THE SPIRIT I NEVER KNEW1

(Romans 8:1-17)

We started dealing with the theme on sanctification in chapter six of Romans and will
continue to do so until the last verse of chapter eight. Chapter six talks about sanctification and
sin, chapter seven deals with sanctification and the law and chapter eight focuses on
sanctification and the Spirit. These three chapters present the impartation of God’s
righteousness to all who are ‘justified by grace through faith.’ The epistle of Paul to the Romans
is a very important book for Christians because it deals with “salvation in all of its stages: past,
present, and future.”2 This means that the moment we put our faith in Christ’s redemptive work
on the cross we are saved from our past sins, still now being saved in the present from our
struggle with sin and will ultimately be delivered in the future from this mortal body infected
with the nature of sin when we finally meet our Lord either in physical death or in His second
coming (which is referred to as ‘rapture’). In between justification and glorification is the
process which is called sanctification. It must be made clear on the outset that salvation,
sanctification and glorification of believers is solely by grace alone through faith alone.
In this series, we will divide chapter eight into two parts. Tonight, we will deal with the
first seventeen verses of chapter eight which talks about sanctification and the indwelling Holy
Spirit. Our focus next meeting will be the continuing work of God in us and our final hope of
glorification.
In the previous chapter we learned that we are in constant battle with temptation as long
as we live. Paul gave his personal testimony of this struggle and offered the solution to the
dilemma which is victory over it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Chapters six and seven outlines
the believers present responsibilities in the sanctifying process which is presenting every part of
our body to God and trusting and obeying Him for us to overcome the flesh.3 Chapter eight is
very important in that it presents the important role of the Spirit in the process of sanctification
and the benefits believers receive as a result. It culminates the truth concerning the believer’s
sanctification.

1
Ptr. Jun Hernani EXPO 8 for Berean Fellowship UCCP Davao City, August 27, 2010.
2
Mark Bailey & Tom Constable, Nelson’s New Testament Survey (Tenessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1999), 250.
3
Ibid., 273.
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 Let me ask you these important questions: How deep do you know the Holy Spirit? How
intimate is your relationship with Him? Do you address your prayers to Him? Do you call Him
in times of trouble? In Romans chapters one to seven the word Spirit (Gk. pneuma) is only
mentioned five times but in chapter eight, it is mentioned at least twenty times. The repetition
puts emphasis on the subject matter. Pneuma stresses the idea of power in motion and often
refers to wind or breath. The Hebrew word for "spirit" (Heb. ruwach) has a similar connotation
and was often used in the Old Testament to describe God's creative power or his inspiration of a
prophet.4 In chapter eight, Paul names the third person of the Trinity as Spirit of life (v.2), Spirit
of God (v.9), Spirit of Christ (v.9) and, Spirit of sonship (v.15). In this eighth exposition entitled
“The Spirit I Never Knew” based on Romans 8:1-17, we will discover the Spirit’s significant
role in relations to the Son’s redemptive work, His own renewing work in us and His role in the
regenerating work of the Father. Let us pray…
In his book entitled Know What You Believe: Connecting Faith and Truth, Paul E. Little
aptly describes our relationship with the Holy Spirit:

Of the three persons in the Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit –
the Holy Spirit is doubtless the least known and understood. Yet He is
most vitally and intimately involved in our initial conversion and birth
into the family of God and in our ongoing development as Christians.5

In my twenty years as a child of God this has always been the case. The Spirit has always
been there working within me but most often unrecognized and unappreciated. But lately, I
began to realize the major role of the Holy Spirit in my personal sanctification. I’m beginning to
understand Jesus’ words to His disciples, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of
the age.”(Matt.28:20b, NRSV) Christ abides in me and sanctifies me through the Holy Spirit. In
the same manner, genuine discipleship in the church will not happen apart from the sanctifying
work of the indwelling Holy Spirit in us. This evening, let us discover the work of the Holy
Spirit in redemption, sanctification and regeneration.
4
“Romans” in The Living Word Commentary Series in Theophilos 3, CD-ROM.
5
Paul E. Little, Know What You Believe: Connecting Faith and Truth (Manila: OMF Literature Inc., 2003), 79.
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First, The Reward of the Son’s Redemptive Work, vv.1-4
In chapter eight Paul begins his discourse by reviewing the benefits we receive through Jesus
Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from
the law of sin and death.
First benefit: No condemnation, v.1. This means, no more fear of God and the future
judgment. Why? Because God’s wrath has been taken away through Christ’s reconciliatory act
on the cross. God in Christ accepts us and calls us righteous because Jesus paid the punishment
for sin and gave us His sinless goodness in exchange for our disobedience. 6
Second benefit: Deliverance from sin’s bondage, v.2. Through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. This is what we call authentic freedom.
We are formerly slaves to sin and now slaves of righteousness. We are now free to live in
righteousness through the help of the Holy Spirit.
In verses three and four, Paul reiterates the weakness of the law which has been discussed in
previous chapters (ch.2,3, and 7). 3For what the law was powerless to do in that it was
weakened by the sinful nature. God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to
be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man 4in order that the righteous
requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature
but according to the Spirit.
The law can reveal the power of sin but it cannot overcome it. Christ who became the
atoning sacrifice of God fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Mosaic Law. Through His
death and resurrection, the Spirit was given to us so that we can overcome the sinful nature.
Here are two truths we can derive from the first four verses. The redemptive work of Jesus
Christ on the cross provided the means by which:

(1) The Spirit of life can work to release us from the bondage of sin and death; and

6
“Romans” in A Beginner’s New Testament Commentary in Theophilos 3, CD-ROM.
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 (2) We can fully satisfy the righteous requirements of the law by living according to the
Spirit and not according to the sinful nature.

