Life Through the Spirit

 Today we move to the New Testament, where believers in Jesus are learning about the gift they have already received in the Holy Spirit. As you study this passage, take your time, and note all of the things that Paul (the author of Romans) is promising to those who have the Holy Spirit. Reflect on your own experience of the work of the Holy Spirit and ask God to invite you into a deeper experience of the Spirit’s work in your life.

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Romans 8:1-17

 

REFLECTION

 

Promises Fulfilled

by Kelsey Bacon

 

What a passage. There is so much goodness packed in these verses, so much truth about the Spirit, about who God is and what he provides for us. During this Christmas season, I’ve been thinking a lot about the promises of God. In Luke 1, the angel comes to Mary and delivers a lot of really big promises from God. God promises to send his Son, he promises that Mary will become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, and he promises that the Son of God Mary births will be the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and his reign will last forever.

 

As I studied this story, seeing how God fulfilled all these promises, I challenged myself to trust in all of God’s promises to me, and that made me think: what all does God promise? And then this passage was dropped in my lap, a passage full of the promises of God. Here is what God promises to those who are in him, according to Romans 8:1-17. Read these and take them in, taking time to process that all of these statements are true for you in your life right now.

·       You are not condemned for your sin but forgiven through Christ

·       The Holy Spirit lives and works in you

·       You belong to Christ Jesus

·       You have new life, every day, no matter what sin you have committed, because Jesus is righteous

·       You are a child of God, adopted into his family forever

·       You are an heir to the inheritance of eternal life and eternal glory in heaven, and you share this inheritance with Jesus himself

 

So many beautiful promises, and so much truth. Yet, in these gospel promises, the law still does exist. Paul writes, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (8:13). This, my friends, is still the law at work in our lives. The gospel does not ask us to do anything; the gospel is about who Jesus is and what Jesus does. But even as saved Christians, the law still exists to correct and guide us. It is important to heed Paul’s correction and guidance, and as we try and fail to heed, remember the promise: we belong to Christ, we have new life every day, we are adopted, forgiven, and free.

 

Read over that list of promises again, or reread the passage entirely, and then take a moment to think about how God has fulfilled those promises in your life.

1. How have you seen the Holy Spirit renew your life?

2. How have you felt belonging in Christ?

3. Where have you seen the Holy Spirit at work in you and around you?

 

Reflect on these questions, pray, and give thanks to Jesus for his saving work in your life, and ask the Spirit to continue to guide and correct you to walk in true life with him.

 

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

 

THURSDAY: LIFE - Lord God Almighty, we lament the current distress of our nation and we ask for your intervention. We implore you that every precious life would be protected – lives of minorities, lives of the unborn, lives of the hopeless, lives of the mentally ill, lives with deep roots in this land, lives who have recently arrived -- each and every precious life for whom You gave Your precious life.

 

 

 

 

 

Living By the Spirit

Today we read another one of Paul’s letters to the early church. In the first half of the letter to the Romans, Paul deals with the beliefs of these Christians. He corrects their understanding of the Gospel and urges them toward unity together, trusting in Christ alone. Today’s passage comes toward the end of that half – giving the Christians practical direction for what it looks like to live out the Gospel. This passage is full of both warnings and promises. As you read, note these, and ask yourself, “What warning does God have for me today? What promise do I need to be reminded of?

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading from Romans 8:1-17

For more help use this Bible Study method

REFLECTION

Life in the Spirit

By Diane Ward

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit. “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

Paul opens chapter 8 of Romans with these words of assurance. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If we are in Christ as true believers, we are not living with a price on our heads. At Calvary God condemned sin on our behalf. (John 3:16) We are empowered to walk in freedom. (John 8:36)

Chronologically, the Spirit’s ministry in earth’s time and space, is staged. First age; God the Father, the law supreme and the Word spoken through prophets, priests, and kings. Second age; God the Son, under grace teaching, healing, dying rising again and glorified. Third age; God the Holy Spirit, the elect, (the called-out people,) the restoration of Paradise and the Holy Spirit’ sanctification through the Church, the Body of Christ.

The mysteries of the Holy Spirit have been revealed to us. “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) Daily living in the power of the Spirit is another matter, it is one of discipline and desire at a personal level. 

In submission we humble ourselves unto God, setting our minds on things of the Spirit so that His power is displayed in our lives. (Romans 8:5-8) While we often struggle with sin and a guilty conscience, the Spirit of God is dynamically moving toward abundant life in the Spirit. We must let no inferior presence occupy the place in our hearts where God has staked his claim, a place only he can fill.

“Jesus, without you we are orphaned and lonely, come as our Teacher and Guide. Leave us not comfortless, send us the Comforter, come to our hearts and abide.” (Catherine Marshall, The Helper)

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER - FRIDAY

FAITH - Pray for faith instead of fear, that many would come to faith in Jesus and that we would all trust God more deeply during this time.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Romans 8:12 (NIV) 
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 

This month we have been studying about care which translates into love.  We are called to care for one another because we are called to love one another.  We can love because Jesus first loved us. We can care because Jesus first cared for us.

Romans 8:2 (NIV) 
"...because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
The Holy Spirit (the Spirit of life) gives us the power to live a Christian life; to love and care for each other.

In a texting conversation with my daughter this past week, I was sharing how my friends had been so caring and attentive while I was dealing with the flu bug. These texts went something like this:

Me: A friend just dropped off some food for dinner. Great to have friends.
Daughter: Oh wow. That is awesome. You have great friends.
Me: Yes I do. Two of them covered for me at work this weekend, two more called to see how I was. I need to be more mindful of my friends in ways like this.
Daughter: I understand. So do I.
Me: They teach me to be better.
Daughter: Friends should.

The sinful nature shouts in my ear, "You don't have time for this, let someone else do it."  At the same time the Spirit is gently whispering in the other ear for me to care enough to do what Jesus would do; to say words of encourgement, go the extra mile to help.

Jesus is the only one who lived a life worth imitating from beginning to end. We are called to do as Jesus did.  Some call that discipleship. Sometimes it takes the shape of Care.


Romans 8:1-17

Romans 8:1-17

The Holy Spirit gives us the power we need to live a Christian life.  After Jesus' death, as He was preparing the followers to go on with Him, He instructed them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for a gift The Father was sending, The Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)  This is the same gift who guides us.

Those of us who were raised as Christians, baptized and even schooled in the faith, but still chose to live a life that did not mirror this fact can still take comfort in the Holy Spirit's presence.  The Spirit gives us freedom from the enslaving power of sin.  And we can agree that sin, our sin, does enslave us, right?

Prior to my life lived as child of God, the life I was caught up in had me a prisoner.  I didn't recognize it at the time, but looking back I can see my perpetual 'guilty conscience' was the Holy Spirit convicting me of my sinful ways.  I can still recall the early days of change.  They were painful and powerful at the same time.  I cannot remember what prompted my turn around; I can only recall the struggle that ensued once I made the decision to live better.

The Message Bible says it best for me here: "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." (Romans 8:1-2)

It is that "Low-lying black cloud," I no longer reside under.  The veil has lifted and I can see the light.  It makes things more comfortable to be able to see the path set before me, and follow it.

Read Romans 8:1-17 here

Listen to Romans 8:1-17 here