“Romans 8”

Wednesday, February 08, 2017

Our daily battle, even for Christians, is between the spirit and the flesh.

Each person has a dual nature, the inward part (called the spirit or the soul) and the outer part (called the flesh). Paul reminds us that, as Christians, we are to walk according to the spirit and not according to the flesh. This is a never ending struggle.

There is some debate about whether the word, spirit, in Romans 8 should be capitalized or not. Some believe it refers to the Holy Spirit and, therefore, as the translators of the New King James Version and many other translations have decided, the word should be capitalized. Others believe it is simply a reference to the spiritual part of man (as contrasted in Romans 8 with the physical side or the flesh) and should be lower case, spirit. Either way, the spiritual side of our being is to be led by the teachings of the Holy Spirit as revealed in the Bible.

We are to focus on the things of God so that we will walk, live, set our minds on and be led by the Spirit of God. When we do that, Paul says, “you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit” (verse 9). This is what makes us “sons of God” (verse 14).

Struggles and trials will confront us on every side when we seek to live for God. But God has provided for us all things we need to survive this earthly existence and live with Him forever in heaven. And no matter how many trials or difficulties we may have, we can be “more than conquerors” through Jesus and His sacrifice on our behalf.

When we seek to live according to the spirit and to deny the flesh, nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nothing.

--Roger Hillis

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