Romans 8-2.21.22
SCRIPTURE
Romans 8:2a, 5b, 10b, 16 (NIV)
“... the law of the Spirit of life set me free.” “...Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires...if Christ is in you, your spirit is alive...The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
OBSERVATIONS
1) There is glorious freedom for those who walk and live ruled by the Spirit. We are set free!
2) Sometimes the word “Spirit” is capitalized, referring to God’s Holy Spirit, and sometimes the word is written with a small “s”, referring to my spirit.
3) I know I have a body (my outer man, the flesh), and I know I have a soul on the inside (my mind, emotions, and will), but the text keeps referring to a third part of my being – my “spirit.” The words “soul” and “spirit” interchanged all the time, as though they were the same thing. Clearly, they are not.
4) Over and over in Romans 8, Paul confronts me with a choice: to live according to my lower, sinful nature (body and soul), OR, to live in victory by joining my spirit with the Holy Spirit.
5) This is a cardinal principle: Pro. 20:27a “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord.”]
UNDERSTANDINGS
God did not create me with just an outer and inner self (bi-partite), but He fashioned me with a third and higher dimension of my being (tri-partite) – a spirit (1 Thess. 5:23). My spirit (small “s”) is to rule and have dominion over the rest of my being, and is the part that communicates to and relates to God. My ongoing battle for freedom from my sinful nature, and “to reign in life” in Christ (Rom. 5:17), is a spiritual warfare waged in the battlefield of the mind (soul). I need to understand and discern the difference between my “soul” and my “spirit,” and I need to become Spirit-centered and controlled instead of soul-centered. I need to be spiritual instead of soulish!! (Something to ponder. Sadly, Christians often serve God first in the realm of their souls, i.e., their mind, emotions, or will, instead of allowing their spirit and Holy Spirit to lead.)
Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active...it penetrates even to dividing of soul and spirit...” (“soul” is a different Greek word from “spirit”)
Luke 1:46, 47 “Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
LIFE APPLICATION
Lord, make me purposeful about joining my spirit with your Spirit (1 Cor. 6:17), so the Holy Spirit can rule in my temple. Oh God, hear my cry. You are Spirit (John 4:24). Teach me how to “worship you in spirit...” Show me how to “live by the Spirit” (Gal. 1:16), how to be “led by the Spirit” (Gal. 1:18), and how to “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 1:25). Holy Spirit, baptize me. Refill me. Empower me. Use me. Holy Spirit, through your fruit (Gal. 5:22ff) make my life beautiful, and through your gifts (1 Cor. 12:7-10) make my life useful. Amen.
-Jeff Farmer
Jeff Farmer is past president of PCCNA [Pentecostal Charismatic Churches North America], of Open Bible Churches USA, and of New Hope Christian College. He and his wife of 54 years, Ramona, have three children and nine grandchildren – all of whom love and serve the Lord.