Chapter 5: Practice From The Heart

Page 2

Apostle Paul Boldly Proclaims: “I Do Not Lie!”

“I am in Christ, and I am telling you the truth; I do not lie.

My conscience is ruled by the Holy Spirit, and it tells me I am not lying.” Romans 9:1 NCV

Apostle Paul wrote that he “serves God with his whole heart” in

Romans 1:9 NCV. The New King James Version reads “whom I serve with my spirit.” You can conclude from these two translations that serving God with your “whole heart” is tantamount to serving God with “your spirit.”

“But you are not ruled by your sinful selves. You are ruled

by the Spirit, if that Spirit of God really lives in you.” Romans 8:9 NCV [Part A]

“But the person who does not have the spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9 NCV [Part B]

“If you use your lives to do the wrong things your sinful selves want, you will die spiritually. But if you use the Spirit’s help to stop doing the wrong things you do with your body, you will have true life.” Romans 8:13 NCV

“The true children of God are those who let God’s Spirit lead them.” Romans 8:14 NCV

Yes, it is possible to live your life “ruled” by God’s Holy Spirit and

Apostle Paul tells us how in Romans 8:9 with the operative word “IF.” If that Spirit of God really lives in you, then your life is ruled by the Spirit. Paul continues on immediately by stating further in verse 9 [Part B]. If you do not have the spirit of Christ, then you do not belong to Christ.

Note two points here and the apparent contrast from Paul. First, you are ruled by the Spirit of God IF the Spirit of God lives in you. Secondly, you belong to Christ IF you have the spirit of Christ. I will come back to this particular topic later in the book for more of God’s Word and further

study. For now, reread this section of Romans 8 using the NKJV Bible.