It’s All About CertaintyIt’s All About CertaintyRomans 8:1-39Romans 8:1-39

It’s all about VictoryIt’s all about Victory

We Have The Spirit’s We Have The Spirit’s GuidanceGuidance

Romans 8:12-17Romans 8:12-17

It’s a given that It’s a given that we now have the we now have the spirit living inside spirit living inside us. Yes, what are us. Yes, what are

we to do now? we to do now? What are we now What are we now able to do with able to do with

the spirit’s help? the spirit’s help?

1212 Therefore, brothers, we Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is have an obligation—but it is

not to the sinful nature, to live not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. according to it. 13 13 For if you For if you live according to the sinful live according to the sinful

nature, you will die; but if by nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will misdeeds of the body, you will

live, live,

We should never think that We should never think that we are beyond the lingering we are beyond the lingering

tug of the fleshly nature. tug of the fleshly nature. When we sin the spirit is When we sin the spirit is

there to help us. there to help us.

1John 1:1John 1:88If we claim to be If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. and the truth is not in us. 99If we If we confess our sins, he is faithful confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our and just and will forgive us our

sins and purify us from all sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. unrighteousness. 1010If we claim If we claim we have not sinned, we make we have not sinned, we make

him out to be a liar and his word him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.has no place in our lives.

The Two ways The Two ways will produce will produce long lasting long lasting effects. One effects. One you will die you will die

and the other and the other you will live you will live

forever.forever.

In other words, we are not to live In other words, we are not to live according to the flesh. God according to the flesh. God created man body, mind, and created man body, mind, and spirit. When man sinned, his spirit spirit. When man sinned, his spirit died to God. Remember that God died to God. Remember that God warned, “But of the tree of the warned, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely dieshalt surely die”” (Gen. 2:17). (Gen. 2:17). McGee, J. V. (1991). McGee, J. V. (1991).

99But you are not controlled by But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) belong to him at all.) 

The stakes are The stakes are high but we as high but we as

born again born again Christian have theChristian have the difference maker. difference maker.

The holy spirit The holy spirit enables the child enables the child of God to say No of God to say No to sin if we chose to sin if we chose

too.too.

  Gal 5:Gal 5:16 16 So I So I say, let the say, let the Holy Spirit Holy Spirit guide your guide your

lives. Then you lives. Then you won’t be doing won’t be doing

what your what your sinful nature sinful nature

craves.craves.

Romans 8:Romans 8:1414 because those because those who are led by the Spirit of who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. God are sons of God. 15 15 For For

you did not receive a spirit that you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the fear, but you received the

Spirit of son ship. And by him Spirit of son ship. And by him we cry, we cry, “Abba,“Abba, Father.”   Father.” 

We can say no We can say no to the flesh but to the flesh but

we can also we can also have assurance have assurance that we belong that we belong to the family of to the family of

God.God.

The Holy Spirit clearly enters The Holy Spirit clearly enters the believer not just to put out the believer not just to put out

flash fires that our flesh flash fires that our flesh creates, but to lead us as Sons creates, but to lead us as Sons

of God. of God.

God does not drive His sheep; God does not drive His sheep; He leads them. When our Lord He leads them. When our Lord

told of the safety and security of told of the safety and security of the sheep, He made it clear that the sheep, He made it clear that they were not they were not forcedforced into the will into the will

of His hand and that of the of His hand and that of the Father. He said, “My sheep hear Father. He said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them [my voice, and I know them [and and

I drive them out!I drive them out! Oh, no] and Oh, no] and they they follow me”follow me” (John 10:27). (John 10:27).

McGee, J. V. (1991). McGee, J. V. (1991).

V15 God reminded the listener V15 God reminded the listener that God lead the Children of that God lead the Children of

Israel out of Egypt and Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He did through the wilderness. He did

not give them the spirit of not give them the spirit of slavery, but the spirit of slavery, but the spirit of

adoption. This truly was a adoption. This truly was a picture of the Lord Jesus picture of the Lord Jesus

Christ.Christ.

This fear is taken away by This fear is taken away by Christ , yet people today try to Christ , yet people today try to add works of Bondage and live add works of Bondage and live in fear hoping to live up to the in fear hoping to live up to the perfect life that Christ could perfect life that Christ could only live. We that are born only live. We that are born again can cast off that fear again can cast off that fear

and live free in Christ knowing and live free in Christ knowing that we belong to God’s that we belong to God’s

family. family.

The word “Abba” is an The word “Abba” is an Aramaic word that would most Aramaic word that would most

closely be translated as closely be translated as “Daddy.” It was a common “Daddy.” It was a common term that young children term that young children

would use to address their would use to address their fathers. It signifies the close fathers. It signifies the close

intimate relationship of a intimate relationship of a father to his child, as well as father to his child, as well as

the childlike trust that a young the childlike trust that a young child puts in his “daddy.” child puts in his “daddy.”

Romans 8:Romans 8:1616The Spirit The Spirit himself testifies with our himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s spirit that we are God’s

children. children. 1717Now if we are Now if we are children, then we are heirs—children, then we are heirs—

heirs of God and co-heirs heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in share in his sufferings in

order that we may also share order that we may also share in his glory. in his glory.

Third we as believers can Third we as believers can confidently endure trials and confidently endure trials and suffering because the Holy suffering because the Holy

Spirit testifies to the fact that Spirit testifies to the fact that we are children of God. we are children of God.

In Paul’s day children that were In Paul’s day children that were legally adopted immediately legally adopted immediately

became full heirs along side with became full heirs along side with the natural born children. the natural born children.

Because of the Spirit’s presence Because of the Spirit’s presence in the believers life we to are in the believers life we to are

confident that we belong to God confident that we belong to God for all eternity heirs of God-for all eternity heirs of God-

Coheirs of Christ. Coheirs of Christ.

Eph. 1:3 Blessed Eph. 1:3 Blessed bebe the God  the God and Father of our Lord Jesus and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in with all spiritual blessings in heavenly heavenly placesplaces in Christ: in Christ:

Next time we meet we :Next time we meet we :Have the Spirits PrayersHave the Spirits Prayers

Romans 8:26-27Romans 8:26-27