Walking After the Spirit

Radio Broadcast By Ken Wimer Bible Text: Preached on: Romans 8:1-9 Sunday, anuary !", !#1$

Shreveport Grace Church !9"# Baird Road Shre%eport, &A "1118 Website: Online Sermons: '''(shre%egra)e(org '''(sermonaudio()om*shre%eportgra)e)h

Wel)ome to the +ra)e A,ounding Broad)ast ,rought to you ,y the )ongregation of the Shre%eport +ra)e -hur)h that meets at !9"# Baird Road in Shre%eport, &ouisiana( .y name is Ken Wimer and it is my pri%ilege to ,ring to you today a message that seeks to e/alt the &ord esus -hrist and his glorious person and finished 'orked of sal%ation a))omplished for sinners at the )ross( 0lease stay tuned( 1 'ant to speak to you today on a su,2e)t that is %ery popular in )hur)h )ir)les and that has to do 'ith the Spirit of +od( And you hear a lot of dis)ussion a,out 'hat it is to 'alk in the Spirit or to ,e filled 'ith the Spirit( Well, here in Romans, )hapter 8 of the s)riptures 'e ha%e a %ery )lear e/position of 'hat it is to ,e in the Spirit, 'hat it is to 'alk after the Spirit and 'hat are the )hara)teristi)s of those in 'hom the Spirit of +od d'ells( 3o', the )hapter ,egins in %erse 1 'ith this statement, 45here is therefore no' no )ondemnation to them 'hi)h are in -hrist esus, 'ho 'alk not after the flesh ,ut after the Spirit(6 3o', the )hapter di%isions in our Bi,les are put there ,y editors to help fa)ilitate their reading, ,ut many times those )hapter di%isions fall in pla)es that tend to make us forget the )onte/t( And so, 'hen )hapter 8 ,egins 'ith %erse 1, 45here is therefore no' no )ondemnation,6 'hat you ha%e to do is ask yourself, What is the therefore, there for7 And then you go ,a)k to the pre%ious )hapter and you see the Apostle 0aul 'as 'riting to the Roman )hur)h and e/pressing to them the struggle that e%ery true )hild of +od that has ,een ,orn of the Spirit e/perien)es( And that struggle is ,et'een the flesh, that is, the sin nature that is 'ithin us and the Spirit( 5he Spirit of +od 'ithin the )hild of +od and that struggle, as 0aul e/presses it, is something that )ontinues on through the lifetime of the )hild of +od( And so he e/presses in Romans ", %erse !8, his )on)ern, 49h 'ret)hed man that 1 am, 'ho shall deli%er me from the ,ody of this death6 And then he gi%es the ans'er, and this is the ans'er for e%ery )hild of +od that has ,een )hosen of +od, redeemed ,y -hrist and )alled ,y the Spirit, this is our )ry, 41 thank +od through esus -hrist our &ord(6 So then, 'ith the mind 1 myself ser%e the la' of +od ,ut 'ith the flesh, the la' of sin(

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3o' e%en 'ith that struggle, and if you are the &ord:s redeemed one, )alled of the Spirit, you kno' of 'hat struggle 1 am speaking( 9ur )onfiden)e and our hope is in 'hat 'e read here in )hapter 8 and %erse 1, 45here is therefore no'(6 3o' sin)e the 'ork of the &ord esus -hrist has ,een a))omplished, no' sins upon )ompletion of his 'ork there at the )ross, +od has on)e for all de)lared righteous or 2ust e%ery one for 'hom the &ord esus -hrist died( So there is therefore no' no )ondemnation( 3o' this is a truth that some ha%e yet to understand and that is that if -hrist paid the sin de,t then the sin de,t is paid( 5his is 'hy 1 )annot agree 'ith those 'ho prea)h that -hrist died for e%ery single person in the 'orld( ;e did die for sinners from e%ery tri,e nation and tongue, ,ut to say that he died for e%ery single person in the 'orld is to say then, that there is therefore no' no )ondemnation for anyone( And that 'ould ,e not true( 5he fa)t is, the truth is that there are those 'ho stand )ondemned