"Spirit Works - Enemy or Family?"
(Sermon #2)

Romans 8.7-15 "Because the carnal mind [is] enmity (echthra, hostile, the enemy of) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [10] And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. [11] 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 (ZOOPOREO = to cause to make alive, to give life) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. [12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, (OPHEILETES = one held by some obligation, bound to a duty) not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons (HUIOS = a child who is mature and in good standing with God, as opposed to TEKNON, "one born") of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Last week we began a series of sermons and studies on the Holy Spirit of God. We found out several important truths from Scripture. We found out that Jesus is the Giver of the Spirit, and that He set an example as to how we are to live our lives by the Spirit. We found out that, unless you are indwelt by the Spirit of God, then you cannot be saved. We found out that the Christian is not just a "good" person, but the Christian is someone who has been "born again", or supernaturally changed by the Holy Spirit of God at the point of salvation. Furthermore, we showed how Christianity is a supernatural relationship between man and God that is only possible by the intervention of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, with His blood, bought us fellowship with God, but the Spirit enables that fellowship if you are saved.

This week we are going to talk about the "continuation of the Christian Life". There is a misunderstanding in human society that nice people are always saved. I wish that that were true, for I can honestly say that, in the past 41 years of life, I have met more nice people than I have mean people. Nice people abound, particularly here in the South. Not that there isn't the occasional jerk, the difficult person who cannot be pleased, would not be pleased even if you gave them a sack full of gold. Yes, they come along, but by and large most of the people I have met have been nice - at least, down in the South!

Because there are a lot of nice people, people who would give you the shirt off their backs, this has led many to assume that niceness = salvation. Is the couple living together unmarried "nice"? Well, since they are "nice" then they must be saved - and their lifestyle must be O.K. How about those two young men that everyone's talking about? They claim to follow a genetically imparted alternate lifestyle, and they are "soooo nice". Well, if nice = saved, then I guess their lifestyle is fine. We can say the same thing about the nice social drinker, the nice drug abuser, the nice Pharisee, the nice prostitute. If nice = saved, then everything is just fine.

Yet the Bible never leads us to assume that "nice = saved". Some of the meanest people who ever lived were not nice, though they may have become nice after salvation. Jacob took Esau's birthright by deceiving his daddy. Paul the Apostle was an assassin, hired by the Sanhedrin (ruling body of Israel) to wipe out Christians. Peter was a rough fisherman, and even after salvation tried to convince all the men they had to be circumcised to be saved - and in my book that's not nice! Matthew was a tax collector, and as most tax collectors of that day often lined his pockets by overtaxing his own people.
 

- If I believe that nice = saved, how will that affect my outlook on salvation? Are nice people always saved? - Can you name some not so nice people who were saved? Can you name some nice people who were not saved?

No, dear friend: if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you may be outwardly "nice" but to God you are just an enemy! What makes an enemy of God is not a lack of niceness, or poor moral standards, but whether you are in the family of God or not. There are three things we're going to see in our text today:

Romans 8.7-9 "Because the carnal mind [is] enmity (echthra, hostile, the enemy of) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

There are those who feel that "God is too good" to cast man into eternal hellfire. That, surely, a loving God would do no such thing to His Creation. Yet the Scripture makes it clear that it is not God who condemns man to eternal damnation, but man's refusal to accept the purification that can only come by way of the Cross of Christ. Paul begins:

Romans 8.7 "Because the carnal mind [is] enmity (echthra, hostile, the enemy of) against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

The natural human mind is automatically against Jesus Christ, automatically against the Godhead, automatically against the Law of God. If you don't believe this, then consider the religion of evolution. In school after school, university after university, evolution is taught as "absolute truth" though it is absolutely and positively no more than a matter of faith. Scientists believe in evolution, so they promote it. The natural unsaved man is against God, against our Lord Jesus Christ, so evolution - with all its flaws and suppositions - is promoted by government at federal, state, and local levels. Even though evolution, along with its sister abortion, has devalued human life to where school killings have become almost common place. The carnal or soulish mind of man cannot love God, cannot love Christ - for it is at war with God.
 

- What actually causes a person to enter a state of eternal damnation?  - The carnal mind naturally ________________ the Law and person of God. - Can an unsaved person ever please God? Why or why not?

