obedient, willingly submissive to the laws of God
f. Can never please God. A mind and a life focused only on yourself, and your hurts and your past and your dreams cannot please God – it is not possible to follow fleshly desires and please God
3. Walking after the Spirit of God
a. What we super-naturally desire, lust after, pursue now that we are converted!
b. We are spiritually minded now
1) We seek to do whatever God says we should do
2) We love to do God’s will instead of our own
c. We experience life right now – abundant life – not abundant money, or abundant friends, but joy and peace in the holy Ghost!
1) When your thoughts and interests and hunger is for spiritual things, things that come from a walk with Christ, you will actually start to enjoy life, and peace!
2) Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
3) Isaiah 26:3 Thou [GOD] wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed [ANCHORED] on thee [GOD]: because he trusteth in thee.
d. We submit to the will of God and the commands of God – loving to do so
e. We please God, in simple things, not the biggest things
4. All because we are pursuing the things of the Spirit of God
C. The Key to the Christian Life is the Holy Spirit of God IN YOU (Romans 8:9-13)!
1. This is the single most important truth you will ever learn as a Christian!
2. Romans 8:9 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.
3. Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
4. Romans 8:11 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.
5. Romans 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
6. Romans 8:13 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.
7. Paul says it in simple words in Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. You will live free of the lusts of your old life!
8. The Facts:
a. A Christian is NOT living in the flesh, but in the Spirit now
1) “In the Spirit” is where I AM now
2) THAT is where my soul dwells now – in the spiritual part of my life
3) In the Spirit is where my mind spends its time
4) Where my emotions find rest, and peace
b. The Spirit of God dwells in you
1) You are in Christ now
2) And the Spirit of Jesus Christ is dwelling in you
3) It is the Holy Spirit that enables you and I to do right, and live free
4) That’s awesome!
c. He is your life now!
d. The body is dead because of sin
1) A dead corpse now – unhitched from your life
2) We owe our bodies nothing, except to use them to serve God with instead of self
3) Not worth obeying anymore
e. The power of the resurrection is in you and WILL resurrect your mortal dying body one day!
f. We can mortify anything the body throws in our way
g. All by the power of the Holy Spirit of God
h. IF we seek it, and let it work!
D. The Spirit of God is at Work in Us Now (Romans 8:14-18)
1. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
2. Romans 8:15 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.
3. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
4. Romans 8:17 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.
5. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
6. Leading us – showing us how to live free from sin, and like Christ (8:14)
a. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
b. A believer has a new PULL - a new force at work in us, drawing us away from sinful desires, and into the will of God
1) A pull just like temptations to sin used to pull you
2) Like when your friends convinced you to do wicked things
3) A believer now has someone in them that pulls them to do right things, good things!
c. The Holy Spirit leads us like an internal GPS away from danger, to safe, good places
1) Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
2) Exodus 13:21,22 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
d. Oh that you all had the desire for the holy Spirit to actually LEAD your steps, your thoughts, and your understanding, away from danger, and deceptions, and into safety!
7. Freeing us from bondage and slavery of our past and from sin (8:15)
a. Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear…
8. Drawing us closer and closer to God (8:15)
a. Away from all the stresses and pressures and temptations of this world
b. Romans 8:15 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.
c. Walking with God, praying, and worshipping Him
d. Talking to Almighty God
1) Like he is your Father, not just God
2) Like he is your Abba, Daddy, strong hold when you are weak and worn out
e. You will know you are praying right, when you talk to God that way. JESUS DID (Mark 14:34-36) And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
9. And Assuring us, and comforting us (8:16-18)
a. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
b. Romans 8:17 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.
c. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
d. Complete confidence and trust. No doubts anymore!
e. Assurance of relationship with God – born again
f. Assurance of heirship – of the future being worth whatever you go through now
g. Assurance of suffering for Christ, but an honour and reward for it all later!
E. What is missing?
1. Yielding! Giving into the work of the Holy Spirit in and through you
2. James 4:7 Submit [YIELD] yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
3. Yielding to the still small voice of the Spirit of God
a. Giving into His gentle pulls and pushes
b. Listening to HIS voice as He speaks in the pages of this Book
4. Yielding to the will of God – no matter how hard. Letting Him lead, and you just following
5. Yielding to the pressures of the hand of God on your life as He seeks to change you. Letting Him do a work in you and ON you, changing you to be more like Jesus!
6. Staying humble, and submissive to Him as He leads and fills you and uses you for God’s glory!
IV.Conclusion
A. Here are the realities of the old nature versus the new nature.
1. Before conversion, before salvation, before the new birth…
a. We were a soul living in a sinful body that had a dead spirit.
b. That was our reality.
c. I was in sin. I was condemned under my sin.
2. After conversion…
a. I am still a soul. But living in a new spirit that has become free from my sinful flesh.
b. All of my past has been forgiven.
c. There is nothing that I can do now that has not been already forgiven. Because Jesus died for all sin of all time.
d. I am no longer condemned. I have been made free from the punishment of my sin.
e. Yes, my sinful flesh still sins, but it's not me anymore. It's sin in me, in my flesh. It is a nature that my flesh has as an inclination to sin. But I have been given an entirely new inclination, nature!
3. Jesus made us free from sin, but not free from sinning. And that's the big deal.
a. We all yearn to be free from the inclination to sin. Free from the rebellion in our hearts.
b. We want to be a better husband, but our flesh, which is our old nature, fights humility… Fights the command to humble ourselves
c. We want to be better workers but our flesh rebels against authority, Especially when authority is perceived as wrong
d. So What a Christian possesses is not the loss of flesh, Or the removal of the sinful nature.
4. What the Christian has is overwhelming of all the sin that I have ever done or ever will do!
a. Forgiveness from GOD – not from some priest, or counsellor, but from God Almighty
b. No more condemnation. Sin has already been condemned and defeated. Sin has been damned in me. The record of my sins cannot be brought up to God with any power.
1) The devil can remind God of my sins all day long. And he's... right in it.
2) He can point out the sins that I've done today, but there is no more condemnation.
c. I've been given a new nature. I've been given the Spirit of Christ.
d. I have actually been given the mind of Christ. If I would listen to it, yield to it. Pursue it.
e. And, I have been given the greatest source of power to live right – the Holy Spirit of God
B. Do You Have a new nature? A new life?
C. Only Jesus Christ can give it to you
1. If any man/woman be IN Christ… he is a new creature!
2. Would you like to be born again?
3. Ask Him to save YOU, and He will hide you behind Him, and place you IN Himself
4. THAT is salvation!
5. That union / relationship brings you PARDON, removal of condemnation! (John 5: 24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from [THE SENTENCE OF] death unto life.