yet today, they ha%e no mediator, they ha%e no ransom, -hrist has not paid their sin de,t and so they stand )ondemned( But for those for 'hom -hrist has paid the de,t, there is therefore no' no )ondemnation( And it says, 4to them 'hi)h are in -hrist esus,6 so that ,egs the <uestion, Who are those 'ho are in -hrist esus7 ;o' do 1 kno' 'hether 1 am in -hrist esus7 5he rest of the %erse tells us, 4'ho 'alk not after the flesh ,ut after the Spirit(6 3o' that poses a pro,lem if 'e understand 4'alking not after the flesh6 to mean that 'e no longer ha%e a sin nature( Some 'ould try to interpret it that 'ay, ,ut that:s not 'hat it:s saying( All of us struggle 'ith this sin nature, e%en as Spirit ,orn )hildren of +od( But these of 'hom 0aul 'rites, 4'ho 'alk not after the flesh,6 he speaks of those that ha%e no )onfiden)e in the flesh, their hope is not in their 'orks, its not in their 'ill, its not in their o'n 'ell ,eing spiritually, ,ut their hope is in -hrist alone( So they 4'alk not after the flesh,6 1 am not going to lean on the arm of the flesh in any 'ay either to gain or maintain my sal%ation( 5hat:s 'hat it is to ,e in -hrist esus and it says, 4'ho 'alk not after the flesh(6 5his is not a fleshly 'ork, it:s not a matter of 'alking an aisle or saying a prayer or ,o'ing the head or raising a hand( 1t is the pra)ti)e in so many )ommunities today ,ut it says, 4after the Spirit(6 3o', this is important, 4after the Spirit(6 5hat means the Spirit is leading and the sinner is follo'ing after the Spirit and 'here does the Spirit lead7 Well, -hrist himself told the dis)iples that 'hen the Spirit 'ould ,e sent into the 'orld that he 'ould take the things of -hrist and 'ould re%eal them unto them and so the Spirit dire)ts them to the &ord esus -hrist alone and )auses them to trust in and rest in -hrist alone( And here:s the reason, %erse ! says, 4=or the la' of the spirit of life in -hrist esus hath made me free from the la' of sin and death(6 Again, this is language that 0aul uses to des)ri,e 'hat it is to 'alk after the flesh( 1f 1 'alk after the flesh, if 1 think that my )oming to +od in any 'ay is dependent upon something 1 do or mo%ing this flesh in any 'ay to'ard him, he )alls that the la' of sin and death( 5hose 'ho li%e after the flesh are dead( 5hey:re dead in their sins( 5o think that someho' 1 )an approa)h unto a holy +od through my o'n 'orks, ,e)ause the 'ord 4flesh6 there speaks of effort( 1f ,y my efforts 1 )an someho' )ome to +od, 1 ha%e not

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really understood the nature of +od and his holiness and 2usti)e( But the la' of the Spirit of life in -hrist esus is 'hat Romans 8:! says( And all of that is important( 5he Spirit ne%er 'orks independent of the person of -hrist or of his 'ork a))omplished there at -al%ary, ,ut there is that la' of the Spirit, that ordinan)e, that so%ereign 'ork of the Spirit, here )alled the Spirit of life, that:s 'hat a dead person needs, is life( And the Spirit gi%es life, it says, 4in -hrist esus(6 And deli%ers me from any effort or any thought of ,eing a,le to produ)e something of my flesh to please +od( And the reason is gi%en to us in %erse $ of Romans 8, 4=or 'hat the la' )ould not do(6 5his is important, the la' )annot make you o,edient( All it does is de)lare unto you 'hat +od demands, ,ut it )annot make a person 'illing, it )annot make them o,edient( 1n fa)t, it is su)h a serious and 2ust taskmaster that none can fulfill it ,e)ause you reali>e that the la' of +od demands a,solute perfe)tion( 5here aren:t degrees of holiness( Some prea)hers 'hen you listen to them, you )ome a'ay 'ith the idea that you:re at different stages of holiness, 'hat they )all progressi%e san)tifi)ation, ,ut dear friends, su)h a tea)hing is )ontrary to the s)riptures, )ontrary to reality( ?ou:re either holy or you:re not( And 'ithout that holiness, 'ithout that 2usti)e, no man 'ill see +od( And so the la' )an only )ondemn( But the good ne's, %erse $, is that, 4What the la' )ould not do in that it 'as 'eak through the flesh,6 ho' many times ha%e you made a resolution to ,e ,etter or do ,etter, a)t ,etter, ,e kinder7 All of these things that you hear people talking a,out and in yourself you think, 41:m going to gi%e it a shot(6 ;o' long has it lasted7 0ro,a,ly not further then the thought( And so the flesh is 'eak( 5he pro,lem isn:t 'ith the la' of +od it:s 'ith our flesh, 'e are ,orn in sin( And our sin nature has a )urrent that takes us a'ay from the truth, a'ay from +od and therefore the la' is good ,ut the flesh is 'eak( And so 'hat:s the remedy7 Well, %erse $ of Romans 8 tells us, 4+od sending his o'n son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin )ondemned sin in the flesh(6 5here again, it )omes ,a)k to 'hy it is that there is 4therefore no' no )ondemnation to those 'ho are in -hrist esus(6 ;e has paid their de,t( +od sending his o'n son, so 'e see there the sour)e( 1f 'e are to ha%e sal%ation, that sal%ation is in +od ha%ing sent his o'n son( And noti)e it says, 4in the likeness of sinful flesh(6 1t 'asn:t ne)essary for the &ord esus -hrist to take on sinful flesh ,ut he 'as made 4in the likeness of sinful flesh,6 he 'as made in the likeness of those that are sinful( But 'hat:s the differen)e7 ;e 'as 'ithout sin( 5hat:s important( ;ad -hrist in any 'ay had ,een tainted 'ith sin, his sa)rifi)e )ould not ha%e ,een a))epted ,efore a holy +od( And so he 'as sent 4in the likeness of sinful flesh,6 ,ut it says, 4and for sin )ondemned sin in the flesh(6 ;e had to ,e the sin ,earer( And this is the simple message dear friend, of the gospel( 5hat the sin of those people from e%ery tri,e, nation and tongue that +od from eternity purposed to sa%e 'as laid on the &ord esus -hrist, not put in him ,ut laid on him( And so )omplete 'as that 'ork that he a))omplished, it says their 4)ondemned sin in the flesh(6 What is the 'age of sin7 Well, the 'ages of sin is death, it re<uired him to ,e o,edient unto death and in so doing he )ondemned sin in the flesh( 1t 'as put to death( And 'hen he died, this is the glorious truth of su,stitution, e%ery sinner that +od purposed to sa%e and 'as in him, has there

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representati%e died as 'ell( 5hat 2udgment that passed upon the &ord esus -hrist 'as a))omplished on their ,ehalf and so that:s the remedy( 4What the la' )ould not do in that it 'as 'eak through the flesh +od, sending his o'n son in the likeness of sinful flesh,6 and it says 4for sin,6 -hrist )ould not side step this )ondemnation as the representati%e, he had to ,ear it ,e)ause of sin, for sin, not his o'n ,ut that of his people and in so doing )ondemned sin in the flesh( 3o', listen to %erse 8, 45hat the righteousness of the la' might ,e fulfilled in us(6 1n other 'ords, that 'ork that the &ord esus -hrist a))omplished, 'as the e/a)t righteousness that the la' demanded and -hrist ha%ing a))omplished it, that la' then has already ,een fulfilled in us( 1t 'as as if 'e had o,eyed( ;is o,edien)e, that putting to our a))ount that o,edien)e, is as if e%ery sinner for 'hom -hrist died a)tually o,eyed the la' himself or herself( And again, it says 4'ho 'alk not after the flesh ,ut after the Spirit(6 