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Romans 8:2 - Spirit Filled and Empowered.

Romans 8:2 (NLT) And because you belong to 
him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has 
freed you from the power of sin that leads to 
death.  

Romans 8:2 (CWR) For the Holy Spirit has 
given me a new life in Christ and has freed me 
from the controlling power of my sinful nature 
which always stands ready to put me back on the 
road to death. 

INTRODUCTION

This Spirit of life is the Holy Spirit. He 
was present at the creation of the world 
(Genesis 1:2), and he is the power behind the rebirth 
of every Christian. He gives us the power we 
need to live the Christian life. For more about 
the Holy Spirit, read the notes on John 3:6; 
Acts 1:3; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 1:5. [Life Application 
SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit 
is God and a member of the Trinity. The Holy 
Spirit has a distinct personality, a will, and a 
purpose. And the Holy Spirit has a specific work that 
He wants to do in our lives. 
   Before we were Christians, the Holy 
Spirit convicted us of our sin and drew us to 
Christ. And once we believed in Christ, the Holy 
Spirit sealed us. The Holy Spirit also will lead 
us, empower us, and fill us each day as we seek 
to live the Christian life. 
   Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, 
Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms 
and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, 
and making music to the Lord in your hearts 
(Ephesians 5:18-19 NLT). 
   Being filled with the Spirit has nothing 
to do with our emotions. Unfortunately, some 
people take the work of the Spirit and make it look 
bizarre. But that has nothing to do with the Holy 
Spirit. 
   Being filled with the Spirit simply means 
letting the Holy Spirit control us. When we ask God 
to fill us, we are asking Him to control our 
lives. In fact, the term filled that 
Ephesians 5:18 uses to describe the filling of the 
Holy Spirit also carries the meaning of 
permeation. 
   For example, think of how people used 
salt in the first century. They didnt have 
refrigeration, so they rubbed salt into meat to permeate it 
and, as a result, preserve it. Our closest modern 
comparison would be jerky. 
   So, Paul was saying the Holy Spirit wants 
to permeate our lives. The Holy Spirit wants to 
be a part of every aspect of our daily living. 
   It isnt about trying harder. Its 
about realizing the Holy Spirit will give us the 
power we need to live this Christian life. [Greg 
Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

COMMENTARY

The Holy Spirit is God at work in believers. 
Who is the Holy Spirit? God is three persons in 
one"the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God 
became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for 
our sins. Jesus rose from the dead to offer 
salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and 
rebirth. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his 
physical presence left the earth, but he promised to 
send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual 
presence would still be among mankind (see Luke 
24:49). The Holy Spirit first became available to 
all believers at Pentecost (Acts 2). Whereas in 
Old Testament days the Holy Spirit empowered 
specific individuals for specific purposes, now all 
believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available 
to them. (For more on the Holy Spirit, read 
John 14:16-28; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 
and 2 Corinthians 1:22.) [Life Application SB re 
John 3:6] 

   The Trinity is a description of the 
unique relationship of God the Father, the Son, and 
the Holy Spirit. If Jesus had stayed on earth, 
his physical presence would have limited the 
spread of the Good News because physically he could 
be in only one place at a time. After Christ 
was taken up into heaven, he would be 
spiritually present everywhere through the Holy Spirit. 
The Holy Spirit was sent so that God would be 
with and within his followers after Christ 
returned to heaven. The Spirit would comfort them, 
guide them to know his truth, remind them of 
Jesus' words, give them the right words to say, and 
fill them with power (see John 14-16). 
   At Pentecost (2:1-4) the Holy Spirit was 
made available to all who believed in Jesus. We 
receive the Holy Spirit (are baptized with him) when 
we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. The 
baptism of the Holy Spirit must be understood in the 
light of his total work in Christians. 
   (1) The Spirit marks the beginning of the 
Christian experience. We cannot be  
       Christians without his Spirit (Romans 
8:9); we cannot be joined to Christ  
       without his Spirit (1 Corinthians 
6:17); we cannot be adopted as his  
       children without his Spirit (Romans 
8:14-17; Galatians 4:6, 7); we cannot  
       be in the body of Christ except by 
baptism in the Spirit (1 Corinthians  
       12:13).
   (2) The Spirit is the power of our new 
lives. He begins a lifelong process of  
       change making us more like Christ 
(Galatians 3:3; Philippians 1:6). When  
       we receive Christ by faith, we begin 
an immediate personal relationship  
       with God. The Holy Spirit works in us 
to help us become like Christ. 
   (3) The Spirit unites the Christian 
community in Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22).  
       The Holy Spirit can be experienced by 
all, and he works through all (1  
       Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:4). 
[Life Application SB re Acts 1:4, 5] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   When we speak of faith, there is a 
distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a 
kind of belief that is wholly distinct from 
faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of 
His word, are facts that even Satan and his 
hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that 
"the devils also believe, and tremble;" but this 
is not faith. James 2:19. Where there is not 
only a belief in God's word, but a submission of 
the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to 
Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is 
faith--faith that works by love and purifies the soul. 
Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image 
of God. And the heart that in its unrenewed 
state is not subject to the law of God, neither 
indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, 
exclaiming with the psalmist, "O how love I Thy law! it 
is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97. 
And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in 
us, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit." Romans 8:1.   
   There are those who have known the 
pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be 
children of God, yet they realize that their 
character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they 
are ready to doubt whether their hearts have 
been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would 
say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often 
have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus 
because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are 
not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome 
by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken 
and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right 
hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 
Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto 
you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have 
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the 
righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words of 
Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. 
He desires to restore you to Himself, to see 
His own purity and holiness reflected in you. 
And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He 
that hath begun a good work in you will carry it 
forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more 
fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust 
our own power, let us trust the power of our 
Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of 
our countenance.  {SC 63-64} 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY 

John 3:6, 7 - Twice Born Required for Heaven.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210614-1111.html 

John 3:3 - You Must Be Born Again To Enter 
The Kingdom Of God. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200518-0946.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/