He condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4 (NIV)
Paul is not saying that there are two kinds of Christians—some Christians live according to the flesh, and some Christians live according to the Spirit. He is saying that if you are in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in you, and if the Holy Spirit lives in you, you will “live according to the Spirit.”
What does it mean to “live according to the Spirit”? “Those who live according to the Spirit (that is, people who are in Christ) have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (8:5). In other words, the Holy Spirit puts your life under new management.
When God the Holy Spirit moves into your life, he moves in to take over, and if you have seen your need, this will be your greatest joy. A good principal coming to a bad school has desires, a plan, and a vision for what that school will become. She throws herself into making it happen. Do you think that the Holy Spirit of God would do less?
When the Holy Spirit enters your life, he does not sit passively in an office somewhere. He comes to do a massive renovation project. He has desires. He has a plan. And he gets to work. His plan for you is that you should reflect the glory of Jesus Christ. And when you become a Christian, you have your mind set on what the Spirit desires. That’s the mark of being a real Christian and the joy of the Christian life.
Are you living according to the sinful nature or according to the Spirit?
