The Christian Life Essay example

Submitted By jdwidener
Words: 995
Pages: 4

The Christian Life: According to Romans 8, the Spirit is integral to our sanctification.

Presented to
Dr. Timothy Swinson

For
Bible 425 – Romans

By
John Widener

Date
July 4, 2015

Introduction:
Most of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul. Paul had written thirteen books and letters; his letters taught about how to live as a Christian and to grow into a Christ-like person. One that chapter I would like to discuss comes from Romans. It is chapter eight. This chapter written by Paul talks about life through the Spirit. “Romans chapter eight has been called the ‘inner sanctuary within the cathedral of Christian faith.”1 Its sets before us some of the most wonderful blessings we enjoy as believers; to be free of God’s condemnation, to be indwelled with God’s spirit, to be a part of the family of God. The purpose of this paper is to show; in Romans 8:1-11, Paul teaches the indwelling Spirit enables the believer to walk in obedience to God.
The Definition of Christian Sanctification:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he Condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4
The law brings condemnation because it points out our sins. But Christians are no longer “under law”. Jesus speaks of the indwelling Spirit in (John 14:15-17) The indwelling Spirit (Holy Spirit) is spoken about in verse. 2 and also in 7-11. Romans 8:9 states, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit of God lives in you.” You receive the Holy Spirit when you come to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. The Spirit is the third person in the Trinity; the Holy Spirit is the one which convicts us of our sins. When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and receive the Holy Spirit in our lives we are sanctified. According to Gregory A. Boyd “Sanctification is a process by which believers come to live a God-honoring life.”2 Walter A. Elwell tells us that sanctification is “to make holy.”3 Sanctification is nothing other than changing our lives by faith. We are justified because of God’s free gift in His one and only Son. In Eph. 2:8-9 Paul tells us “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the results of works, so that no one may boast.” We also have to obey everything God has commanded because Christ even tells us in the Great Commission to “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20). Romans 12:2 states “Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world…” This means we are to turn from our sins and strive to keep the laws, which are the Ten Commandments.
The Basis of Sanctification:
“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind