Living In The Spirit

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross (1 Pet 3:18), “He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor 15:4). He is the Only Savior of those who have received Him by faith (Eph 2:8). It is the message of “the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith” (Rom 1:17). The gospel is preached “to them that are dead” – not to the men who are dead physically, but to those “who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph 2:1). Even though lost sinners are alive physically, they are still dead spiritually in their sins!

They can neither receive nor understand “the things of the Spirit of God….because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor 2:14). The only time that they can understand spiritual things is through salvation “in Christ” (2 Cor 5:17), when they will be “quickened together with Him” (Col 2:13), or will be made alive spiritually by the power of the Holy Spirit! He alone can guide us “into all truth” (Jn 16:13). Bible-believing Christians are often “persecuted for righteousness' sake” (Mt 5:10), and are “judged according to men in the flesh.”

Our Lord Jesus suffered for doing right, “leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps” (1 Pet 2:21). Therefore, when we suffer persecutions “for Christ's sake” (2 Cor 12:10), we should take it patiently just as He did! It is always an opportunity to be a good testimony for Him as His ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20). But we must continue to “live according to God in the spirit,” by maintaining our “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). Because if we are truly saved, then we are alive spiritually through the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom 8:11), whether we walk there or not. He shall help us defeat our old sinful nature (Col 3:9), and give us the victory over it as we surrender to Him! 

-Pastor Melito Barrera