Living in the Spirit: From Death to Life

 

Summary

In Romans 8, we encounter profound contrasts that illuminate the Christian journey. Reflecting on my early days as a young believer, I recall the influence of mentors like Geoffrey Thomas and the rigorous study of John Owen's writings on spiritual-mindedness. These experiences shaped my understanding of sanctification, a theme central to our exploration of Romans 8:5-11. Here, Paul contrasts living according to the flesh with living according to the Spirit, emphasizing that the Christian life is marked by a transformation from death to life, a journey empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The first truth we uncover is that Christians are truly alive, not merely in a physical sense but spiritually, having been brought from death in sin to life in Christ. This new life is a foretaste of eternity, a glimpse of the new creation that has already begun in us. The metaphors of rebirth and resurrection underscore this transformation, highlighting the profound change that occurs when we are united with Christ.

Secondly, the Christian life is characterized by spiritual-mindedness. This involves setting our minds on the things of the Spirit, which shapes our behavior and aligns us with God's will. Spiritual-mindedness is not about intellectualism but about allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions. It is about immersing ourselves in Scripture, letting it nourish and transform us, and allowing the Spirit to illuminate the beauty of Christ in our lives.

Finally, the assurance of being brought all the way home is a promise that sustains us. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, ensuring that we will be raised to eternal life. This hope anchors us amid trials and temptations, reminding us that God’s redemptive work in us is both complete and ongoing. We are called to live with our eyes fixed on this ultimate goal, confident that God will bring us safely to His eternal kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

- Alive in Christ: Christians are spiritually alive, having been transformed from death in sin to life in Christ. This new life is a foretaste of eternity, a glimpse of the new creation that has already begun in us. Our spiritual vitality is a testimony to the life to come, where something of eternity has perforated into our present existence. [06:49]

- Spiritual-Mindedness: Living for God involves demonstrating spiritual-mindedness, which means setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. This mindset shapes our behavior and aligns us with God's will, emphasizing the importance of immersing ourselves in Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions. [14:08]

- The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our spiritual journey, illuminating the beauty of Christ and reminding us of our identity as God's children. The Spirit's ministry is to make Christ known to us, ensuring that we have a big and majestic view of the Lord Jesus. [30:09]

- Assurance of Eternal Life: The promise of being brought all the way home is a source of hope and assurance for believers. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, guaranteeing that we will be raised to eternal life. This hope anchors us amid trials and temptations, reminding us of God's complete and ongoing redemptive work. [41:24]

- Mindset and Sanctification: Our mindset is a reflection of our spiritual maturity and growth in sanctification. The way we think about life affects our actions, and spiritual-mindedness involves cultivating holy thoughts and aspirations. This passage emphasizes the role of progressive sanctification in shaping our minds and aligning us with God's purposes. [23:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:37] - Early Influences and Mentorship
- [01:40] - John Owen and Spiritual-Mindedness
- [03:13] - Sanctification and Effort
- [05:04] - Reading Romans 8:5-11
- [06:01] - Christians Are Alive
- [07:35] - Walking in the Spirit
- [09:20] - Nicodemus and New Birth
- [10:57] - New Creation in Christ
- [12:35] - Resurrection Metaphor
- [14:08] - Spiritual-Mindedness Explained
- [17:15] - The Mind and Holy Living
- [20:51] - Flesh vs. Spirit
- [23:14] - Test of Spiritual-Mindedness
- [30:09] - The Holy Spirit's Ministry
- [33:36] - Assurance of Being Brought Home
- [39:50] - Christ's Home in Us
- [42:58] - Closing Reflections and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Romans 8:5-11

Bible Reading:
- Romans 8:5-11
- John 3:3-5
- 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Observation Questions:

1. What are the two contrasting ways of living that Paul describes in Romans 8:5-11? How does he define each? [05:04]

2. According to the sermon, what does it mean for a Christian to be "alive"? How is this different from merely having a physical life? [06:01]

3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, particularly in relation to spiritual-mindedness? [30:09]

4. What metaphors are used in the sermon to describe the transformation that occurs when one is united with Christ? [10:57]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of spiritual-mindedness challenge the way believers approach their daily thoughts and actions? What does it mean to set one's mind on the things of the Spirit? [14:08]

