LIFE IN THE SPIRIT PART 1: H5W (ROMANS 8.1-4)

• Who: Those who are in Christ Jesus; If we believe in Christ Jesus we live in the Spirit of God. In Romans chapter 8, Paul used both Spirit and Christ Jesus interchangeably. Life in Spirit is a sign of Christ dwelling in us.  
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• Where: Those who are in Christ Jesus; There is no other way to live in the Spirit of God but Christ. Jesus claimed in John 14.6, 'I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' The language of salvation is effective only in Christ's sphere of influence.
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• When: It is now; Life in the Spirit of God is not an abstract future entity, but a present real reality. The 'no more condemnation' is active in our present day to day reality of life.
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• What: No more condemnation; Life in the Spirit of God is free from condemnation. Christ Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalties of our past, present and future sins. The fulfilling requirements of the law in verse 4 should not be understood as our improving ability to obey the law. The fulfilling requirements of the law does mean that even in our continuously upcoming sins and failures, God has paid the penalties in related to those sins and failures: once and complete! What a great and wonderful divine assurance!
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• Why: To live according to the Spirit; Life in the Spirit of God is an obedience to (the Spirit of) God over against our natural (literally: fleshly) desires. 
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• How: God did through the sending of his own Son, Jesus Christ; Human efforts are futile, and the law (Torah) has been powerless. But thank to God for graciously giving us his only Son to die on the cross, delivering freedom from the slavery of sin and condemnation to those who believe in Christ Jesus.
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• Conclusion: If we are in Christ Jesus, sealed by the Spirit of God, we are commanded:
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• First to rejoice in the lord and be joyful always, since there is no more condemnation. 
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• Second, to live a life according to the desires of the Spirit of God (i.e. Live in obedience), not because of fearing of the failures of attaining the requirements of the law, but because of a sincere gratefulness upon the grace of God who sets us completely free from the condemnation of sin and death.