The Daily Word of Righteousness

Led by the Spirit, #10

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)

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." "Your mind "!

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)

We no longer are under the Law of Moses. We are under a different law, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. As long as we live in the light of our fleshly mind we cannot possibly please God. It is only as we keep presenting our body a living sacrifice, being transformed by the renewing of our mind, that God is pleased to ascribe the righteousness of Christ to us.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)

One may say, "I talk in tongues in church so that means the Spirit of God dwells in me and I therefore am in the Spirit at all times."

Talking in tongues is not the proof that we are living in the Spirit of God. Numerous people who speak in tongues also practice lust, murder, covetousness, partying, gossiping, witchcraft, drunkenness, lying, stealing, and every other evil work.

Whether or not we call ourselves Christians, if we behave wickedly we do not have eternal life dwelling in us.

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (I John 3:15)

The proof that the believer actually is living in the Spirit is as follows:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22,23)

We know we are in the Spirit of God when we show in our personality love, joy, peace and the other aspects of the Spirit of God. The fruit of the Spirit does not become the fruit of the Christian until the Christian is living in the Spirit.

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)

It is true of both the unbeliever and the believer that the mortal body is dead because of the sin that dwells in it. The difference in the case of the Christian is that the Holy Spirit who dwells in him brings to him the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, the righteousness of the blood of the cross, and this righteousness produce eternal life.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

The above verse emphasizes the goal of our redemption. The Spirit of God that dwells in us is a seal unto the day of redemption that is yet ahead. In the day of redemption our mortal body will be made alive by the Spirit of God who today is dwelling in us. Our inner man is alive because of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. Our outer man is dead because of the sin that dwells in it.

To be continued.