Sanctification by the Spirit

This nineteenth message from Romans celebrates our spiritual victory. Paul points out that we have been given FREEDOM in Christ - He is our protection from judgment (no condemnation for believers) and He is our provision in fulfilling the Law (He condemned sin in the flesh). The FOCUS of our minds must now be on Christ. Believers, unlike unbelievers, have two choices: set your mind on the flesh, the physical; or set your mind on the Spirit, the spiritual. But these choices have consequences: the mind set on the flesh leads to death (spiritual separation); the mind set on the Spirit leads to life and peace (spiritual satisfaction). Recognize that the mind set on the flesh brings conflict: both discord with God and disapproval from God. Finally, genuine believers will FINISH in three ways: (1) having justification because the Spirit of God dwells in us; (2) being sanctified because our spirit is alive and we are living righteously; and (3) being glorified when the Holy Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies at the return of Christ (the redemption of our body, the "rapture").