The unsaved human mind looks at the Law of God, a Law set into motion by the pure Savior, and ridicules it as the ramblings of ancient peoples. The unsaved mind looks at the Law and searches for loopholes, for means of disproving that Law so it can be ignored. The early Church was full of bigots, so women can be Pastors. The early Church didn't understand genetics like we do, so homosexuality and homosexual behavior is fine. Ordain them to ministry, or else be branded homophobic. The unsaved human mind regards marriage as a useless convention - living together is easier, and property can be more easily divided after we separate. The unsaved human mind regards punishing our children as archaic, and instead seeks other less disciplined means. This has lead to a generation of children who do not know how to say "yes sir" or "no ma'am", a generation of children who have no respect for their elders.

Romans 8.8  "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."

We may be pleased with these developments in our society. It may lead to less friction to the Church if we compromise with the carnal or unsaved mind. We may be more pleasing to society - but not to Jesus Christ. You cannot please Jesus if you are unsaved, and if you cannot please Jesus then you cannot be saved. You cannot please Father by compromising His truths with the world in order to satisfy the world. The fingerprint of the world on your life will not gain you entrance into Heaven. No, only the fingerprint of God. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ Who came upon you at the point of salvation.

Romans 8.9 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Oh, dear seeker, here then is that which brings salvation, that Spirit of Christ. I was watching a spy movie on television the other day, and saw something that is so applicable here. The spy (or agent, whatever) wanted to get into a secured vault. In order to get into the vault, he put his hand up on a computer screen, and that computer scanned his fingerprints. Since the fingerprints matched what the computer had in its memory as one to "allow into the vault", the vault opened and the agent went inside.
 

- Why is the Holy Spirit like the "fingerprint of God"? What does that mean to me? - The "Fingerprint of God" will give me access to what?

Here then is a great truth! Heaven is like that vault, secured from all but those who are authorized to enter it. Someone paid to authorize you entrance, Jesus paid for your entrance with His blood. But unless you accept that payment by rejecting the mind of the world and by embracing the risen Savior, then the Holy Spirit can not enter your life to indwell you. Once He enters your life He marks you, He puts the fingerprint of God on you, and He changes your life. No longer are you an outsider, but you become a Son of God by Faith and by New Supernatural Birth. Praise God, you are freed from the carnal mind and are given the Family mentality.
 

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were camping in the forest. They had gone to bed and were lying beneath the night sky.  Holmes said, "Watson, look up. What do you see?"  "I see thousands of stars."  "And what does that mean to you?" Holmes asked.  "I suppose it means that of all the planets in the universe, we are truly fortunate to be here on Earth. We are small in God's eyes, but should struggle every day to be worthy of our blessings. In a meteorological sense, it means we'll have a sunny day tomorrow. What   does it mean to you, Holmes?" "My dear Watson, it means someone has stolen our tent." (TFTD)

Romans 8.10-11 "And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. [11] 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 (ZOOPOREO = to cause to make alive, to give life) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

John 4:24  "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Oh, what a great truth! Those who have not accepted Christ as Savior are the enemies of God because their nature is to go against His will - but they are also the enemies of God because they are not "Children of the Spirit". As Jesus told us, God is Spirit, and if you want to worship Him you can only do so in spirit and in truth. Volumes are in this verse. Let's look at all the ramifications of this truth.
 

- Can I be a Christian and not be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God? Why or why not? (John 4:24) - The Holy Spirit who gave me new birth will also (John 6:40; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12) _______________________________________________.

First, the Christian by Faith and by New Birth is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. This indwelling Spirit enables us to approach the Father in kind. Let me explain that. One of the things I most despise in the world is spiders. Now, I know that spiders serve a great purpose - they eat bugs - but I just have no use for them. I was in the garage the other day, rearranging paint cans, when I disturbed a wolf spider - and nearly killed myself getting away from it! YUK!

Now the other day my oldest son brought home a pet tarantula, of all things. Have you ever seen one up close? They have about six too many legs, hair all over their body, and large fangs just below multiple eyes. Now, my son is enamored with this spider, but I never will be. In fact, I've already promised him that the spider would become a spot if I ever caught it wandering the house! This thing is alien, and I have no need nor desire to communicate with it. In the same way, prior to accepting Christ as Savior we are all alien sinful creatures to God. When we speak to God our prayers go no where, for we have no common ground whereby we can relate to our Creator. The unbeliever stands worlds apart from the Lord. But once the Blood is applied ..... then we are paid for, we are granted admission into His presence. The Holy Spirit enters into our lives to make us alive in Jesus, to mark us for future bodily resurrection, to make us inheritors of every Heavenly blessing including eternal life.

