Ashtead Baptist Church

Serving Christ in the local community

Sermon - Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8 (Part 1) The Ministry of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8 is one of the best-known, best-loved chapters of the Bible. In Romans 7 Paul has been preoccupied with the subject of the law, the law of ‘if you sin you die’, that is soul separation from God for all eternity, but now in Romans 8 his preoccupation is with the work of the Spirit. If we live according to the Holy Spirit we have life! 'In chapter 7 the law, and other words used meaning the law, were mentioned some thirty-one times, but the Holy Spirit only once (6), whereas in the first twenty-seven verses of chapter 8 he is referred to nineteen times by name.

The essential contrast which Paul paints is between the weakness of the law and the power of the Spirit, power over the indwelling sin in us all, the sinful nature which the law is unable to help us to overcome in our moral struggle (7:17, 20), Paul now talks about the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity which is God; He, and He alone, is both our liberator now from 'the law of sin and death' (8:2) and the guarantee of resurrection and eternal glory in the end (8:11, 17, 23). So, “The Christian life”, writes John Stott, “is essentially life in the Spirit, that is to say, a life which is animated, sustained, directed and enriched by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, true Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, indeed impossible.”

In talking about the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life however, the apostle relates it to his overall theme in this chapter, the absolute security of the children of God! That is what makes this chapter of the bible one of the most inspiring and encouraging passages in scripture! John Stott points out in his commentary that Charles Hodge, a 19C American theologian, said of this chapter’ the whole chapter is a series of arguments, most beautifully arranged, in support of this one point', the security of every true believer in Jesus Christ!' And Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones agrees with him. 'I make bold to assert that the great theme of chapter 8 is not sanctification . . . The great theme is the security of the Christian.' At the same time, the two topics are intimately related. For possession of the Spirit is the guarantee of our acceptance by God (2 Corinthians 1:22, 2 Corinthians 5: 5 & Eph 1:14); It’s the hallmark stamped on those who truly belong to Christ, stamped on the gold of our faith (Romans 8: 9). It’s the Holy Spirits inner witness in the depth of our being that assures us that we are God's children and therefore his heirs (15-17); and his presence in us is the firstfruits of our inheritance, pledging the final harvest (23).

The Holy Spirit, often the great mystery in the Trinity that is the Godhead, is as much a person as Christ and God, yet God we know, and Jesus we know, but the Spirit of God seems sometimes a vague figure in the reality of our daily lives. But the bible says we must know him, feel his presence, learn to hear his inner voice and walk according to his direction. I have much to learn on this even after almost 45 years of trusting in Christ!

Who is the Holy Spirit? Let me give you the answer by retired minister Derek Prime in his much recommended book ‘Bible Answers’.

“He is the Lord and Giver of Life, the third Person of the Trinity, to be worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son. He is most commonly presented to us as the Executor of God’s purposes, whether in creation, revelation or redemption.”

The bible tells us the Holy Spirit is unique

(1 Corinthians 12:13). He is the one and only Spirit! He is a person, not simply an influence or a power and speaks into our lives (John 16:13) Yes, we talk of God or Jesus guiding and leading us and being the inner voice within us, but in reality, and specifically, the guide and inner voice is the Holy Spirit! He is the voice that the writer of the old song ‘I come to the garden alone’ is writing about when he says:

“He speaks and the sound of his voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody which he gives to me

Within my heart is ringing.”

“And, he walks with me and he talks with me

And he tells me I am his own,

And the joy we share, as we tarry there,

None other has ever known”

The Holy Spirit can be grieved, made to feel sorrow and disappointment, that is offended (Isaiah 63: 10 & Eph 4: 30). Offended the Holy Spirit deserves the severest judgment (Heb 10:29). He is a person as we are! The qualities ascribed to him are the qualities ascribed to God alone! He is everywhere present (Psm 139: 7-13;) and He knows everything (1 Cor 2:10). He has all power (Romans 8:11). He is to be obeyed and never lied to (Gal 5:16-25 & Acts 5:3-5), something we should note very carefully! He is the agent of Creation, the author of the scriptures the one active in Jesus coming into the world; He was the one who showed us our sin and need of Jesus; He is puts us in possession of the Father’s love and of the work of Jesus for us at the cross; He is the one active in bringing about our new creation and new birth, the bringer of the redemption and justification lovingly gained for us by Jesus! He testifies to Christ and through him we can say ‘Jesus is Lord’. He is the one that accompanies the preaching of God’s word making it affective! He gives gifts for service to God’s people and raises up pastors and teachers for the church. All of these things, and more, are the work of The Holy Spirit and proved from scripture.

The work of the Holy Spirit, life in the Spirit, is then the sub subject of Romans 8, with the security of the saints of God like a dome as it were that rises above his work.

The chapter divides easily into three sections as our NIV bibles indicate. The first depicts the varied ministry of God's Spirit in liberating, indwelling sanctifying, leading, witnessing to and finally resurrecting the children of God (1-17). The second takes us to the future glory of God's children, portrayed as a final freedom in which the whole creation will share (18-27). And thirdly Paul emphasizes the steadfastness of God's love, as he works in all things for the good of those who love him and promises that nothing will ever be allowed to separate us from his love (28-39).

Do we know Paul’s God, Paul’s Saviour Jesus Christ and Paul’s Holy Spirit? Do we have the inner awareness of his presence, anointing and power to serve? Is he very much our personal guarantee that we are God’s children? Lets’ learn to know his inner voice and walk according to his direction! This whole chapter above all is worth memorizing word for word so that we might know the Spirit of life and firmly see our security in the Lord!

The apostle's Paul’s panoramic view as opens up his subject in chapter 8 stretches our mind, its beautiful to gaze upon like being at the top of hill on a clear day gazing out over God’s creation. It reminds me of the day I climbed Britain’s highest mountain ‘Ben Nevis’ what a wonderfully clear day that was and the panoramic view over mountains and locks stretched out before and amazed me as no other view has ever done since! (Coming close to that experience was the view over desert towards the Dead Sea from on top of Massada in Israel.)

“Paul”, writes John Stott, “ranges from eternity to eternity”, and that is what the view seemed like to me from the top of Ben Nevis, “He begins with “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation”, in both cases for those who are 'in Christ Jesus'.

You are secure in Christ if your faith is firm in him! Don’t doubt it! Praise him for the fact. God cannot lie! In whatever lies ahead for you, remember Romans 8!

29/01/06

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Ashtead

Surrey

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