Assurance and Hope: Living in the Spirit

 

Summary

In our exploration of Romans 8, particularly verses 9 through 11, we delve into the profound assurance that comes from being in Christ. Paul contrasts those "in the flesh" with those "in the Spirit," emphasizing that those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit are indeed in Christ. This indwelling is not just a theological concept but a reality that assures us of our identity as Christians. In a world rife with identity confusion, knowing that we are in Christ provides a solid foundation. Paul reassures believers that if the Spirit of God dwells in them, they belong to Christ, and this indwelling Spirit is the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

The Spirit's role is not separate from the work of Christ; rather, it is a continuation and application of Christ's redemptive work. The Spirit of Christ, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us, ensuring that we too will experience resurrection. This truth is not just about spiritual renewal but also about the future resurrection of our bodies. Despite the reality of physical death, the Spirit guarantees that our mortal bodies will be given life.

Paul's teaching challenges us to live with the assurance of our salvation and the hope of resurrection. The Spirit's presence in our lives is a testament to our union with Christ, and this union assures us of our eternal destiny. As we navigate life, the Spirit guides us to live in holiness, reflecting the character of Christ. This assurance and hope should transform how we view our bodies, our lives, and our future.

Key Takeaways:

- Assurance of Identity in Christ: In a world full of identity confusion, knowing that we are in Christ provides a firm foundation. Our identity is not based on worldly standards but on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which assures us that we belong to Christ. This assurance is crucial for living a life of faith and confidence in our salvation. [02:24]

- The Spirit's Role in Salvation: The Holy Spirit is not separate from the work of Christ but is integral to it. The Spirit applies the finished work of Christ to our lives, ensuring that we experience the fullness of salvation. This includes both spiritual renewal and the future resurrection of our bodies. [05:22]

- Hope of Resurrection: Despite the reality of physical death, the Spirit guarantees that our mortal bodies will be given life. This hope of resurrection is a central tenet of our faith, reminding us that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with Christ. [15:18]

- Living with Eternal Perspective: The assurance of the Spirit's indwelling should transform how we live, encouraging us to focus on eternal realities rather than temporary concerns. This eternal perspective shapes our values, priorities, and how we view our bodies and lives. [19:57]

- Holiness in Body and Spirit: The Spirit's presence in our lives calls us to holiness, reflecting the character of Christ. Our bodies are not just temporary vessels but are integral to our spiritual journey, destined for resurrection and eternal life. [24:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Romans 8
- [00:23] - Understanding "In the Flesh"
- [01:17] - Assurance in the Spirit
- [02:24] - Identity in Christ
- [03:23] - Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- [04:47] - The Spirit of Christ
- [05:22] - Pentecost and the Spirit's Work
- [06:57] - Knowing You Are a Christian
- [08:03] - The Reality of Physical Death
- [09:01] - Are You Ready to Die?
- [10:30] - The Spirit is Life
- [12:20] - Resurrection and Union with Christ
- [15:18] - Hope of Resurrection
- [19:57] - Eternal Perspective and Holiness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Romans 8:9-11

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:9-11
- Romans 6:4-5
- 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

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Observation Questions:

1. What distinction does Paul make between those "in the flesh" and those "in the Spirit" in Romans 8:9? How does this relate to the assurance of being in Christ? [01:17]

2. How does Paul describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer in Romans 8:9-11? What are the different terms he uses to refer to the Holy Spirit? [03:56]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Holy Spirit being referred to as the "Spirit of Christ"? [04:11]

4. What does Paul mean when he says, "the Spirit is life because of righteousness" in Romans 8:10? How does this relate to the concept of spiritual renewal? [10:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the assurance of the Holy Spirit's indwelling impact a believer's understanding of their identity in Christ, especially in a world full of identity confusion? [02:24]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the Holy Spirit's role is a continuation of Christ's redemptive work? How does this understanding affect a believer's view of salvation? [05:22]

3. How does the hope of resurrection, as discussed in the sermon, influence a believer's perspective on physical death and eternal life? [15:18]

4. What does it mean to live with an eternal perspective, and how does this perspective shape a believer's values and priorities according to the sermon? [19:57]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own sense of identity. How does knowing you are in Christ provide a foundation for your life, especially when faced with identity confusion? [02:24]

2. The sermon emphasizes the Holy Spirit's role in applying Christ's work to our lives. How can you be more aware of the Spirit's presence and work in your daily life? [05:22]

3. Consider the hope of resurrection. How does this hope change the way you view your current life and the challenges you face? [15:18]

4. What are some practical ways you can live with an eternal perspective, focusing on eternal realities rather than temporary concerns? [19:57]

5. The sermon calls believers to holiness in both body and spirit. What specific steps can you take to reflect the character of Christ in your daily actions and decisions? [24:00]

6. How can you cultivate a mindset that aligns with the Spirit's concerns, as discussed in the sermon? What changes might you need to make in your thought patterns or habits? [24:00]

7. Think about a recent situation where you felt uncertain about your faith or salvation. How can the assurance of the Holy Spirit's indwelling help you find confidence and peace in such moments? [01:43]

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance of Identity in Christ
In a world where identity confusion is prevalent, understanding that one's identity is rooted in Christ provides a firm foundation. This identity is not based on societal standards or personal achievements but on the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's presence assures believers that they belong to Christ, offering a sense of security and confidence in their salvation. This assurance is crucial for living a life of faith, as it anchors believers in the truth of who they are in Christ, enabling them to navigate life's challenges with a steadfast heart. [02:24]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV): "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: Consider the ways in which you have sought identity in worldly standards. How can you embrace your identity in Christ more fully today?


