If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
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Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
Introduction
The Spirit of God within us has power to change us - He recreates our character to love. He does this when we live by the Spirit. Is there something that you do that you hate yourself for? God is able by His grace to change us.
We can find ourselves trying to live by the Bible’s rules. This misses what God is seeking to work in us, and is called living under the law. Just as those who love will seek the good of the one they love, so those who live by the Spirit will seek the good of their Father in heaven. Those who try to impose a law on themselves become fixated on whether or not they have broken the law. Those who focus on God, delight to do His will and are given power to do so.
Bible Zone
The Bible Zone takes us to five passages from Paul’s letter to the Romans 8, each one explaining a different aspect of the Spirit’s work in our lives.
- Victory over law - contrasts life by rules with life in the Spirit.
- The Battle Within - We choose who dominates us.
- Impact of the Spirit - The Spirit works in us and can bring victory over evil.
- Grow in life or Death - Our choices give nurture either to death or life.
- Led by the Sprit - Those who are led by God are both His children and free.
The Jews to whom Jesus came were a very religious people with life governed by the law of the Old Testament of the Bible. The Lord has worked to enable us to live free by the Spirit rather than under the control of rules and regulations. First we look at how this freedom was obtained. Romans 8:1-4
- What has Jesus and His Spirit done for those who belong to Him?
- Why was law unable to save people?
- How did God overcome the condemnation from our failure to follow the law?
- How does v4 describe those who have been freed by God?
Romans 8:1-4 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.2 And because you belong to him, the power* of the life-giving Spirit has freed you* from the power of sin that leads to death.3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.* So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
We are tempted to follow law since it appears to have the benefit of controlling our desires. Without law, we are left to choose which nature will govern our lives. Will we be controlled by our natural desires or by God’s Spirit within us. We see this In Romans 8:5-8
- Which two natures seek to control us?
- What is the result of following the sinful nature, or the Holy Spirit?
- What does Paul mean by life and death in this passage?
Romans 8:5-8 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
The sinful nature is overcome by God’s living presence in our lives. This is not something we drift into. There is an essential part of Christ living in us. (More on this) Here is Romans 8:9-11
- What requirements are needed to overcome the sinful nature?
- How is the life of the Spirit of God within us nurtured?
- How does God give life to those who have the Spirit?
Romans 8:9-11 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life* because you have been made right with God.11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Paul goes on in Romans 8:12-13 to talk of how Spiritual life can grow or whither.
- What choice does Paul set out?
- What are the outcomes to our possible choices?
Romas 8:12-13 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,* you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,* you will live.
God’s Spirit leads us. Romans 8:14-17
- What is the outcome for people who choose to be led by God?
- What is the difference in relationship between a man and his slave and a man and his son?
- What does it mean for the Spirit to lead a person?
- How have you experienced that leading?
Romans 8:14-17 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children* of God.
15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.* Now we call him, "Abba, Father."*16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
LIVE BY THE SPIRIT
