SENIOR SUNDAY SCHOOL 21 April 2024
Text: Romans 8
Subject: “If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you”
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:9-11
THE PARTICLE “IF”
1. It can be hypothetical
a) Used as an argument
b) It is essentially conditional
2. It can be doctrinally correct and real
a) This is the use of the “If” clause in this text
b) The Spirit of God does indeed dwell in every true believer
DOCTRINAL SIGNIFICANCE
1. The Holy Spirit is called
“The Spirit of Christ”
a) He is fully Divine as the Lord Jesus is
b) He fully embodies all that is found in the Lord Jesus
2. He indwells every believer
a) As a Seal
b) As a Guarantee (Ephesians 1:13-14)
PRACTICAL AND PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE
1. Through faith in the Lord Jesus
a) We are saved from the penalty and power of sin
b) The body (the flesh) is dead because of sin
c) But we are now made alive in the Lord through the Spirit of God
d) We have imputed righteousness through the Spirit
2. Powerful ramifications
a) The Spirit of God gives us life to our mortal body
b) This is a work that needs to be realised
3. Example of how this works
The Apostle Paul is a clear example
12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,
13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:12-17
a) A life marked by sin (1 Timothy 1:13)
b) Salvation experienced
c) Paul was a new creation of God (2 Corinthians 5:17)
WHY HAVE SO FEW SEEN THIS TRANSFORMATION?
1. Ignorance of Biblical teachings
2. Iniquity has not been forsaken
3. Importance of walking in the Spirit has not been fully comprehended and practised