Useful Bible Studies > Romans Commentary > chapter 8

The Holy Spirit is present in the lives of God's people

Romans 8:9

It interests us to see those verses, like Matthew 28:19 and Mark 1:10-11, which refer to God as Father, Son and Spirit. There are only a few such verses, but here is one of them.

In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul taught that the Holy Spirit is present in the lives of his people. He explained there that the Holy Spirit lives in them. Here in Romans 8:9, Paul is again teaching the same lesson. He wants God’s people to know that their natural feelings do not have to control their lives. The Holy Spirit is always present with them, so he is able to direct and to guide them constantly (Galatians 5:16-18).

Paul calls the Holy Spirit by two different names: the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Christ. However, he is referring to the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-13). The Spirit is the gift to God’s people from both the Father and the Son (John 14:26). The Spirit is also of the same nature as God the Father and Christ: Like the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit is God. However, there are not three Gods, but one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4).

The Holy Spirit does not act separately from the Father and the Son. When a person becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit enters that person’s life. The Holy Spirit is living in that person - and so are the Father and the Son, Christ (John 14:23; Colossians 1:27).

That means that the most extraordinary power is working in a Christian’s life (8:11). In fact, God himself is actively working in that person. He has taken someone whom he considered dead because of their evil deeds (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1). He is making that person into one of his children. He will give that person life without end, and the most splendid honour (Romans 8:15-18; Philippians 1:6).

Next part: Live for God, because sin brings death (Romans 8:10)

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