THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 8 of 30 ". . . but IF by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, YOU WILL LIVE." – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
Now we come to grips with the appointed means by which spiritual life is maintained – and it MUST be maintained! In Christ, we are not put into an automatic holding pattern. Nothing about spiritual life is mechanical, or even perfunctory. If the first and great commandment is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, there cannot possibly be an expression of that love that excludes those qualities.
Our faithfulness is not an appointment, and is nowhere presented as though it was. It is true, the MEANS through which faithfulness takes place IS appointed, but faithfulness itself requires the exertion of sanctified effort through personal faith and the influence of the ungrieved and unquenched Spirit of God.
These are not mere technical statements. You yourself are involved in maintaining your spiritual life. Israel was Divinely delivered from Egypt, but they had a great number of things to do themselves – from preparing the passover lamb, to sprinkling its blood, to eating the meal, and being ready to depart on a moment's notice (Ex 12). The Lord sustained Israel with manna – but they had to gather it every day, prepare it, and consume it (Ex 16:32-33). One of God's inscrutable "ways" is to involve the saved in their own salvation. He will part the Red Sea, but Israel must walk through it (Ex 14:16). The angel will deliver Peter from prison, but he himself must walk out (Acts 12:8). The Lord will turn the captivity of Job, but only when he has "prayed for his friends" (Job 42:10).
"IF"
When the word "IF" is used, human choice is involved, and faith is required. Neither the choice nor the faith is taken for granted. Here is a word that defines a condition that must be met. It will require the exertion of human will, determination, and some form of action. It is a sort of gate that leads to the blessing, and God will not allow us to ignore it. This key word "IF" is repeatedly used in Romans.
RIGHTEOUSNESS IF WE BELIEVE. "But for us also, to whom it [righteousness] shall be imputed, IF we believe on him that raised up our Lord from the dead" (4:24). It is not possible to be made righteous if we do not believe.
RAISED WITH CHRIST IF PLANTED WITH HIM. "For IF we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection" (6:5). If we are not planted with Christ, it is not possible to be raised with Him.
LIVE WITH CHRIST IF DEAD WITH HIM. "Now IF we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (6:8). If we are not dead with Christ to sin and this world, it is impossible to live with Him.
IF INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS ARE AGAINST OUR WILL, WE AGREE WITH THE LAW. "IF then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good" (7:16). If wayward thoughts hurt and grieve us, it is because the law of God is written upon our hearts.
IF INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS ARE AGAINST OUR WILL, THEY ARE NOT CHARGED TO US. "Now IF I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me" (7:20). If wayward thoughts come to us against our will, being hurled as fiery darts by the wicked one, they will not be charged against us.
WE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH IF THE SPIRIT RESIDES IN US. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you" (8:9b). It is not possible to be dominated by the flesh if the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in us. If we are dominated by sin, it is because we have grieved the Spirit, sending Him away.
WE BELONG TO CHRIST ONLY IF WE HAVE HIS SPIRIT. "Now IF any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (8:9b). It is not possible to belong to Christ if His Spirit in abrasive to ours.
OUR BODY IS DEAD AND OUR SPIRIT IS ALIVE IF CHRIST IS IN US. "And IF Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (8:10). The body cannot exert dominion over us if we are alive to God by the Holy Spirit.
IF THE SPIRIT IS IN US, HE WILL ENABLE OUR BODIES TO SERVE CHRIST. "But IF the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (8:11). God is faithful to empower us to serve Him with our bodies if His Holy Spirit lives within us.
IF WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, WE WILL DIE. "For IF ye live after the flesh, ye shall die." It is not possible to be ruled by the flesh and remain alive to God.
IF, THROUGH THE SPIRIT, WE PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, WE WILL LIVE. " . . . but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (8:13). If we do not quench the Holy Spirit, He will empower us to subdue the sinful nature.
IF WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, WE ARE HEIRS. "And IF children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." God has no children that are not heirs.
WE ARE HEIRS IF WE SUFFER WITH CHRIST. " . . . if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" (8:17). God has no heirs that do not suffer.
IF WE HAVE HOPE, WE WILL FAITHFULLY WAIT FOR ITS REALIZATION. "But IF we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (8:25). Impatience, or a lack of perseverance, reveals the absence of hope.
IF GOD IS FOR IS, NONE CAN EFFECTIVELY BE AGAINST US. "IF God be for us, who can be against us?" (8:31). It is not possible for adversaries to get the best of those protected by God.
IF WE CONFESS WITH OUR MOUTH AND BELIEVE IN OUR HEART, WE WILL BE SAVED. "That IF thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (10:9). Closed mouths and hard hearts eliminate salvation.
IF GOD DID NOT SPARE THOSE WHO BELONGED TO HIM BY CHOICE, HE WILL NOT SPARE THOSE WHO WERE GRANTED TO BE PART OF THEM. "For IF God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee" (11:21). If we follow the path of those who were not spared by God, we will also not be spared.
GOD WILL BE GOOD TO US IF WE CONTINUE IN THAT GOODNESS. "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, IF thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off" (11:22). If we ignore God's goodness, we will be cut off.
IF THE JEWS DO NOT REMAIN IN UNBELIEF, GOD WILL AGAIN RECEIVE THEM. "And they also, IF they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again" (11:23). It is not possible for the Jews to continue to be rejected if they believe.
In God's kingdom, one cannot enjoy the benefits without the cause. Therefore, to neglect what brings the blessing constitutes the forfeiture of the blessing itself. On the other hand, it is not possible to embrace the means of the blessing without enjoying that blessing.
The word "IF" stands as a sort of line of demarcation. The result posed is conditioned upon the circumstance required by "if." For example, it simply is NOT possible to receive the righteousness of God if we do not believe on Him (4:24). If we have not been planted together in the likeness of Christ's death, we cannot be in the likeness of His resurrection (6:5). If the Spirit of God is not in us, we are still in the flesh (8:9a). If we choose to live in the flesh, we will die!
The word "IF," therefore, puts the ball into our court. At this point, the lot is cast into our lap (Prov 16:33). If we react to our responsibility properly, as we will see, the Lord will accomplish the work in us. If we do not, we are foolish to imagine the desired work will be completed. It is said of Israel, "Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psa 78:41). Be sure you do not do the same.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me the grace to always be on the right side of "IF."