Chapter 5: Practice From The Heart

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“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not his.”

“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but

the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Romans 8:8-10

Is it possible to be led by the Spirit of God [in righteousness] and yet not know Jesus Christ? Maybe, having never even heard about Jesus? Yes. Is it possible to have the spirit of Christ and yet really not know God? No.

We will deal more with this area of conflict in Christianity later in the book. Before we get there, do some thinking about the Spirit of God and the spirit of Christ. Are they the same? Different? Is Christ God? Why would Paul use this language? Why didn’t he simply state in the second half of verse 9

“If anyone does not have the Spirit of God, he is not His [God’s]?” Can some people belong to God and others to God through Christ Jesus His Son?

For the moment, Paul seems to have literally “hit the nail on the head” concerning the controversial topic of “real Christians vs. false Christians”

when he used the operative word IF in verse 9. Real Christians do have the Spirit of God dwelling within them. The Holy Spirit influences their actions and you can actually “know them by their fruits [actions and the results of their actions].” This explains why Paul can write with passion in Galatians.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 3:20

The modern Christian songwriters Phillips, Craig & Dean in their 1996 song Crucified With Christ (Star Song) write: “For I have been crucified with Christ … and yet I live. Not I … but Christ who lives within

me.” Every time I hear their song, it just thrills my soul. I can literally just let this song cycle and cycle and cycle. My heart leaps with joy inside as the Spirit of God testifies to me about the validity of that statement: “I am