Why does 0aul repeat that7 ;e stated it in %erse 1, and here again in %erse 8 he states it( Well, less there ,e any ,oasting of the flesh, any )onfiden)e in this flesh, any thinking that 4Ah ha, no' that 1:m the &ord:s, no' that 1:m 2ustified and righteous ,efore him, 1 need to go ,a)k someho' to the flesh to maintain that standing(6 3o, dear friend, 'e don:t trust the flesh to gain sal%ation and 'e do not trust the flesh to maintain that sal%ation( 1t 'as either a))omplished through the 'ork of the &ord esus -hrist or 'e are yet )ondemned( And so, 'e see in %erse @, 'here 0aul e/presses that, 4=or they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh(6 3atural minded men, mind the things of the flesh( 5hey )an:t see 'hat it is 1:m telling you right no', they:re ,lind( And so they pursue things of the flesh( 5his )an ,e true of some,ody out in the 'orld pursuing the things of the 'orlds ,ut its also true of many sitting in )ongregations, e%en 'here the Bi,le is read( And their natural mind tries to hook on to )ertain things that they ha%e to do or not do( 4 ust gi%e me a list,6 one man said to me one time, 4of things that 1 need to kno' to do or not do in order to please +od(6 5heir mind is after the things of the flesh and not after -hrist, they mind the things of the flesh( But it says, 4they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit(6 5his is truly a mira)le of +od:s gra)e, that +od 'ould take an other'ise sinful soul and ,y his Spirit, re%ealing -hrist in that soul, )ause that sinner to long after, to seek after and to hope in none other than the &ord esus -hrist( 5he alternati%e is death ,e)ause %erse A says in Romans 8, 4=or to ,e )arnally minded is death6 1f 1:m left to myself to )ontinue to pursue 'hat 1 think to ,e the 'ay, then it:s the 'ay of death( But to ,e spiritually minded, is life and pea)e( 1t:s life( =irst of all, 1 'ouldn:t ,e spiritually minded unless the Spirit of life had ,een gi%en to me ,y +od in his gra)e and mer)y ,e)ause of the &ord esus -hrist and his finished 'ork( So to ,e spiritually minded is first of all life, and then pea)e( 5hat 'ord order is important( 0ea)e that )omes from the pea)e that the &ord esus -hrist already esta,lished in re)on)iling the sinner to +od ,y his death(

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3o', 1 ha%e no pea)e until the Spirit of +od ,rings home to my heart my need and sho's me 1:m lost and turns me to the &ord esus -hrist( 5hen pea)e is esta,lished( So, first life, then pea)e( 5he Spirit has to gi%e me life to see my need, the darkness of my heart, my lostness and then )ause me to look to the &ord esus -hrist alone( So there:s that distin)tion again ,et'een ,eing )arnally minded, 'hi)h is death, and those that follo' after the flesh, that:s 'hat they are, they:re dead in their trespasses and sins( But to ,e spiritually minded, is life and pea)e( And 0aul says in %erse ", 4Be)ause the )arnal mind is enmity against +od(6 5his is 'hat an indi%idual finds diffi)ult to )onfess( 5hat they:re not 2ust mistaken or in a 'eakened state ,e)ause of their sin, ,ut they:re a)tually re,els( 1t says here 4the )arnal mind is enmity against +od(6 5he %ery +od that 1:m de)laring unto you, the %ery -hrist of s)ripture that 1:m de)laring unto you men in their natural state of mind are against( 5hey:re re,els ,y nature( 1 'as that 'ay until the Spirit of +od 'as pleased to open this lost heart of mine and )aused me to ,o' to the &ord esus -hrist, surrender my arms and de)lare my need of the &ord esus -hrist and trust in his finished 'ork( 45he )arnal mind is enmity against +od for it