Living in the Flesh or in the Spirit - people live simultaneously in the realm of the flesh and the realm of the Spirit. But those who have been justified, though they may still be in the flesh, they will not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. We died to the flesh in our spiritual union with Christ at the Cross. We have been spiritually raised up with Christ, are now “in Christ” and are now alive to God. Paul writes: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me"

The Flesh or the Spirit?

"... who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" - (Romans 8:4b).

This verse points to the two realms in which we live while on this earth. 

We live simultaneously in the realm of the flesh and the realm of the Spirit. 

We do not live according to the flesh, but instead according to the Spirit.

The result for those who have been justified, though they may still be in the flesh, is that they will not live according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 

This is the result and not the condition of the “righteous requirement of the law” being “fully met in us” (verse 4a).

We do not live according to the flesh because we died to it in our spiritual union with Christ at the Cross.

Also, we have been spiritually raised up with Christ and are now “in Christ” so that we are now alive to God. 

Elsewhere, Paul expresses it like this:

"… you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" - (Colossians 3:3).

We do not live according to the flesh, but instead according to the Spirit.

To the churches in Galatia, Paul writes:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. 

"The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" - (Galatians 2:20.)

It is the Cross that makes all the difference.

Spiritual Application

Through the Cross, you died to your life of sin, and your life today is hidden with Christ in God. 

Think that through. What does that mean to you?

Dr Eliezer Gonzalez

Dr Eliezer Gonzalez is simply passionate about the gospel. With a background in teaching and management, the Lord called him to the gospel ministry and set him on an academic path. As a result, Eliezer earned two Master’s degrees (in Theology and Early Christian History), and then a PhD in Early Christian History. The Word Spreads Fast, and so do we. Good News Unlimited is led by Eliezer Gonzalez, who communicates the gospel of Jesus Christ with passion and conviction. 

goodnewsunlimited.com

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