THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 12 of 30 Spiritual life is not to be taken for granted. It is not maintained independently of our involvement. The "living" of reference is conscious and effective participation with the living God, the Source of true life. It is having the blessing of God upon you, being heard by Him, and acknowledged as His own all of which is known, treasured, and appreciated by the participate. The prophets used this same kind of language, even though Israel never realized its fulfillment under the Old Covenant. "Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and YE SHALL LIVE" (Ezek 37:5). "And shall put My Spirit in you, and YE SHALL LIVE" (Ezek 37:14). "For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye Me, and YE SHALL LIVE . . . Seek the LORD, and YE SHALL LIVE" (Amos 5:4,6). This "life" is initiated by God and realized by those receiving it. 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)
The "life" of reference is not to be divorced from eternal life in fact, spiritual life is the experience of eternal life in measure. It is to eternal life what the grapes of Eschol were to the vineyards of Canaan (Num 13:23-24). It is real life, but not the whole of it. While it is not our purpose to judge who possesses eternal life, it is our responsibility to show its relationship to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. No person is "alive to God" who consistently yields to the flesh. Further, "life" is never promised to those who continue to live "according to the flesh," yielding their members as instruments of sin. To the precise degree the flesh dominates an individual, that person is dead.
This affirmation is to be taken seriously! "But if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, YOU WILL LIVE" (NASB). From one point of view, we live as soon as we are raised from baptism. As it is written, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4). That walk in a new life is, in fact, the "spiritual life" of which I speak. It does not perpetuate itself automatically, without the effort of the individual. That should be apparent by the very language: "WALK in newness of life."
The "newness of life" into which we were raised in baptism is maintained through the power of the Holy Spirit (6:4). We are to reckon ourselves to be "alive unto God through Christ Jesus our Lord," humbling yielding to the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit (6:11). While we are, indeed, "alive from the dead," that life must be maintained through the Spirit (6:13). We also have dead" influences present with us. Primarily, this deadness centers in our body, and everything that is integral to it. That is why it is written, "And if Christ be in you, THE BODY IS DEAD because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" (Rom 8:10). This deadness is the very reason why extensive effort must be exerted through the Spirit to maintain spiritual life. We do not live in a moral vacuum, as though there were no opposing forces and debilitating influences.
It is alarming, however, to see so many professed Christians living as though they were in a moral and spiritual vacuum, with no opponents, no danger, and no competing influences. The contradicting influences we confront are so powerful they can only be subdued "through the Spirit." Our text speaks only of the influences resident in our own persons. The opposition is greatly multiplied when you consider our personal adversary the devil (1 Pet 5:8), as well as "principalities," "powers," "the rulers of the darkness of this world," and "spiritual wickedness in high places" against whom we "wrestle" (Eph 6:12).
Too frequently, spiritual life is considered without due regard for the subduing of the sinful nature. Those who insist on being sloppy about their relationship to God, whether young or old, will not be able to sustain fellowship with God and Christ (1 John 1:3). They will not be able to stay alive, contradicting theologies and doctrines notwithstanding. Where a commitment to putting to death the deeds of the body is not found, life toward God cannot and will not be sustained. It is only a vain imagination to think God can be served and man advantaged by a life that is not devoted to war against sin. Sin is always the evidence of death. It is always the result of NOT putting to death the deeds of the body.
By the same token, where the deeds of the body are being put to death, and refused expression, there is undeniable evidence of the life ministered by the Holy Spirit. Those making progress in this area are to be encouraged by the precious promises of God. To put it another way, every person who struggles against sin, hating both its nature and its presence, will be supported by the Holy Spirit. He will come along side of every person who truly "wrestles" against inimical powers, enabling them to be consistent overcomers.
There can be no question about the truth of our text. If we "mortify our members that are upon the earth" (Col 3:5) through the power of the Holy Spirit, WE WILL LIVE! Assurance and confidence will be ours. Triumph over the world will be realized. Our prayers will be heard. We will experience the multiplication of grace and peace (2 Pet 1:2), and the increased reception of peace, love and faith (Eph 6:23). In other words, "YE SHALL LIVE!"
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank and praise You through Jesus Christ for providing a means to stay alive unto You!