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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr. Ivor J.W.Oakley (Strandtown Baptist Church 30-10-1977)
Last time we reached 8th
chapter of Romans. Like the Garden of Eden, it is full of all manner of
delights. Some preachers would be willing to be shut up as prisoners in this
paradise and never preach from any other part of the Bible. There are sermons in
every line. Among other chapters of the Bible, it is like Benjamin’s mess (Gen
43:34), which was five times as much as any of his brothers. Inexhaustible mine
of spiritual wealth, to be dug again and again. Huge nuggets of gold here.
The first part of Romans 8 was
about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. Two foundations
for Christian life – the Son of God whereby we are justified, and the Holy
Spirit whereby we are regenerated and sanctified. Frees us from downward pull of
old nature, by counteraction, enables us to keep Law, will raise up our bodies
on resurrection day. It is our responsibility to walk after the Spirit and to
put our mind on the Spirit.
Now further teaching. No apology for saying yet more about the Holy Spirit. Must do so if to follow mind of sacred author. Also cannot be reminded too often that every stage of the Christian life is related to the Holy Spirit. Neglect him at our peril and for our poverty. Never reach a position where we can dispense with his power.
Paul returns to this theme and reinforces earlier
teaching about the Holy Spirit’s work if we are to grow in grace. Not hide
fact that we are obliged to be holy, because we are his debtors. We owe it to
God to be holy. Sacred and binding debt. If we are Christians, we are bound to
be separated to the Lord, to be like him in purity, service, patience, love,
sympathy, and to please him. Now what we owe we have by the Holy Spirit, the
wherewithal to pay. Not only makes demand, but puts into our hand the means,
weapons, tools to do what is required of us. He who claims it, has, in the Holy
Spirit, immeasurably given to us.
What is our big hindrance? It is
ourselves. We are our own worst enemy. Two natures – the flesh, or old nature
with which we were born, and the new spiritual nature by the Holy Spirit. The
flesh can be respectable, moral and religious, but its focus and reliance is on
self. Its tendency is downward and away from God. Manifestations of its downward
direction may vary (Gal 5:19) but its direction is always the same. The new
nature is centred on God, and manifests itself in the character of Christ, fruit
of the Spirit, spiritual interests, maintained by the Holy Spirit.
There is therefore this
incessant warfare in the Christian experience. The Holy Spirit’s purpose is to
ally himself with the new nature and to subdue the old nature. Flesh is with us
till death, but it is going to be mortified. Refuse, reject what we know to be
wrong, don’t trifle with it, turn from all known sins of habit, association
and thought. Mortify and put it to death. Daily repentance. This is how to deal
with temptation and the rising up of flesh. Anything which threatens new life in
Christ is to be put to death. But how? Through the Spirit (8:13). Not
dependent on own energy or self will.
At the same time, set minds on
things of the Spirit, and walk after him. Cultivate, nourish and foster new
life. Whole-heartedly giving selves up to the Spirit. Appropriate his power and
driving force. Put minds on what ever is true, honourable, just and pure. This
includes diligent use of “means of grace” – prayer, bible reading,
fellowship, worship, Lord’s Supper. Not ends in themselves, no virtue in going
through them in mechanical ritual. But when done with the right frame of mind,
they are the means of being and keeping in touch with the Lord who by the Holy
Spirit is the secret of success. They are means of deepening contact with him,
helps to faith, not a substitute for it.
The same conflict is described in Galatians 5. Same assurance of success Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16). It does not happen once for all. It is a continual daily experience. Daily challenge. Daily choice. Daily putting to death of flesh, daily walking in the Spirit. This is the secret to life in its fullest sense. The Holy Spirit is the secret of holiness in negative and positive aspects.
The mark of those who are
God’s sons and daughters is that they are led by the Holy Spirit. As many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (8:14). It is a
wonderful thing to say, that a human being is the child of God. We are also
servants, soldiers, disciples, friends, but here we step higher – “sons”.
Sonship means access to God, fellowship with God, being adopted into God’s
family. We were once far off, but now brought into inner circle of God’s
family, with all security, joy and blessings.
When we believed and turned to
God we were made sons. Not slaves in awful bondage and fear. God is our Father.
Sense of belonging to God that causes us to cry “Abba, Father”. “Abba”
is an intimate term for God used by Jesus. It is used by Jews when children
address their father, but it was and is not used by Jews when addressing God.
