Walking “By the Spirit” Romans 8:1-4

Background “But now we have been released from the law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power. Now we can really serve God, not in the old way by obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way, by the Spirit.” Romans 7:6 (NLT) Romans 7:6 (NLT)

A New Way to Approach God! [8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus [, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.] Romans 8:1 (NKJV) Z` [4] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:4 (NASB-U) Never appears before 6 th Century!

[NLT] So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. [NIV] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus [GW] So those who are believers in Christ Jesus can no longer be condemned. [La Biblia de las Américas] Por consiguiente, no hay ahora condenación para los que están en Cristo Jesús

Disappoint Yourself? Disgust Yourself? Surprise Yourself?

Significant Events in History Timeline Forgiveness TOO Far Ahead!?!? 1 Sin

Christ Offers Real Freedom! [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? – Romans 7:24 (NASB-U)

Christ Offers Real Freedom! l [3] For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, l [4] so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:2-4 (NASB-U)

What is “Walking by the Spirit” ? Romans 8:5-8 [5] For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. [6] For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [7] because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, [8] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

What is “Walking by the Spirit” ? l Not Setting Our Minds on the “Flesh” The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. –Romans. 8:6 n God Has Declared It Dead, Dead, Dead!! –Dead to sinRomans 6:11 –Dead to self Romans 6:6 –Dead to Law Romans 7:6 –Dead to the Kosmos Galatians 6:14

What is “Walking by the Spirit” ? l Not Setting Our Minds on the “Flesh” n Dead to sin  Not a Sin Focus n Dead to self  Not a Self-Focus n Dead to Law  Not a Law-Focus n Dead to the Kosmos  Not a Kosmos-Focus l Is Setting Our Mind on “The Spirit” n A Christ-Focus n Others-Focus n Grace-Focus n Body of Christ-Focus

Walking by the Spirit: Not an Academic Point! View of Myself View of God God View of Others View of the Past View of the Future View of the the Places you Go! View of the the World!

What is “Walking by the Spirit” ? l Not Setting Our Minds on the “Flesh” n Dead to sin  Not a Sin Focus n Dead to self  Not a Self-Focus n Dead to Law  Not a Law-Focus n Dead to the Kosmos  Not a Kosmos-Focus l Is Setting Our Mind on “The Spirit” n A Christ-Focus n Others-Focus n Grace-Focus n Body of Christ-Focus This Week

A Sin-Focused Walk l “Meditating on my Sin” l 1 John 1:9: n [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9 (NASB-U) [8:1] There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus! [14] For by that one offering he perfected forever all those whom he is making holy. Hebrews 10:14 (NLT)

A Sin-Focused Walk l “Meditating on my Sin” l 1 John 1:9: n [9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9 (NASB-U) l Often entails presenting ourselves as in Adam Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead! – Romans 6:13b (NASB-U)

A Christ-Centered Focus 1. What God Has Done For Me! Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. – Col. 3:1-2 (NASB-U) “You were dead in your transgressions and sins...and God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” – Eph. 2:1,6

A Christ-Centered Focus 1. What God Has Done For Me! 2. Talk with Him! l I.e., Prayer! l Not Formal, Ritualistic Prayer! “There are myriad approaches to both prayer and meditation. No way is the right way... The real thing is the actual experience of God.” - John Bradshaw, Bradshaw On: The Family (Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, 1988), pp.234

A Christ-Centered Focus 1. What God Has Done For Me! 2. Talk with Him! l With a Vertical Perspective Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. – Proverbs 3:6 Pray without ceasing! – 1 Thes. 5:17 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. – John 15:4 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace – Romans 8:6 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it! – Psalm 118:24 (NASB-U)

A Christ-Centered Focus 1. What God Has Done For Me! 2. Talk with Him! l With a Vertical Perspective l Loaded with Thanksgiving! Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him, bless His name! – Psalm 100:4 (NASB-U) “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 25:34 (NLT)

A Christ-Centered Focus 1. What God Has Done For Me! 2. Talk with Him! l With a Vertical Perspective l Loaded with Thanksgiving! l Face to Face! So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. – Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” – Luke 11:13 (NASB-U)

A Christ-Centered Focus 1. What God Has Done For Me! 2. Talk with Him! 3. Worship Him! 4. Read the Word!