Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 8:12-27 Part 1

INTRO: From time to time in the paper or on TV you  hear about a 'paternity suit' in which a mother sues for support of her child on the grounds that a certain man is the father though he denies it. In the past, this was very hard to prove. But today a test can be administered to both the alleged father and the child. This test examines the genetic make up of these two individuals and can tell with almost 100% accuracy whether the man is the child's father.

EXP: Last week I challenged you to look at your behavior, your bent and see if it is toward sin and worldly things or toward holiness and spiritual things. But I really didn't give you any specific telltale signs of true Christianity. Today, I want to do that because Paul does.

         Our text this morning, in a way,  is a kind of paternity test. It will help you to determine whether God is your Father. And whether the Holy Spirit dwells within you.  And this test is 100% accurate.

TRANS: Romans 8:12-27 we will find that those who are 'in Christ' have been given three things by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

I. God's Spirit gives......a New Obligation (Rom. 8:12-13)
    A. Background
         Therefore, Paul says, because of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life you are no longer under obligation to the flesh,  to your sinful desires and ways. You are no longer to live your life with a bent toward sin.  If you do, you will end up like the non- christian because you are not in fact...Christian.

         However, Paul says, the Holy Spirit has given the Believer a NEW OBLIGATION. Not only are we not to live according to the flesh, to our sinful desires and actions, we are now obligated to go further, to take the next step and put sin  in our lives to death.

         Paul realizes that although we have the privilege of experiencing victory over sin, it will not come automatically. And he knows that such a courageous act of self denial is so difficult that many of us will give up before we even try...and so we ought, because without the intercession and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we will be doomed to failure. God knows that.

         There is a progression in Rom. 8 in the battle against sin in our lives. First, we set our minds on the things of the Spirit. Next we walk according to the Spirit and third, we put to death our sinful ways  thru the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God is involved in each step.

    B. Why are we even obligated to the Holy Spirit?
1. The HS gave us life (vs 2)
2. The HS freed us from  bondage of sin and death (vs 2)
3. The HS fulfills righteousness in us (vs 4)
4. The HS draws our minds to spiritual things (vs 5)
5. The HS gives us peace (vs 6)
6. The HS dwells in us (vs 9)
7. The HS will give life one day to our bodies (vs 10-11)

 The Holy Spirit has done so much for us already, and He will do even more. Yes, we are under obligation, indebted to Him.

    C. Under obligation to do what?
          To put sin to death. To mortify, to put in subjection, to destroy the strength of our sin, or as
Rom. 6:13 tells us 'to not present our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness.'

         This is our part. To actively begin to deny sin in our lives. This is where Paul tells us not to do things that are sinful. Avoid sin, stay away from it and from all opportunities to sin. Jesus tells us the same thing.

READ: Mk. 9:43,45,47

         But note, this is only possible, thru the Spirit. By keeping our mind on Spiritual things and by yielding to the leading of the HS in our lives.

APP: What does this look like? Let's get practical. Let's say you have a problem with drinking. It has come to the point where it is threatening your family life and you know it is affecting your fellowship with God.

         First, ask forgiveness and to be filled with the HS. Ask the HS to empower you to withstand the temptation to drink. Begin to saturate your life with Spiritual things: read His Word, listen to Christian music, attend worship regularly and freely participate in it. Spend time with Christian friends who will hold you accountable for your actions. Ask to be discipled by a mature Believer. Pray, pray, pray.

         And stay out of bars and all other places where you will be tempted to take a drink. Stay away from those who will encourage you to drink. Get rid of all the booze in your home.

         And understand that 'putting to death' is in a continuous tense in the Greek. It means this is to be done, every day. There is never a time you can stop depending on the HS. There is never a time you can let down your guard.

         God is your Father, you are a true Christian if you have been given a new obligation by the Holy Spirit. And you will know it because you will now want to put an end to the battle with sin and you will be enabled to do so when you lean upon the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.

TRANS:  God's Spirit gives a new obligation to those called by God and thru Him He enables us to experience victory in our battle against sin in our lives. A second test of true Christianity is that

II. God's Spirit gives......a New Identity  (Rom. 8:14-17)

Read: 1 Cor. 2:12,  2 Tim. 1:7

Note: The idea in all these three texts is the same. On the one hand there is bondage, worldliness and fear. On the other hand there is sonship, spiritual  power and love. Paul is telling us that a sign of true Christianity is our NEW IDENTITY.

 There are two aspects of our New Identity that Paul addresses.
    A. New Identity: One who is led by the Spirit
        DEF: Led:
                1. To carry & bear along.
                    The HS carries the Believer thru the trials of life, when you are tired, and weary and weak.
                    This is the comfort ministry of the Holy Spirit.

                2. To guide.
                    The HS guides the Believer along the paths of righteousness and truth by going ahead and making a path for us to
                    follow. This is the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit.

                3. To bring to an end.
                    The HS brings the Believer to our desired destination: heaven. This is the sealing ministry of the Holy Spirit.

         Being led by the Holy Spirit is never cause for fear. However, continuing in sin leads to fear, anxiety, tension, to dread.  You know what I am talking about....will I be found out? What will people think of me if they do find out?

         Why do we have no fear, because our new identity involves our adoption as children of God. But before I go there let me explain why our adoption releases us from a life of fear.

         It is through our adoption by the Spirit as children of God that we have access to the very presence of God. No matter what the situation, no matter what the Believer faces, he is able to

 1. Enter the presence of God
 2. Lay his fear before God
 3. Cry out 'Abba Father'...help me!
 4. Know and believe that God will help you, because God so loves His children.

    B. New Identity: One who is adopted by the Spirit
         Adoption in the Romans world was a deliberate choice made by a father to adopt a son so that he may perpetuate his name, inherit his estate and represent his father in all matters.Paul says that the indwelling Holy Spirit testifies or bears witness to our spirit, our inner man, that we are children of God. No longer children of the devil, but children of God. We have a new and glorious identity given to us by the HS.

APP: Believer, You have been chosen by God out of the orphanage of  the world. You have been selected for a purpose. To perpetuate the name of God. To be Christians,  which actually means 'little Christs'. To continue to make His name great in all the world. To be representatives of His goodness and mercy and grace. AND to inherit His estate. To be joint heirs with Jesus of the storehouse of God.

         O that we would sense the fullness and greatness of our adoption. So intense is this reality that when we do begin to comprehend it we cry out..'Abba Father'. Isn't that great? Just think in the cold, impersonal world we live in, we share with Jesus a special name for God, 'daddy'. That name ought to bring great comfort and joy to all God's children.

         Have you allowed the HS to remove your fear? Have you experienced the joy and peace of adoption as a child of God. Have you ever cried out from the very bottom of your heart and soul, 'Abba Father'? Have you ever heard your Father in heaven answer you?
                                                                          Then you are truly In Christ.