Into the Heart of Romans
A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
The Spirit Gives Life (3|3)
Pages 77-84
Galatians 2:19-20 (NIV) “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV) I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Romans 1:16-17 (NIV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed —a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Paul describes the Spirit’s indwelling presence as a new life and energy bubbling up within us, shaping our prayers, guiding our choices, stirring us to love, and revealing surprising wisdom. Where have you sensed the Spirit nudging, guiding, or energizing you in ways that surprised you or revealed a deeper sense of calling?
Paul teaches that God’s promise of bodily resurrection is the foundation for understanding our present role in God’s plan: we are active, prayerful, and often suffering participants in God’s work of renewing creation. Where do you sense God inviting you to participate in His renewing work (whether through prayer, perseverance, or sacrificial love) amid the “in-between” tension of present suffering and future glory?
Paul acknowledges the mystery of the “intermediate state” between death and resurrection, suggesting that the Holy Spirit (who dwells within us) holds us securely until the day God gives us new bodily life. How does the understanding of life after death shape your sense of identity, hope, and trust in God’s care beyond death?
Paul claims that God’s promises to return to His people, rebuild His Temple, and renew creation are being fulfilled as God comes to dwell within His people through the Spirit. What aspects of your life feel most like places where the Spirit is already renewing you and giving you a “mindset of the Spirit” that points toward God’s coming new creation?
Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire said, “God made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.” What has God made you? What is it that, when you do it in the power and joy of the Spirit, enables you to feel God’s pleasure?