Man, I can’t believe I missed this
one. Last year we spent three weeks on the nature and work of the Holy Spirit
(here,
if you’re interested), and I completely missed one of the most important
passages about him! I guess it’s ok, though, since we can look at it now.
But before we get to the subject of
the Spirit again, we need to deal with a potentially thorny couple of verses,
namely vss. 12-13. Here, finally, we get to a command, sort of. He’s made all
sorts of declarations about who we are in Christ and what this means, and now
he comes to something we need to do, something which is up to us, at least
partially.
Always keep an eye out for
conjunctions and other connecting words. Because of what Christ did and has
done, because of the Spirit’s present and future work in our lives, we no
longer have any “obligation” to the “flesh,” (sinful nature). As he said
in chapter six (and as we discussed),
we exchanged one master for another. Over your soul could be a sign that says
“Under new management.”
Yes, we’re saved by grace through
faith in Christ plus nothing. But as his redeemed
children, our obligations didn’t stop. No, we just have new ones. We have an
obligation to “put to death” the misdeeds of the body. How do we do this?
One word: Cooperation. Specifically,
cooperation with the Spirit, working with him. Once again we have perfect
balance between truths in tension. We
put to death the misdeeds of the body, and this is not an accidental homicide. We choose to do this. We make a conscious choice to take
positive steps to stop doing what wounds our Father and instead do what pleases
him. But we do this not by our own strength: We do it by means of the Spirit, in his strength. What does that
mean? In practical terms, it’s nothing you haven’t likely heard before: Read
your Bible, pray for his strength, spend time with other believers, etc.
Now here’s where it requires careful
thinking on our part. He says that “if you live according to the flesh, you
will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you
will live.” Now, considering that the rest of the Bible--Paul
especially--teaches salvation by grace through faith and not by works, what
does he mean by this? Well, it could mean 1) physical death versus spiritual death (i.e., our Father’s discipline which could
result in our physical death), but that doesn’t seem to be the sense here. Or
it might mean 2) living the abundant life in Christ in the here and now vs.
not, but that doesn’t really fit either. With all its potential difficulties,
based on the context, I think he’s talking about 3) By putting the misdeeds of
the body through the Spirit, as imperfectly as we all do it, you’re showing
that you belong to Christ and thus have eternal life. At least that’s the best
explanation I have.
Now we get to my favorite part of
today’s passage, and there’s so much here that we’ll likely carry this into
tomorrow. If you’re a child of God, one of the marks of that is you’re led by
his Spirit. And in complete contrast to the slavery that once held you in
bondage, you’re no longer in chains. In the truest sense, you’re no longer a
slave to anyone. The only One who really has the right to call you his slave
doesn’t call you one. His name for you is not “slave.” It’s “beloved son” or
“beloved daughter.” The Spirit within us is not the spirit of bondage in any way, shape
or matter or form. He’s the Spirit of freedom. The Spirit of adoption. The
Spirit of testimony. You’re led by the Spirit, all right. And where does he
lead? Well, according to this passage, he leads right past the angels into the
lap of your Papa on his throne. More tomorrow.
Papa. What a word. So much meaning in so
little a word. Spirit, lead on. I’m listening, and by your power, I’ll follow
right into the arms of my Papa.
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