2. In what ways does the assurance of being brought "all the way home" provide hope and stability for Christians facing trials? How does this assurance relate to the work of the Holy Spirit? [41:24]

3. How does the sermon illustrate the difference between living according to the flesh and living according to the Spirit? What practical implications does this have for a believer's life? [07:35]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between sanctification and spiritual-mindedness? How does this relationship manifest in a believer's life? [23:14]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel more "alive" in Christ, and areas where you feel spiritually stagnant? What steps can you take to nurture spiritual vitality in those stagnant areas? [06:01]

2. Consider your daily routine: How can you intentionally set your mind on the things of the Spirit throughout your day? Are there specific practices or habits you can adopt to cultivate spiritual-mindedness? [14:08]

3. Think about a recent trial or temptation you faced: How did the assurance of eternal life and the presence of the Holy Spirit influence your response? How can you remind yourself of this assurance in future challenges? [41:24]

4. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with living according to the flesh. What practical steps can you take to align more closely with the Spirit in this area? [07:35]

5. Reflect on the role of Scripture in your life: How can you deepen your engagement with the Bible to allow the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions more effectively? [29:10]

6. Consider the metaphor of new creation in 2 Corinthians 5:17: How does this concept of being a "new creation" inspire you to live differently? What changes can you make to reflect this new identity? [10:57]

7. How can you support others in your community to grow in spiritual-mindedness and assurance of eternal life? What role can you play in encouraging and mentoring others in their faith journey? [30:09]

Devotional

Day 1: Alive in Christ
Christians are spiritually alive, having been transformed from death in sin to life in Christ. This transformation is not merely a future promise but a present reality, a foretaste of eternity that has already begun within us. The metaphors of rebirth and resurrection illustrate this profound change, emphasizing that our spiritual vitality is a testimony to the life to come. This new life in Christ is a glimpse of the new creation, where something of eternity has perforated into our present existence. As believers, we are called to live in the light of this reality, allowing the life of Christ to be evident in our daily walk. [06:49]

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate the new life you have in Christ today, allowing others to see the transformation He has brought in you?


Day 2: Spiritual-Mindedness
Living for God involves demonstrating spiritual-mindedness, which means setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. This mindset shapes our behavior and aligns us with God's will, emphasizing the importance of immersing ourselves in Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and actions. Spiritual-mindedness is not about intellectualism but about allowing the Spirit to illuminate the beauty of Christ in our lives. By focusing on the things of the Spirit, we cultivate a life that reflects God's purposes and desires. [14:08]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to set your mind on the things of the Spirit, and how might this change your interactions with others?


Day 3: The Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in our spiritual journey, illuminating the beauty of Christ and reminding us of our identity as God's children. The Spirit's ministry is to make Christ known to us, ensuring that we have a big and majestic view of the Lord Jesus. This understanding shapes our identity and empowers us to live in a way that honors God. The Spirit's presence in our lives is a constant reminder of God's love and grace, guiding us in truth and helping us to grow in our faith. [30:09]

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." (John 15:26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to reveal more of Christ's beauty to you today, and what impact might this have on your spiritual growth?


Day 4: Assurance of Eternal Life
The promise of being brought all the way home is a source of hope and assurance for believers. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, guaranteeing that we will be raised to eternal life. This hope anchors us amid trials and temptations, reminding us of God's complete and ongoing redemptive work. As we face challenges, we can hold onto the assurance that God will bring us safely to His eternal kingdom, where we will experience the fullness of life in His presence. [41:24]

"And 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 his Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of the assurance of eternal life today, especially when facing difficulties or doubts?


Day 5: Mindset and Sanctification
Our mindset is a reflection of our spiritual maturity and growth in sanctification. The way we think about life affects our actions, and spiritual-mindedness involves cultivating holy thoughts and aspirations. This passage emphasizes the role of progressive sanctification in shaping our minds and aligning us with God's purposes. As we grow in our faith, we are called to continually renew our minds, allowing God's truth to transform us and guide our decisions. [23:14]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your mindset that needs renewal today, and how can you actively seek God's transformation in that area?

