If Christ, then Life! -Romans 8:10-13

“And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh – for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (vs 10-13)

Romans 8 seems to be the chapter of precious privileges and of precious promises. Thus far we have seen that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Now the second blessed benefit is added. Life!!! Isn't that beautiful! “If Christ”, then life!!

“If Christ is in you” then…

1. “….the body is dead because of sin…” (vs 10). Even being in Christ, it is still a fact that my body is riddled with sin. The fall has had consequences on us. The body “is a frail, mortal, dying body. In the midst of life we are in death: be our bodies ever so strong, they are as good as dead and this ‘because of sin’. Methinks, were there no other argument then love to our bodies alone should make us hate sin, because it is such an enemy to our bodies.” (Matthew Henry)

2. “…yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” (vs 10). I will turn again to Mr. Henry. “The life of the saint lies in the soul, while the life of the sinner goes no further than the body. When the body dies the spirit is life. Death to the saints is but the freeing of the heaven-born spirit from the clog and load of this body, that it may be fit to partake of eternal life. And this ‘because of righteousness’. The righteousness of Christ imputed to them secures the soul from death; the righteousness of Christ inherent in them, preserves it, and at death elevates it, and makes it meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Death sounds sweeter and sweeter to me. Not in a morbid, suicidal, escapism way, not at all. But it is the doorway to real life.

3. “…He will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” (vs11). Yes, because of the fall, our bodies are dead and continually dying but it doesn’t end there. God doesn’t cast the creation away. No, He is the God who makes all things beautiful in their time. Even the body of the Christian will reap the benefits of life. At the end of all things, the body and the soul will be reunited and reunited without sin! On the last day our bodies will be made whole. The resurrection of the dead is our glorious hope.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Cor 15:42-44)

Henry says that there are two great assurances of the body’s resurrection given in these verses.

First, Christ’s resurrection: “He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies…”(vs 11). Henry reminds us that “Christ rose as a forerunner of all the saints.” But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep (1 Cor 15:20). He states, “It is in the virtue of Christ’s resurrection that we shall rise.”

Second, the Spirit’s indwelling: “…through His Spirit who indwells you.” (vs 11). Quoting my Puritan friend again, “The Spirit, breathing upon dead and dry bones, will make them live, and the saints even in their flesh shall see God.”

In his commentary, Matthew Henry mentions 2 motives for not walking after the flesh but for following the Spirit.

1. We are not debtors to the flesh. “So then brethren, we are under obligation, NOT to the flesh, to live according to the flesh…” (vs 12). No! We are debtors to Jesus and to His Spirit. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Cor 6:19-20). Again I am reminded that my only hope in body and soul, in life and in death is that I’m not my own but I belong to Christ!

2. Consider what will be the end result of walking after the flesh. “For if you are living according to the flesh, you must die…” (vs 13). Following the flesh leads to eternal death. The wages are not delightful they are damning!

Thankfully there is a grand “but” in the text. “But if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (vs 13). Life or death? Which will it be? Which will I pursue? I can pursue only death left to myself. I will pursue life by the power of the Spirit of God dwelling within me. O blessed Spirit, fill me this day and make me to follow after you in whole hearted devotion.

Longing for spiritual life and awaiting physical death,

Lori