So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) 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. (10) And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (11) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul. He has just finished the doctrine of God’s salvation – we are justified by free grace in faith in Jesus Christ. We are free from the law of ceremony amd rituals which is inadequate in the production of holiness in the sinner to secure acceptance with God. Now in chapter 8 – beginning with my favorite verse 1, chapter 8: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” The theme of chapter 8 is salvation of those who renounce the law and accept Christ making salvation certain. This is the security of the true believer. At the moment of faith we receive the Spirit and are transformed by grace. The Spirit is the Spirit of life ; the love of God is infinite and unchangeable from which nothing can separate us.

Paul describes the justified as those who walk according to the Spirit and in saving faith in Christ they are at peace with God. The unbelieving mindset is on earthly gratification and hostile to God. Paul however turns to the reborn – those transformed in faith in Christ. You will know the Spirit of God has changed your hearts. The believer will be drawn to Christ Jesus and the Indwelling Spirit in faith. You will grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control which are all manifestations of the Spirit.

The faithful are still subject to death even thought the Spirit has given us eternal life. Without Christ life is grim and futile. As my favorite c.s. Lewis writes in the Great Divorce – There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God “Thy will be done.” And those to whom God says in the end “Thy will be done.” All those in hell choose it. Without that self choice there could be no hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it will he opened.