Living By the Spirit || Who Am I Again? || Part 6

Romans 8:2

NASB	NLT	VOICE
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.	2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.	2 because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death

Life-Giving Spirit

Belonging to Christ means that we can identify with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. This is our foundation for the covenant relationship we have with God. The life-giving Spirit refers to the Holy Spirit that gives life to Christians. The Spirit’s role in give life is shown all throughout the Bible: 

• God breathes life into Adam (Genesis 2:7)
• The Spirit revives dry bones (Ezekiel 37)
• Fulfilling the New Covenant Promise (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Being Free in The Right Way

Freedom in Christ is not an excuse for us to live frivolously and care-free. It’s a call to live according to the Holy Spirit. The law of sin and death refers to how sin leads to death, both physically and spiritually. It comes from the Fall, where Adam’s disobedience brought sin and death into the world. The Mosaic Law couldn’t overcome this principle, but highlighted humanity’s inability to achieve righteousness on their own. Being delivered through Christ fulfills the promise of redemption and restoration found throughout the Old Testament

Live Repentant and Relying on God

Our goal is to live according to the Spirit. This happens with daily surrender and relying on God’s power instead of our effort. Daily surrender involves praying to God and asking for forgiveness for the moments that we messed up. Those moments where we did not truly abide by the “love God” and “love others” commands. We have the ultimate forgiveness when we become a Christian, but we still need to repent daily. We need to ensure that we’re on the path to perfection, progressing to be more like Christ every day. We need to remain on the path that God has laid out for us. We also need to rely on God’s power. We cannot live by ourselves. We must stay true to what God’s strength can do for us. God gifts us certain talents in order to fulfill the will He plans for us. We can’t rely on our own strength to get through life. When we do, we’ll find ourselves highly stressed, anxious, panicked, and more. If we release the grip of control on our life, we’ll find life more enjoyable. By sending control to our Savior, life becomes more fulfilling, more purposeful, and more godly. 

Above everything, remember this: I am free from the law of sin and death.

Reflection Questions

1. Read Romans 6:3-5. How does it connect to being “in Christ?” 
2. Read Galatians 5:13-16. How does Paul describe living according to the Spirit.
3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-56. How was the ultimate victory over sin and death shown through Jesus’ resurrection? 

Call to Action

Part of what we are called to do is repent daily. Spend time in prayer with God about those things. Write down three ways you can overcome those sinful behaviors. 

Next part: Who Am I Again? #7