Tonight we looked at Romans 8:1-5 and the difference between living ‘according to the Spirit’ and ‘according to the flesh.’ The Bible makes it plain that there are only two ways to live (see also Matt 7:13-14) and that we can now live differently because of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.
Paul has made it plain in Romans 1-3 that there is a universal problem of sin which affects both Jews and Gentiles. Faith in God is the way forwad into the redemption which God has provided through Jesus (Rom 3-4); when we count ourselves dead to sin but alive to God through Jesus, we can live a life of freedom, without condemnation and without being in slavery to sin (Rom 6). The battle may still continue between our old nature and our new nature (Rom 7), but ultimately we are now free to live according to the Spirit, whom God gives us when we are born again.
Mindset is all important in life, for it’s only as we allow God’s Spirit to rule in our lives that our minds can be set on what God wants, rather than always giving in to selfishness. We are now living in a new country, in new territory, so to speak. We are children of God, heirs and co-heirs with Christ, having a wonderful future. Our troubles and trials here on earth are as nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us and we can be confident nothing will separate us from the love of God. Confidence, purpose and trust are the key aspects of life according to the Spirit.