October 27, 2002

THINGS THAT INDWELL

Romans 8:9-11

   In Romans 7 & 8 we read of some thing or some power that "indwells." In Romans 7 it is "sin," for "It is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwells no good thing..." and again, "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me" (7:17, 18, 20). Three times it is stated that sin "dwells in" this person whom we take to be a believer dealing with his two natures.

   In Romans 8 we find the contrast of "flesh" and "spirit": "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the spirit is life and peace. Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (8:5-8). It is clear that sin "indwelling the flesh" becomes one with that flesh and is thus identified with it.

   How blessed to read, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His spirit that dwells in you" (8:9-11).

   This spirit that indwells us is our new nature for in Romans 8 we do not read of God the Spirit, or the Holy Spirit, until verse 16 where "... the Spirit Itself bears witness..." The spirit which indwells the believer is called "the spirit of God" (for it is from God), and "the spirit of Christ" (for we have it in union with Christ), and "the spirit of adoption" (or the sonship spirit) because our new nature is from God and for this present time is the earnest of the full "adoption" (or sonship) which will be ours upon "redemption of our body" (8:24). What a glorious hope awaits us, yet even now we have this "spirit that raised up Christ from the dead dwelling in our mortal bodies..." helping us "walk in newness of life" and "serve in newness of spirit."

Ivan L. Burgener