If I Am Truly Led by the Spirit of God

2006-12-16 21:50

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:13-14).

The first Adam fell from the spirit into the flesh, but the last Adam went up from the flesh to the Spirit. It is written, "Therefore He says: 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.'" (Ephesians 4:8).

The Bible says about Christ and the children of obedience who are born again through Christ, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (Hebrews 2:14-15).

The evil spirit is at work in the children of disobedience who are in the flesh, but the Holy Spirit is at work in the children of obedience who are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. It is written, "in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." (Ephesians 2:2).

The Bible refers to the spirit, who is at work in the children of disobedience, as the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan. The Bible refers to the children of the first Adam, who became the flesh through the ancient serpent, who is the devil, and belonged to the world, as the children of the devil. It is written, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (1 John 3:10).

The Lord Jesus called one of his disciples Satan, although he had left all and followed Him. It was because he was carnally minded. It is written, "But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'" (Mark 8:33).

The Bible clearly says, "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness." (Romans 8:3-10).

This saying in the above passages is a plumb line that exactly distinguish Cristians from false Christians: "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

The Spirit of God surely dwells in Christians. If anyone has the Spirit of God, he is not in the flesh but in the Spirit. Therefore, if anyone is in the flesh saying he is a Christian, he does not have the Spirit of God and he lies against the truth.

If anyone does not have the Spirit of God, that is, the Spirit of Christ, he is not Christ's. If he is not Christ's, it is a lie that he is saved. There are many false Christians in the world, who are not Christ's. They falsely say that they are saved. The Bible clearly says, "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:24).

For those who have the Spirit of Christ, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. Therefore, they don't live according to the flesh, nor can they do so, because they are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.

The Bible clearly says, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Romans 8:13-14). If I am truly led by the Spirit of God, I am now one of the children of God. Thank you, Lord.