Commentary on "Freedom in Christ"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 5: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - The Spirit in Us

 

Overview

This is the quarterly lesson introduction for today:

Paul continues his theme, contrasting the two possibilities that people face in how they live: either according to the Spirit—that is, the Holy Spirit of God, which is promised to us—or according to their sinful and carnal nature. One leads to eternal life, the other to eternal death. There is no middle ground. Or, as Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters” (Matt. 12:30, NKJV). It’s hard to get plainer, or more black and white, than that (Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide; July, Aug, Sept, 2010, Page 108).

 

Observations

The first observation to be made is that the quote from Matthew is taken out of context and has nothing to do with salvation, eternal life or even eternal death. Jesus is confronting the nonsense of the Pharisees who claim he is casting out demons through the power of Beelzebul. He then warns them that all sins can be forgiven except for one, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Notice also that the claim is made that how we live will determine our eternal destiny. Oddly enough, this could very well be close to the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit Jesus is warning us about in the Matthew quote.

Consider the question of salvation by the Philippian Jailer:

Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family (Matt. 16:30-33 ESV).

And what was the gospel message that led to their salvation?

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (I Cor. 15:1-4 ESV).

Here is what Jesus had to say on the topic of what you must do to enter the Kingdom of God:

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6 ESV).

According to Scripture, Jesus paid the penalty of sin in our lives. When we respond in faith to the gospel message we inherit eternal life and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which brings life to our dead spirit.

Your are ‘in the Spirit’ when and if the Holy Spirit indwells you, Rom. 8:9. If Jesus, via the Holy Spirit, indwells you, although the body is declared dead because of sin, the Holy Spirit is life, Rom. 8:10. The Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the grave, will do the same for those who he indwells, Rom. 8:11. Therefore, we are no longer in debt to live according to the flesh, Rom. 8:12. Certainly, those who live by the flesh will die. But, those who live by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh and will live, Rom. 8:13. The reason those who are led by the Spirit will live is because they are sons/daughters of God, Rom. 8:14.

 

Summary

1. How we live does not determine our eternal destiny. Rather, it is the other way around. Our changed way of life is the result of the change of our eternal destiny and not the cause of it.
2. The active agent in our changed way of life is the Holy Spirit, given by our Savior in response to our faith in the gospel message of Jesus Christ.
3. Those who are indwelt and led by the Holy Spirit are declared to be the sons/daughters of God at the moment of their spiritual birth.
4. You should note well the implications of the act of baptism in the life of the Philippian Jailer and his family upon responding to the gospel message and the promise of eternal life. Clearly, it wasn’t preceded by an involved study of biblical doctrines. All the changes in their way of life would come later as they grew in sanctification through the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 

GO TO DAY 6

 

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