Day 2: The Spirit's Role in Salvation
The Holy Spirit plays an integral role in the salvation process, not as a separate entity from Christ's work but as the one who applies Christ's redemptive work to believers' lives. The Spirit ensures that believers experience the fullness of salvation, which includes both spiritual renewal and the promise of future resurrection. This understanding of the Spirit's role deepens the appreciation of salvation, highlighting the ongoing work of the Spirit in transforming lives and preparing believers for eternal life. [05:22]

Titus 3:5-6 (ESV): "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior."

Reflection: Reflect on how you have experienced the Holy Spirit's work in your life. In what ways can you be more open to the Spirit's transformative power?


Day 3: Hope of Resurrection
Despite the inevitability of physical death, the Spirit guarantees that believers' mortal bodies will be given life. This hope of resurrection is a central tenet of the Christian faith, offering assurance that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with Christ. This promise of resurrection provides comfort and hope, encouraging believers to live with the assurance that their future is secure in Christ. It also challenges them to view their current lives in light of this eternal perspective. [15:18]

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (ESV): "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body."

Reflection: How does the promise of resurrection influence your perspective on life and death? What changes can you make to live more fully in light of this hope?


Day 4: Living with Eternal Perspective
The assurance of the Spirit's indwelling should transform how believers live, encouraging them to focus on eternal realities rather than temporary concerns. This eternal perspective shapes values, priorities, and how believers view their bodies and lives. By focusing on what is eternal, believers can align their lives with God's purposes, living in a way that reflects their hope in Christ and their commitment to His kingdom. [19:57]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: What temporary concerns are currently distracting you from focusing on eternal realities? How can you shift your focus to align more closely with God's eternal purposes?


Day 5: Holiness in Body and Spirit
The presence of the Holy Spirit in believers' lives calls them to holiness, reflecting the character of Christ. Believers' bodies are not just temporary vessels but are integral to their spiritual journey, destined for resurrection and eternal life. This understanding challenges believers to honor God with their bodies, living in a way that reflects their identity in Christ and their hope of resurrection. It is a call to live a life of holiness, both in body and spirit, as a testament to their faith and commitment to Christ. [24:00]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Reflection: In what ways can you honor God with your body and spirit today? What specific actions can you take to reflect the holiness to which you are called?

Quotes


He wants his readers who are Christians, who are trusting in the gospel, who are trusting in Jesus, he wants them to be assured, that is the pattern and it ought to be the expectation of the Christian life. We should be assured, and we shouldn't be walking around in a spirit of non-assurance about whether we're Christians or not, whether we're saved or not, whether we're forgiven or not. [00:01:26]

It is so very important to know who you are, to know your identity, and we live in an age where there's a great deal of confusion as to how we know our identity and so on, and in various areas, we are in at sea. Worldly mindsets are operating, causing a great deal of confusion as to answering that question: who are you? [00:02:13]

If you are in Christ, if you're trusting in Jesus, you are a Christian and you have an assurance, you may entertain an assurance that you are a Christian and you may entertain an assurance that you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. So verse 9: you, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. [00:02:49]

The Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit is the same Spirit who indwelt Christ, the Spirit who raised Christ from the dead, the Spirit that Jesus spoke of in the upper room. I go away but I will come to you again, and he's talking about Pentecost and he's talking about the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. [00:04:58]

Pentecost is a redemptive act, Pentecost is a continuation and an application and a consequence of the finished work of Christ upon the cross. How is that which Christ has achieved applied? By the Spirit. I give another paraclete, another comforter, another advocate however you translate the word parakletos. [00:05:28]

The body is death because of sin, it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. Is a marvelous story from the puritan Thomas Goodwin and a contemporary of John Owen that we were thinking about in our last study together. Thomas Goodwin was a professor and teaching at the university. [00:08:37]

Paul is saying the body is dead if in Christ, if Christ is in you, verse 10, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. The ESV has capitalized Spirit here, you understand of course that in the Greek, pneuma plumatas, the Greek doesn't distinguish between lowercase and uppercase. [00:10:26]

The logic of his thought is the same logic that he implied back in Romans chapter six that if we are in union with Christ, there is a sense in which when Jesus died we died, and when Jesus rose we rose, and therefore Romans 6 begins with that language of being buried with Christ and raised with Christ to newness of life. [00:11:45]

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the Spirit who dwells in you. Now he has to say that because he has already said the body is dead because of sin, unless Jesus comes we're all going to die. [00:15:15]

God created this body and soul, and God will recreate us body and soul, and there is coming a day when Jesus comes again when the dead in Christ shall arise. I serve as the senior minister of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia in South Carolina, and a few years ago we engaged in some choir loft repairs and extension. [00:16:28]

Paul is saying here one day these bodies are going to rise, and they're going to rise as new bodies, but bodies nevertheless because we were created body and soul, and I personally can't imagine an existence without a body, and what the body, what that existence will be like in the intermediate state between death and resurrection. [00:18:56]

The focus of Paul's attention, and actually it's always the focus of New Testament expectation, is not what happens five seconds after you die, that's an important question. Jesus referred to it with the dying thief, today you will be with me in paradise, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. [00:20:00]

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Transcript
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