A Life Controlled by The Holy Spirit Romans 8:5-11
8 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of Sin, the Spirit gives you life[d] because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
The Holy Spirit is Our Assurance
One of the most significant challenges we face as followers of Jesus Christ is a poor understanding of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture is clear about the role and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We see the Holy Spirit present and active at every stage in the History of Salvation. The question, “Are you controlled by the Holy Spirit?” is critical. According to verse six, submitting to the Spirit's control of your life leads to life and peace. What does this mean? Remember that Chapter 7 wrestles with the internal chaos swirling in each of us because of Sin. The chapter concludes that there is no hope within us that can remedy our situation. We must have an external source of power to lead us and develop us into the people who have the ability to please God.
Jesus Christ is the external source of power that frees us from the grip of death that results from our sinful natures. We are free to live as the Holy Spirit guides us and teaches us. If we choose to disregard the Holy Spirit, we are cutting ourselves off from the only true source of power we have in this life.
Let’s be clear; we will sin. In Christ Jesus, we have hope, safety, and security for our lives today and eternity tomorrow. Our position “in” Christ Jesus is a place of undeserved privilege. Remember Romans 5:1&2 says,
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
Our relationship with Jesus Christ is the key.
Romans 8:2 reminds us, saying, “
2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of Sin that leads to death.
Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not have access to the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we have no certainty of the hope of Salvation
What Does Controlled by The Holy Spirit Mean?
Do you live your life with the words of Jesus Christ as the guiding truths that determine your attitude and actions toward the world and people? Remember Philippian 2:5 says,
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (KJV) “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” (NLT)
Romans 8:6 says,
But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Following Christ and living by the Holy Spirit’s power is an exercise of the heart/mind. God expects changed minds! Discipleship is an exercise in the discipline of the mind to produce actions and outcomes that look like Jesus’ outcomes. Our Sinful Nature is born in and powered by thought, and so the Holy Spirit who guides our lives resides in the ‘TEMPLE” between our ears guiding our thought life. Listen to Jesus’ words.
18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.” Matthew 15:18-20
The Holy Spirit Produces Life by discipling your thought life.