John 6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

1 Chronicles 29.11-12  "Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all."

Romans 8.11b ".. He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (ZOOPOREO = to cause to make alive, to give life) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Our God is beautiful in His design. He will use the same Holy Spirit that indwells each believer right now, the same Holy Spirit that brought New Birth from our enemy ship, to resurrect us in our glorified bodies in yonder future. Praise Jesus for His matchless Grace!
 

"In the great work of the new birth, the Holy Spirit first of all awakens the mental powers; for be it remembered that, the Holy Spirit never gives any man new mental powers. Take for instance reason--the Holy Spirit does not give men reason, for they have reason prior to their conversion. What the Holy Spirit does is to teach our reason, right reason--to set our reason in the right track, so that we can use it for the high purpose of discerning between good and evil; between the precious and vile. The Holy Spirit does not give man a will, for man has a will before; but he makes the will that was in bondage to Satan free to the service of God. The Holy Spirit gives no man the power to think, or the organ of belief--for man has power to believe or think as far as the mental act is concerned; but he gives that belief which is already there a tendency to believe the right thing, and he gives to the power of thought the propensity to think in the right way, so that instead of thinking irregularly, we begin to think as God would have us think, and our mind desireth to walk in the steps of God's revealed truth. (C.H. Spurgeon, June 20, 1858, "Outpouring of The Holy Spirit" Sermon)

Romans 8.12-15 "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, (OPHEILETES = one held by some obligation, bound to a duty) not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. [14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons (HUIOS = a child who is mature and in good standing with God, as opposed to TEKNON, "one born") of God. [15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

Galatians 4:6  "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

Finally, The Lord wants you to know that the one who is carnal is in bondage to sin, whereas the Christian by Faith in Jesus and by New Birth is freed for service. Paul teaches this truth as an absolute. He says that we are not indebted (OPHEILETES = one held by obligation, bound to a duty) or in slavery to the flesh. We are, instead, enabled by that indwelling Holy Spirit to put to death the deeds of the flesh. The Christian is not an alcoholic, enslaved to sin. No, the Christian is empowered by the Blood and the Spirit.
 

- As a Christian, I am still enslaved to sin. Is this true or false? Why? (Romans 8:12-15) - What are the two ways the Christian is entered into the Family of God? (Galatians 4:6; John 3:7; Romans 8:15) - Do I know that I am saved by faith in Jesus Christ? How do I know this?

There are two ways to enter a family. First, you can enter a family by birth. This is the most recognized and normative way. When Jesus said "Ye must be born again" (John 3.7) He recognized that entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven is much like physical birth. You are in one state, shut off and apart from the world, and pass into another state where you become a functional person. But second, you can enter a family by adoption. This is where you were not actually descended from the parent, but because of a great love that parent has for you then he or she legally accepts you as if you are their blood kin. It was to this Paul referred to when he said:

Romans 8.15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

The Spirit of God enters the life of the one who calls on Jesus and fulfills the legal contract. Jesus paid for the Christian, the Spirit applies the payment. Jesus shed His blood for us, the Spirit dips His hand in that Blood and applies it to our lives. Jesus, our precious Lord, did the preliminary work, but the Spirit supernaturally imparts that work.
 

"A PBS documentary on sheep and shepherds was very interesting as a resource for understanding the Christian life and Christ's comparisons to himself as shepherd and us a his sheep. One particularly fascinating part of the documentary was about orphan sheep. A ewe will normally have one sheep and at times the ewe will die during the birthing process leaving lamb orphans. One would think that it would be simple to place the orphan with another mother, but sheep are seemingly cruel at this point and will only accept their own offspring. In this case, the shepherd will take one of the lambs that was stillborn or that died soon after dead and completely remove its hide. He will then take the hide and place it on the orphan like a wool sweater and place it with the ewe that lost the lamb. The mother will accept the orphan only because it thinks the lamb is her own.   It is the same with salvation. Christ, God's Son, gave his life so that we, who are lost, can be accepted and God's very own. He will only accept us when we have the image and forgiveness of Christ." (unknown)

Broken Dreams As children bring their broken toys With tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, Because He was my friend But then instead of leaving Him In peace to work alone,  I hung around and tried to help  With ways that were my own.  At last I snatched them back again and cried "How can you be so slow?"  "My child", He said, "What could I do,  You never did let go." (Joan, The Entrance, NSW)