is not su,2e)t to the la' of +od neither indeed )an ,e(6 5hat:s ,e)ause of that sin nature( 3oti)e, neither indeed 4)an ,e(6 1 )ould stand up and prea)h to you the 5en -ommandments e%ery day for the rest of my life ,ut that 'ill not ,ring you to ,o'( ?ou kno' 'hat men:s la's do, the moral la's that are )reated, the more men )reate 'ays around them( 5hat:s their sin nature and if that:s true 'ith men:s la's ho' mu)h more so 'ith the %ery la' of +od that re%eals his holiness and his 2usti)e( And yet men 'ill al'ays try to find a 'ay around( And it says there 4therefore(6 1n %erse 8 of Romans 8, 4So then, they that are in the flesh )annot please +od(6 1 don:t )are ho' righteous a person thinks they:re ,eing ,y doing something or trying to reform the 'ay they think in order to align themsel%es 'ith +od, all those are 'orks of the flesh( And all that are in that mindset and ha%e that sort of thought it says, 4)annot please +od(6 And so 'hat:s the ans'er7 Well, 'e )ome no' to %erse 9 'hi)h is the key to this message( Berse 9, 4But ye are not in the flesh ,ut in the Spirit(6 3o', 'hen it says you:re not in the flesh, it doesn:t mean 1:m outside of this ,ody, 1:m still in this ,ody ,ut 1:%e put no )onfiden)e in this flesh 'ith regard to my eternal hope, 'ith regard to my sal%ation, 'ith regard to ,eing 2ust ,efore +od, 1:m not follo'ing after the flesh( But it says 4in the Spirit,6 and then says 41f so ,e that the Spirit of +od d'ells in you(6 And then this %ery )lear de)laration, one of the a'ful truths of s)ripture, it says, 43o' if any man ha%e not the Spirit of -hrist, he is none of his(6 5hat is a )ondemnation of natural man upon 'hom the senten)e of death stands against him( 1f any man has not the Spirit of -hrist, he is none of his, he is none of -hrist( So it ,egs the <uestion, What is it to ha%e the Spirit of -hrist and ho' may 'e kno' that 'e ha%e the Spirit of -hrist7 1 don:t 'ant to ,e de)ei%ed in this matter do you7 And so it:s important for us to )onsider this passage of s)ripture and )onsider 'hat you:%e heard already and 'eigh these things prayerfully ,efore the &ord ,e)ause you either ha%e the

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Spirit of -hrist or you don:t( And not to ha%e the Spirit of -hrist is to ,e dead in your sins, ,ut to ha%e the Spirit of -hrist, as 'e read, is life and pea)e( So ho' )an 1 kno' 'hether 1 ha%e the Spirit of -hrist7 We kno' that the Spirit is gi%en through the person of -hrist and through his a))omplished 'ork( 5here:s no su)h thing in the Bi,le as a spirit 'ho is frustrated, 'ho is going around the 'orld trying to get people to ,elie%e any,ody and e%ery,ody, that:s a spirit of man ,ut not the Spirit of +od( 5he Spirit of +od in s)ripture is al'ays dire)ted to the mind and heart of those sinners for 'hom -hrist died( ?ou see, if the de,t has ,een paid then it is the Spirit 'ho, like the 2ailer, 'ants the 2udge his issue to pardon, opens the door of the 2ail )ell and ,rings forth the one 'ho had ,een a))used or )ondemned, ,rings them forth to li,erty and to life( 5hat:s the Spirit:s 'ork to do( =irst of all, he opens our eyes to see ,oth our o'n sin and misery ,ut also to ,ehold the %ery righteousness that -hrist has a))omplished on the sinners ,ehalf( As 'e read on in this )hapter, Romans 8, in %erse 18, it says 4=or as many as are lead ,y the Spirit of +od they are the sons of +od(6 So this leading is literally taking the sinner out of the depths of their darkness and ignoran)e and re,ellion and lostness and ,ringing them to -hrist( And so that:s ho' 'e kno' that 'e ha%e the Spirit of -hrist( 1f he:s in