Category: Theology 101
The Work of the Holy Spirit (Cont'd)
Sanctification by the Spirit
The Jewish rite of circumcision was essential to being a Jew; however, the Scripture tells us that there is a more important circumcision that is necessary if a person is going to please God--circumcision of the heart by the Spirit (Rom. 2:27-29). It is the Spirit who empowers the believer to serve God faithfully. The Spirit frees the believer from the Law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2). Followers of Christ walk in and by the Spirit who gives life and peace (Rom. 8:6); they are no longer in the flesh (Rom. 8:9); the Spirit will give life to their mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11); by the Spirit they kill the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13); the Spirit leads the sons of God (Rom. 8:14); and the believer who walks in the Spirit does not do the will of the flesh (Gal. 5:16) because the Spirit is opposed to the flesh (Gal. 5:17).
The Spirit gives strength to the inner man of a believer to help him persevere in faith and obedience (Eph. 3:14-19).
Amazing! We have the ability to stroll down the path of life in the power of God's Spirit. When the flesh seems strong and our desires turn toward godless things, we have the help of the Spirit at our disposal to overcome temptation. When we are weak we have the strength of God's Spirit to draw upon.