Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-01-21
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.


God.-Rom. s:14.
The connection of this lesson with
the others of the series is In the fact
that this chapter is a panegyric re-
garding the spirit-f1lied life, the COM
ing of which we have so recently
studied Read prayerfully in this con-
Dection Gal 5:22, 26. We somehow
feel that we ought to study this entire
chapter rather than that portion as
signed. The key to the whole is found
in verse thirty-seven, I'VE are more
than conquerors" If conquerors, how
be more than conquerors? Very sim;
pie. Some victories leave the victor
so exhausted that he cannot possess
nor enjoy his victory; not SO the spirit
filed Christian for he is more than
conqueror.
Previously in this epistle the spirit
is mentioned but once (5:5) in this
chapter he is mentioned nineteen
| times. Over what is the spirit-filled
man conqueror?
!. Over the Condemnation of Sin,
v. I. The spirit-filled Christian lives
in another realm than that of the flesh
! ". 81. The spirit removes US from
the realm to that of the spirit, quick
ening us q. e., making us alive who
were dead in sins) to condemn sin in
the flesh and enabling us to walk
not after the flesh. but after the
spirit"
II. Conquerors Over the Power and
] ini- AE xuo
still have the body yet it is our priv
ilege, through the spirits power at
work within us, to put to death it's
deeds every day and each minute
/ (Gal. 5:16, %. 23). To live otherwise
is to displease God ". 81. Those who
surrender their lives to the control of
the indwelling spirit are "sons of God"
and therefore free from the law of
sin and death" ". p. for the same
spirit that raised from the dead"
". III not alone makes us sons but
gives us the same power
AS long as we are under laws and
ordinances we are children" (Gal. 4:3
R. W, but when we live the life of
liberty in Christ Jesus we are led. not
spirit as ''sons" (Gal. 5:1S).
III. conquerors Over Fear, v. IS.
The righteousness of the law is full
filled in US who walk not after the
flesh \but after the spirit" w. A. and
} having received the spirit of adop,
ton" q. e., being placed as sons) we
cringe not before God in terror, nor
| oo1 or r111o htrt
exclaim Abba, my father" AS sons
we are spiritually minded and have
life and peace" ". 6. GAL 4:6).
w. conquerors Over Suffering, v.
1s. We are joint heirs with Jesus 'if
so be we suffer with him." Our posi-.
tion and heirship in Christ involves
our participation in his sufferings
tGaL GIT. II Tim. gil, IL, Acts
14:22). What we often call Affections
are only discomforts and frequently
the results of our own foolish care.
lessness. But as contrasted with his
glory there is no comparison Only
eternity viii enable US to comprehend
what it means to be made perfect
through suffering tPhil. $40, II Tim.
2:12, Heb. 5:S). If we are heirs ot
all God has and all that God is, we
are likewise an heir just as Christ is
and to the extent that Christ is an
heir and hence to his sufferings 1--WE
suffer with him) though we are even
there more than conquerors for like
him we too shall rise triumphant
"over all things"
v. conquerors Over Vanity, v. 20
This glory is contrasted with the crea
tion now subject to vanity. but which
is in degradation by comparison The
|, creature ". 21) ii. e., creation) was
! made subject not willingly but by rea
son of him who subjected it in hope
that the creation should yet be de
hvered from the bondage to the prin
: ciples of death and decay into the
glorious liberty, or the liberty of the
: glory. of the children of God.
. VI. Conquerors Over Infirmities. v
26. The believers all-sufficiency and
. perfect security in the Lord Jesus. We
may not have all we want yet we have
all we need (Phil. AID. This suffici
ency is in the privilege we possess il
praying according to the will of God
. we know not how to pray as We
;, ought but the spirit maketh interces
sion for us ". 26); so also Christ
who is at the right hand of God,
intercedes for US ". 34). The spir
= knows the mind of God the father
teaches us how to pray and at time.
: places a yearning in our hearts tot
: deep for our own comprehension.
Even God must search the heart tt
know the mind of the spirit ". 27
and in this God does "exceedin,
g abundantly above all that we ask O.
, think" (Eph 1920.
/ At other times he enables us t,
g pray with the spirit and the under
r standing as well q Cor. 14:15). If tn,
O spirit leads us in our prayers ou
O petitions will be according to the will
It of God" and therefore granted Il Johl
O 5:14, 15).
In thus praying and being guided b,
the spirit we will overcome our in
firmities.
= VII. Conquerors Over All Things, /.
q %. The crowning privilege the spirit
o filed life has, is in knowing that al
! things work together for good an
n hence we are free from all possibl
:, anxiety of heart under any and all Gil
F." cumstances. Whatever comes to M
~ is a part of his "all things" ain
therefore ] should be grateful becaus
the outcome will be good. We ar
not fore-ordained to salvation ire
. spective of what we may be OF do bu
/, we are fore-ordained as believers It
;. be conformed to the image of hI
:, Son" ". 29). Thus those who becom
a candidates are those elected.