us, our eyes ha%e ,een opened and 'e ,ehold -hrist( Se)ondly, he ena,les us to ,elie%e in -hrist( We already sa' that 'ithout the Spirit of -hrist none )ould ,elie%e, none 'ould ,elie%e, su)h is the re,ellion of our soul and the state of our heart( And so to ,elie%e on -hrist is the gift of gra)e ,y the Spirit of +od( And the sinner in 'hom the Spirit is re%ealed, therefore )omes to -hrist, ,elie%es on -hrist, rests in the &ord esus -hrist and )ries out to him, 9h, the )ry of the sinner is like a )hild ,eing ,orn( 1n the flesh, theirs the )ry of the ,a,y that indi)ates that there is life and so it is 'ith the sinner in 'hom the Spirit of +od has re%ealed -hrist( 5here is that )rying out to none ,ut -hrist( 5here is that understanding that none ,ut -hrist 'ill do, none ,ut his 'ork 'ill do for time and for eternity( So, 1 ha%e to ask you dear friend, 1s there that sigh in your heart after -hrist7 1s there that )ry after him7 1 -orinthians, )hapter, 1 %erse $# says, 4Who of +od, has ,een made unto us 'isdom and righteousness and san)tifi)ation and redemption(6 ;as -hrist ,een made to 'isdom unto you7 ;a%e you seen that apart from his righteousness imputed that you ha%e no righteousness7 Co you see that san)tifi)ation is a matter of ,eing set apart in him7 1ts not something you do or 'ork after ,y you:re efforts ,ut ,y ,eing set apart in -hrist, in his death, ,urial and resurre)tion( 5hat +od has purpose for the sal%ation of sinners and redemption( 3ot 2ust the redemption of the )ross, 'hi)h 'as the putting a'ay of the )urse of sin, ,ut that final redemption 'hen all that are -hrist:s, for 'hom he died, 'ill ,e on)e for all deli%ered e%en from the %ery presen)e of sin( And so this is the need of the sinner as the Spirit 'orks in their heart( 9ne for 'hom -hrist died, there is that yearning after -hrist, that running after -hrist( 1n this 'e:%e gro'n, under the ,ody of sin and death, and 'e )ry out e%en as 0aul, 'e read in Romans ", 49h 'ret)hed man that 1 am 'ho shall deli%er us76 But our heart and mind ,y the Spirit of +od is ,rought ,a)k to the &ord esus -hrist( Co 'e thank +od for esus

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-hrist as the only sa%ior, the only 2ustifier and the only deli%erer7 1f so, there is a good indi)ation that 'e ha%e the Spirit of -hrist( -an 'e )ome to the throne of gra)e, seeing oursel%es as misera,le sinners yet ,elie%ing the ,lood of esus -hrist7 5hat it )leanses from all sin7 And the righteousness of -hrist, that ,e)ause of his finished 'ork at the )ross has on)e for all 2ustified us from all )ondemnation( And therefore 'e )ry, 4+od ,e mer)iful to me, the sinnerD esus sa%e me or 1 perishD6 Cear friend, if that:s the )ase this is from the 'ork of -hrist, it:s the e%iden)e of the Spirit of -hrist in the heart that )auses you to )ry out( Co 'e delight to hear of -hrist7 5o ha%e fello'ship 'ith him7 5o li%e on him7 5o 'alk 'ith him7 And to ha%e the po'er of his gra)e su,due the %ery po'er of sin in our hearts that 'ould other'ise lead us a'ay from him7 1f that is the )ase, then %erily 'e ha%e the Spirit of -hrist( 9h dear friend 'hat a ,lessing it is to ha%e the Spirit of -hrist and to 'alk after the Spirit( ?ou:%e ,een listening to the +ra)e A,ounding Broad)ast ,rought to you ,y the )ongregation the Shre%port +ra)e -hur)h in Shre%eport, &ouisiana( We meet at !9"# Baird Road and 'e in%ite you to 2oin us ea)h Sunday ,eginning at 1# am( =or more information, please %isit our 'e,site at '''(shre%egra)e(org( 9r )all $18-A8"-898$( 0lease plan to 2oin us again ne/t 'eek(

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