(Further reflections on “The Co-ness in Romans 1–8” — Sunday 25-Oct-2020)
God did not call us into a relationship, through Christ Jesus, with Him, so that we can face challenges in life by ourselves. God has come down in human form, Jesus Christ who had lived, died, resurrected, ascended, and will return to take all Christ’s followers who follow Him until the end.
What Christians often forget is that God did not leave us alone while waiting for the return of His Son. He has given us the Holy Spirit who is the One who is “coaching” us to grow in holiness, godliness, and Christlikeness (cf. Romans 1:4). Since we have been released from the Law, because of Christ’s work on the cross, we have died to the Law by which we were bound by sin, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the Law (cf. Romans 7:6). We are not free to sin, but free from its bondage, sin and death. Thus, we should not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (cf. Romans 8:2–4). And those whose mind are set on the things of the Spirit will no longer put their mind on the things of the flesh. They will experience life and peace (cf. Romans 8:5–6), instead of death (physical/spiritual).
When Christians believe in Jesus, but for whatever reasons they do not feel they belong to Christ and His church, it is likely that they do not surrender certain areas of their life to the working of the Holy Spirit, which is, sanctification and transformation. It is written, “…you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness (Romans 8:9–10). More than often, Christians suffer from feelings of guilt and shame about their past/present sins. Though they believe the teaching of justification and righteousness, but do not live them out. They might have kept them in the shelf at home and might open them up on Sunday and that’s it. They probably still wanted to be self-justified by their own good works or be self-righteous by social good deeds or anything that can give them a feeling of “I am a good Christian.” But this is self-defeating and a dead-end of religious attempts. The vicious cycle goes on. They struggle with their own sin and try so hard to sort out sins by their own ways. It will never work. And even if it does, then Christ has died in vain.
When Christians believe in the Holy Spirit but do not let Him do the “pruning/cutting” work in their soul (mind, will, and emotion), their spirit will become dull. It is like a piece of hard-clay in the Potter’s hand which sometimes needs to be broken into pieces, then he adds water, and work on it again. Yes, by God’s grace, there is always a second chance. Although we receive a new life in Jesus Christ, it is the Holy Spirit who gives life to our mortal bodies and He is the One who dwells in us (cf. Romans 8:11). The paradoxical truth is this: “..if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13). And the beautiful outcome is this: those who are led by the Spirit are children of God. This is not a motivational talk. It is a solid reality, because the Spirit co-witnesses/testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (cf. Romans 8:14–16).
Christians have never been the powerful people on planet earth, but they always have the powerful One in all creation, the Holy Spirit, God Himself who created the world and is dwelling in us. He co-helps in our weaknesses (cf. Romans 8:26). He understands our deepest desire as well as unspoken hurts or unspeakable pains or speechless suffering/groaning. He knows God’s heart/mind and intercedes for us according to God’s will (cf. Romans 8:26–27). This means that whatever He prompts us through the Word, we should do, because it is likely that He gently guides us into the will of God. So do not resist the silent and yet powerful works of the Holy Sprit in your life through the Son and the Word.
One question remains: Are we willing to invite and allow the Holy Spirit to co-work with us in all aspects of our life as well as co-help our weaknesses/sins/shortcomings? The answer obviously is between you and God the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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Pastor Lap
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