Week 30 - Free Weekend Program For Street & Vulnerable Children

Text : Romans 8: 1-5

Theme : Walk in the Spirit.

Romans 8 comes after our redemption by faith through Christ atoning sacrifice, where His sacrifice removes our sins. Sin no longer controls us because we are now under God’s grace, not the law. We see our ongoing battle with our sinful nature and also, our hope and freedom through Jesus Christ.

Romans 8: 1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

We are set free from the power of sin and death through Jesus’ work on the cross. This freedom is only for those who have faith in Christ. He died for our sins and fully paid the price, granting us forgiveness. We are now righteous before God because His righteousness has been imputed to us. Without Christ, there is no salvation, and without the Holy Spirit, we cannot know or experience that salvation. The Holy Spirit helps us live a life free from sin’s power and condemnation. The Spirit reveals and proclaims our salvation, freeing us from the law of sin and death through the message of the Cross.

Although we can lose our communion with God and dishonor Him by our behavior if we don’t walk according to the Spirit’s leading, yet, we are still not under the condemnation of sin. We have died with Christ and now share in a new life with Him through the Holy Spirit.

Sin cannot condemn us because we are in Christ, and are justified forever. The Spirit delivers us from the bondage of sin. Through Christ’s condemnation, God enables us to live according to His law by the power of the Spirit.

God sent His Son to set us free and give us a new life. He replaced our old, sinful nature with a new heart, allowing us to live a holy life and bear the fruit of the Spirit. Our new nature and identity are found only in Christ. Sin in the flesh, which used to torment us, has already been judged in Christ. Therefore, there is no condemnation for us because of our flesh.

Our desire is to live righteously, but it is the work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit that fulfills this in us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live righteously as we continually choose to reject our sinful nature and walk according to the Spirit’s guidance. The power lies in the Spirit, and we have the responsibility to make the choice to follow Him.

In summary, verse 1-4 states :

Firstly, Christ's sacrifice secures our salvation, freeing us from condemnation. Our justification stems from faith, ensuring a permanent status despite our occasional sins. Secondly, the Spirit liberates us from the shackles of sin, embodying the essence of life. Lastly, Christ bore our condemnation, as the law alone couldn't bring righteousness. Through Christ's condemnation, God empowers us to live in accordance with the law through the guidance of the Spirit.

Verse 5 “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”

Living according to the flesh is unbelief, it opposes faith. It involves trying to establish our own righteousness, overcome sin in our own strength, to live without faith in Christ and all His benefits. This is sad, On the other hand, being spiritually minded means believing in the gospel, allowing the Spirit to reveal Christ to us, and enabling us to love God, love others by subduing our fleshly desires.

Live according to the guidance of the Spirit, so that you do not give in to the temptations of the flesh. Rely on the message of the gospel when you become aware of your sins. Have faith in the power of the Spirit and find peace. The Spirit will actively work within you.