Evidence of True Salvation

Introduction

Romans 8:5-13The Holy Spirit in the life of a person is the evidence of true salvation. The Holy Spirit will cause the Christian to desire the Lord Jesus and the things of God. We are either controlled by the flesh or the Spirit.

I. The Carnal Man

A. Controlled by the Flesh.

1. His desire

(v. 5)

2. His defiance of God

(v. 7, hostility toward God)

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2:14)

3. His disapproval by God

(v. 8)

B. Condemned by the Flesh

(v. 6) “carnally minded is death”

II. The Christian Man

A. Born of the Spirit

(v. 9; John 3:3, 5-6; Titus 3:5)

1. Changed

(2 Cor. 5:17)

2. Controlled

(v. 6b, “spiritually minded)

The Holy Spirit possesses the mind of the believer. This is the reason there are changes in a person’s thinking after he is saved.

B. Blessed by the Spirit

1. Believer’s life

(v. 6, 10)

2. Believer’s peace

(v. 6; 5:1)

3. Believer’s resurrection

(v. 11)

The body is still subject to death because of sin, but the Holy Spirit has imparted eternal life in the saved. The believer is declared righteous in Christ. All the saved will receive a new body.

C. Behavior in the Spirit

(v. 12-13)

1. Walk of the believer

(v. 4; Gal. 5:16)

The Christian is not a debtor to his old sin nature. He has been freed so he can follow his new Master, Jesus Christ.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Col. 3:2

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:8

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)

2. Warning to the believer

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” Col. 3:5-10

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal. 6:7-8)

Matthew Henry: “We cannot do it without the Spirit working it in us, and the Spirit will not do it without us doing our endeavor.”

LESSON FOR LIFE:

1. When we are filled with the Spirit, He will cause our minds to be occupied with the things of Christ. We must guard our minds from the attacks of the flesh, world, and the devil.

2. We must put to death the cravings of the sin nature. The Holy Spirit has freed the saved from the power of sin. We are to walk in the newness of life.

3.  The evidence of salvation is the presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life. Is He in your life? If not, trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you will receive the Holy Spirit.