Salvation and the Spirit 3

The aim of this devotional study is to understand and participate with the Holy Spirit’s work in our continuing salvation.

Scripture

Romans 8:8-17

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.  9  You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  10  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  11  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.  12  So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  13  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.  14  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  15  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  17  and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Observations

1. The “Spirit” is mentioned 10 times in these 9 verses. List the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life according this passage.
2. Now, in one sentence, explain what the Holy Spirit does for the believer’s salvation from this passage.

Application and prayer

1. What is your greatest (fleshly) weakness? Write it down, then next to it write verse 11.  Spend some time in declaration, for instance “since the Spirit of Him who rose Christ from the grave dwells in me, he who rose Christ from the grave will give life to this [fleshly weakness] through the Spirit who lives in me” and “[fleshly weakness] I owe you nothing but by the Spirit I put you to death” (v12-13).  Spend some time ask God for grace through his Spirit to overcome this weakness.
2. Read again verse 15-16. Do you feel like a son/ child of God? Do you feel accepted and loved and confident before God? If you have surrendered your life to Christ he has poured his Spirit into you, and then you are his child. So personalize and pray verses 15-17 out loud a few times. Thank God for the gift of sonship though his Spirit.