Middletown transcript., 1916-01-22
LESSON FOR JANUARY 2a
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE.

| the spirit of God, these are the sons of
| God.-Rom. S:14.
The connection of this lesson with
the others of the series is in the fact
that this chapter is panegyric re-
garding the spirit-hIled life, the COM
ing of which we have so recently
studied. Read prayerfully in this con-
nectiOn 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
filled Christian for he is more than
conquerOr.
Previously in this epistle the spirit
is mentioned but once $50; in this
chapter he is mentioned nineteen
times. Over what is the spirit-filled
man conquernr?
I. 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 ii. 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
u. Conquerors over the Power and
Dominion of Sin, w. "a. While we
still have the body yet it is our priv
ilege, through the spirits power at
work within us, to put to death its
deeds every day and each minute
(Gal. SIG, 90, 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
by these outward laws, but by living
spirit as sons" (Gal. 5:1S).
III. Conquerors Over Fear, v. Is.
The righteousness of the law is full
filed in us who walk not after the
flesh but after the spirit" ". A. and
having received the spirit of adop-
ton q. e., being placed as sons) we
cringe not before God in terror, nor
call him a tyrant, or even ruler, but
excIaim Abba, my father" AS "sons"
we are spiritually minded and have
life and peace" ". 6, Gal. 4:6).
~. conquerors over Suffering, v.
18. We are joint heirs with Jesus IF
so be we suffer with him." Our posi-
ton and heirship in Christ involves
our participation in his sufferings
(Gal. GIT. II Tim. 2:11, 12, Acts
I4:22) 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 will enable US to comprehend
what it means to be made perfect
through suffering phil 3:10, II Tim.
PIP, Heb. 5:8). If we are heirs of
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) Il. 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-
livered 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-suffciency and
perfect security in the Lord Jesus. We
may not have all we want yet we have
all we need (Phi1. 4:19). This sufflci-
ency is in the privilege we possess in
praying according to the will of God
we know not how to pray as we
ought but the spirit maketh interces-
sion for us (V. 26); so also Christ,
who is at the right hand of Cod"
intercedes for us ". 34J. the spirit
knows the mind of God the father,
teaches us how to pray and at times
places a yearning in our hearts too
deep for our own comprehension.
Even God must search the heart to
know the mind of the spirit ". 27)
and in this God does exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or
think (Eph. 3:2O).
At other times he enables US to
pray with the spirit and the under
standing as well Il Cor. 14:15). If the
spirit leads us in our prayers our
petitions will be according to the will
of God" and therefore granted Il John
STA, 15).
In thus praying and being guided by
the spirit we will overcome our in
firmities.
VII. conquerors Over All Things, v.
%. The crowning privilege the spirit
filed life has, is in knowing that all
things work together for good and
hence we are free from all possible
anxiety of heart under any and all cir
cumstanees. Whatever comes to me
is a part of his "all things" and
therefore 1 should be grateful because
the outcome will be good. We are