Quotes

"There are a number of contrasts in Romans 8, and we'll see a few more of them in the next few minutes. And I want to take you back to 1974. I had recently graduated from undergraduate from university in mathematics and I was heading to seminary. I wasn't quite clear at first where that would be, and it ended up at Reformed Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi." [00:00:01]

"John Owen, I think, thought in Latin and translated into English, which accounts for the prolixity of his English style. And at 5:30 in the morning, it was incredibly difficult to make out what John Owen was actually saying except that he was urging with all of his might that we would grow in grace and that we would demonstrate, as a consequence to our justification, that we would demonstrate in great quantities a measure of sanctification that was in harmony with the desire and work of the Holy Spirit within us." [00:02:11]

"Now, I want to see three things in this passage this evening, three statements that are true about every Christian. And the first is that the Christian is alive. Now, I don't mean that he or she has a pulse. I don't mean it in the soulish sense. And sometimes in the Bible the word 'soul' or 'spirit' can simply refer to the fact that we are alive, that we are self-aware, that we have self-consciousness, that which continues to be after death, that we continue to be alive." [00:06:01]

"Think of the metaphors that the New Testament employs. The one in John chapter 3 where Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, unless a man is born again or born from above, unless a man has experienced that sovereign work of regeneration in his heart, in her heart, he cannot see the kingdom of God. He cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:3 and John 3:5. He is speaking to Nicodemus." [00:08:46]

"Every Christian is alive with a life that is a testimony to the life to come, that something of eternity has perforated into our life right now. We have a glimpse of eternity just perforated into our very existence. Or think of the metaphor in Romans 6 and in verse 13: 'Do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.'" [00:11:46]

"Sinclair Ferguson, who has been my friend for over forty years would often end his sermon saying...I had the privilege of ministering alongside him for two years at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia. And sometimes at the end of a sermon, he would say, 'Isn't it a great thing to be alive? Isn't it a great thing to be spiritually alive? Isn't it a great thing to be a Christian?' We are alive. We are not dead. We are alive with a life that that will continue forever." [00:13:28]

"What does he mean precisely here by engaging in spiritual-mindedness? Well, I have a little test for you. Roughly about the same time as I was reading John Owen in 1974-75, I picked up probably the year before a little booklet by John Stott. And I have a great affinity for John Stott. I was converted through reading his book Basic Christianity. I owe my life, my spiritual life to him. I owe it to God primarily, but I owe it to John Stott instrumentally." [00:14:58]

"John Owen, and I'm going back forty-five years, but I remember vividly reading this question in his treatise on the duty of spiritual-mindedness. He asked a question, 'What do you think about when you are not thinking about anything in particular?' You know, sometimes we are so fixated on what we are doing. Our mind is going a hundred miles an hour because we're on a project, we're on a mission. But I'm talking about those times when you're sitting in the chair and daydreaming." [00:23:06]

"Do you remember what John Calvin said in the Institutes in book one chapter 11 and section 8? That man's mind is a perpetual factory of idols, idolorum fabricam, a perpetual factory of idols. Now, he's pre-industrial, but in our minds we think of a conveyor belt, and these people with almost mindless jobs and they are producing these widgets and they are just coming out one after another and they are dropping into a basket, just one after another." [00:25:30]

"To mind the things of the Spirit. What do you think the Spirit minds? Now, that would be a two-hour course in seminary. If R.C. were here, it would be a twenty-four-lecture series. What would the Holy Spirit mind? And I've only got a few minutes. Let's think about a few of them, things that are dear and close to the Holy Spirit. Scripture. 'Holy men of old wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.'" [00:26:32]

"It is to make Christ known to you and me. He is the personal representative agent of the Lord Jesus now that Jesus in His incarnate body is in heaven. He is in another realm. He is in a parallel universe to this one. He has crossed through the veil to a place as we call 'heaven.' And there He is physically in space and time. And He cannot be in two places at one time. His human body does not possess the attribute of ubiquity, but instead He sends His Spirit, His personal representative agent, the One with whom as the Son of God He has been in communion with for all eternity. He makes Jesus special to you." [00:30:21]

"And part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is not only to urge us to think holy thoughts, to mortify unholy thoughts, to be spiritually-minded, in other words, but also to remind us of the very character of the redemptive purposes that are at work here. Because when God saves us, He doesn't do so piecemeal and He doesn't do so half-heartedly, but He does so with a view to the grand finale of this redemptive purpose that we will see in the very final message of our weekend tomorrow that I think that Steve Lawson, Dr. Lawson, will be addressing." [00:39:50]

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Transcript
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