You are Not in the Flesh

Given the miserable condition called being “in the flesh” that Paul has been describing in verses 7-8, the personal affirmation of verse 9 is one of great encouragement:

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”

Notice three things:

1. Christians are not in the flesh

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…” Fundamental to the identity of a Christian is that he or she is not in the flesh. Paul has been teaching the Romans about the bitterness of life “in the flesh.” As verses 7-8 make clear, being in the flesh is an attitude of hostility to God, unsubmissiveness to His will, and in fact, inability to do His will. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But for the Christian, these things are no longer our defining reality. Yes, there are still struggles; the flesh, though decisively crucified (Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:24) with Christ, still wars against the Spirit and can prevent us from doing what we truly want (Galatians 5:17). But for the Christian, the flesh is not our truest identity. Our true selves are at peace with God, we delight in God, we have blood-bought power to do His will, and to bring pleasure to our heavenly Father.

Christian, reckon this to be true about yourself. Do not talk like you are still in the flesh: “I’m so wretched…I just can’t change…I know I have a problem with anger (or lust, greed, anxiety, etc.), but that’s just how I am…” Your flesh – your old self – is dead. So reckon him to be dead: "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11).

2. The Spirit of God dwells in Christians

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you." The word translated “dwell” comes from the same root as the word “house”. John Piper draws the following implication:

“The Spirit of God is not present in you as if you were a stopover. He has taken up residence here. This is where he lives. This is his home. The implication is nearness and familiarity and influence. If someone makes your house their home, they will be near you a lot. They will become familiar with you and you with them. And they will have an influence on you and the way you live.”

Christian, marvel at this stupendous reality and privilege. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead (v.11), the Spirit who hovered over the waters at the dawn of creation (Genesis 1:2), has marked you off as His territory. God Almighty has taken up residence in you, by His eternal Spirit. You are never far from God; He is never at a distance. He has promised to be with you always, until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). And He fulfills that promise to you through His Holy Spirit dwelling in you.

3. Anyone without God’s Spirit dwelling in them is not a Christian

“Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” Sometimes people refer to a particularly godly believer, or a believer who has certain spiritual gifts, as a “Spirit-filled” believer; the implication seems to be that there is a category, “Spirit-less” believers. But Paul is clear that a person without the Spirit is not a Christian.

At its core, the very essence of what it means to be a Christian is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. What identifies a Christian is not mainly that he has prayed a prayer to receive Christ as Savior in Lord, that he attends church faithfully, is morally upstanding, or has acknowledged some facts about God and Jesus. The distinguishing mark of a Christian is a vital, life-giving, transforming relationship with God that the Holy Spirit makes possible.

In the paragraph that follows (Romans 8:12ff), Paul will give a couple of tests by which we can disern if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in us. For now, those who have tasted the transforming work of the Spirit can celebrate that by God's powerful and gracious activity, we no longer belong to the realm of the flesh. You, Christian, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.