As his children, we enjoy many
and vast privileges. He frees us, banishes bondage and fear, and he leads us
into the will of God and into all His wonderful purposes for our lives. Not
lost, but led. Leads us in unfolding of circumstances. Door opens or closes.
Leads us through inner conviction planted in heart so that when decisions have
to be made and choices to be determined, we can know: “This is the way, walk
ye in it”. Leads us through advice of wise and experienced friend. Leads us
through the teaching of the Word. This is why it is so important to study Bible.
Here we discover through prayerful and intelligent reading God’s guidance, and
how it applies in our individual cases.
There are an estimated 5000
promises in the Word (nearly 4000 in the OT, over 1000 in the NT). They are
there to be discovered, believed and used. Charles A .Fox said “If you are in
need, sit down beside the promise of God that fits it. God always comes back the
way of the promises. You won’t stay very long before you get a reply”.
This is another area in which we
are to submit to the Holy Spirit. Nowhere more readily does self get in the way.
Want him to rubber-stamp our decisions already made. Want God to let us have own
way. Guidance requires we honestly submit to be led this way or that as he
chooses, and then be willing to wait until he moves forward. When he does so –
we must act at once.
Guidance is part of normal Christian life. It is ours if we are prepared to use the Holy Spirit in this regard. One of many privileges of Sonship.
The Spirit himself (not the AV’s
“itself”) beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the
children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with
Christ (8:16-17). God not only makes us his
children and bestows on us all the privileges of this exalted position, but he
wants us to know it and be sure of it. Being sure is like sitting on
three-legged stool. If all three legs are there, we are in a stable position. If
only one or two legs support us, we may be in trouble.
The three legs: (a) the Word of God – trust His
promises; (b) the Work of the Son – the atonement of the Cross; (c) the
Witness of the Spirit – evidences of new life, and also this inward assurance.
Our spirit has conviction that we are children of God.
Holy Spirit joins and confirms our spirit in this witness. Some have conviction
more strongly than others. But least and lowest of God’s children will not
exchange heart, with all doubts and fears, for the heart of a worldly and
careless man. He has something within him that he would not part with – that
is the witness of the Holy Spirit.
If sons, then heirs, joint heirs. Did we ever hear such
things? Though the best has yet to be, we have already arrived at enjoyment of
some of inheritance here and now. We enjoy the interest now, and the capital is
our possession hereafter. We are going to share in Christ’s majesty and glory.
Language falls short here. No-one can describe glory to be revealed. Bible
itself only lifts a little of the veil. Normally speaks in terms of negatives
– no corruption, failing, devil, sin, sorrow, tears, sickness, death.
Many pleasant and unspeakable comforts we might dwell on:
Perfected in knowledge – we shall know even as we are known; Perfected in
holiness – entirely conformed to God’s glory and image; Daily conflict with
world and flesh at an end; Serve him perfectly in glory without weakness and
weariness; Satisfaction will be complete; Meeting up with those dying in Christ,
now with him; Meeting all the saints of whom we have read and in whose steps we
have walked; Seeing them all without hurry and never to part again; Above all to
see the King in his beauty, and have perfect communion with him. We shall be
forever with the Lord. See his lovely face, and hands and feet pierced for us on
Cross, head crowned with thorns.
Dying men in dying world. All before us is dark in one sense. But beyond this life there is Christ and that is enough, because with him God will give us all things. Best things are yet to come. Our light affliction is but for a moment. Death when it comes merely opens door between us and fullness of inheritance.
The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome flesh and live in
the will of God. He constitutes sinners as adopted sons in God’s family. Then
he guides and leads them. Gives assurance of Salvation, that we are heirs and
joint heirs. Christians are the richest people on earth. They possess the only
things really worth having in life - overcoming deadliest enemy, related to
living God, purpose and aim in life. They have the only real inheritance worth
having, because it’s the only one not to be left in hour of death. Yet it is
within everyone’s reach.
Whose child are we? Devil’s or God’s? Die either one or the other’s. Riches, glories, honour beyond this world’s imagining in Christ. Ours as a free gift. If God’s son, live worthy of him, bear father’s likeness, use privileges, casting every care upon him, trusting the Father’s concern and leading.