These truths tell us that it is through the Holy Spirit that the reward of the Son’s redemptive
work can take effect in our lives. In other words, we are delivered from the penalty and power
of sin through the outworking of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Second, The Relevance of the Holy Spirit’s Renewing Work, vv.5-11

In verses five to eleven Paul compares the old nature dominated by sin and the new
nature controlled by the Holy Spirit. He says, “5Those who live according to the sinful nature
have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the
Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind of the sinful man is death, but
the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not
submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives
in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if
Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of
righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who
lives in you.”
The old nature is set on what the sinful nature desires which ultimately leads to death,
vv.5,6. It is hostile to God and it does not and cannot submit to God’s law (v.7). It cannot please
God (v.8) and it does not belong to Christ because it does not have the Spirit of Christ, v.9. On
the other hand, the new nature is set on what the Spirit desires which produces life and peace,
vv.5,6. It is controlled by the Spirit because it is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, v.9. It belongs to
Christ which makes the spirit alive because of righteousness, v.10. Resurrection is guaranteed
through the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, v.11.
We see in these verses the renewing work of the Holy Spirit. Formerly, we are dead in
our transgressions and sins because of our disobedience to God. Being dead in sin, we are not

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inclined to submit to God. We are literally lifeless and Spiritless. But now we are alive in
Christ through His redeeming sacrifice. The resurrection power, the Spirit that raised Jesus from
the dead, is now dwelling in us and so we are able to obey God in our mortal bodies. The sin-
infected nature is countered with the Spirit-infused nature enabling the believer to submit to
God and produce life and peace. Paul is actually saying that we can live responsibly in the
freedom that God bestows on us because we are enabled to do so – through the renewing work
of the Holy Spirit. There is no such thing as ‘license to sin’ when we truly experience God’s
transforming work because the Holy Spirit becomes our partner in the progressive work of
sanctification. This is the continuing process which we call discipleship. It is a natural process
that occurs after we experience the new birth. Just like a baby, the new life should be nurtured
to make it grow healthy. Nurture and growth occur when we obey God’s Word and submit
ourselves to the renewing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Third, The Result of the Father’s Regenerating Work, vv.12-17

Verses twelve to seventeen present the result of the Father’s regenerating work in us
through the Holy Spirit. Verses twelve to thirteen is an appropriate response of every believer
having received the reward through the Son’s redemptive act. It is the continuing response as a
consequence of the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit. Paul says, “12Therefore, brothers, we
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have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live
according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of
the body, you will live.” First, the regenerating work of the Father results to obedience. We no
longer submit to the sinful nature but to the Spirit who will mortify the deeds of the flesh.
According to Paul, this is an obligation to respond appropriately and not indulge in the flesh.
But we can do so only with the help of the Holy Spirit.7
Second, the regenerating work of the Father gives us assurance that we are God’s
children through the presence of the Holy Spirit who is the seal of our salvation (Eph.1:13).
Paul says, “14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” The presence of

7
Mark Bailey & Tom Constable, Nelson’s New Testament Survey (Tenessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1999), 274.
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the Holy Spirit in us is the greatest proof that God is our Father. In fact, Paul declares, “15For
you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that
we are God’s children. This is indeed the most wonderful status in life since we don’t live
anymore in fear as God’s enemies but in gratitude for the privilege of calling God “Papa, Daddy
or Tatay.” “Abba” is an address of endearment and intimacy. The Holy Spirit deepens our
intimacy with God by making us realize that God is our ‘daddy’ or ‘tatay.’ Furthermore, we are
not anymore slaves who live on the outside but part of the family who have privileges. And so
the third result of the regenerating work of the Father is that we become heirs of God and co-
heirs with Christ. An heir is one who succeeds in the estate or inheritance. Jesus Christ, as Son
of God is the full heir of God’s glory and honor. But Paul says, “17Now if we are children, then
we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order
that we may also share in his glory.” Being co-heirs of Christ means that we are also partakers
of God’s glory and honor in heaven. The evidence of our being co-heirs with Christ is our
identification with Him not just in His glory but in His sufferings in this present world.
Who is the Holy Spirit according to Paul’s epistle to the Romans?
First, He takes effect in our lives the redemptive work of Christ on the cross by releasing
us from the bondage of sin and death; Second, he partners with us in the sanctifying work and;
Third, He objectively leads us through the Scriptures and subjectively through His internal
promptings so that we will become obedient children of God.
Let me end with Paul E. Little’s words, “Our awareness of His work in our lives as
Christians can ripen into a relationship with Him that brings us power, joy, and hope.”8 Do we
desire power for living, joy in our Christian walk and hope that will sustain us in the journey?
Then let us make the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, in our family and in this church a
lived reality. Let us pray…

8
Paul E. Little, Know What You Believe: Connecting Faith and Truth (Manila: OMF Literature Inc., 2003), 79.
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