March 21 - Romans 8:9

March 21, 2024
Romans 8:9

Romans 8:9 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.

This one little verse speaks volumes as to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit within a believer. When a person comes to a heart-felt belief in Jesus Christ, receiving Him into his or her life, a miracle takes place. Often referred  to as the New Birth experience, a miracle takes place when someone truly acknowledges Jesus as his Savior AND Lord.

A part of Christ comes to live within your spirit when you truly believe and acknowledge that Jesus loves you and shed His blood for the remission of your sins. When God raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus gave a part of Himself - His Spirit - to those who believe and trust in Him. The Holy Spirit, as the third person of the Godhead, is here to be your comforter, instructor of truth, and the power source in you to guide you throughout life. You then, as having the indwelling Holy Spirit become the Body of Christ as Christ's representative on this earth. Then the Holy Spirit will be the power to raise you up to heaven when your life on earth is over.

Sadly, for those who do not have the indwelling Holy Spirit living within them are not true believers. This verse here is clear - they do not belong to Christ. Some will say - "I believe in Jesus - that He died for the sins of the world and God raised Him from the dead," but it is a head knowledge belief. The full Greek meaning of believe, however, goes beyond head knowledge belief into a heart-felt trust and reliance upon. It is a heart surrendered to Jesus as Lord of their life. The moment that happens, Jesus knows, and He then sends His Spirit to come and dwell within that person's heart.  That is the New Birth experience. You will know it because your thinking changes, bringing about positive changes in your life, and your heart tells you that you now belong to Christ. 

If you truly believe in Jesus in your heart and want to surrender your life to Him as Lord, just honestly go before Him and confess Him as your Lord. Jesus knows your heart and so desires to give you His Holy Spirit to guide you through life when you are sincere. Surrender today!

2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has past and the new has come.