Life in the Spirit

The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit changing and controlling the believer's life becomes assurance of salvation and the glorious destiny with God. As part of the salvation package the believer has new desires and a new will working in tandem with a new heart and mind. Even so, believers will still sin but they cannot live in that sin and enjoy it. The conviction of sin will bring shame and misery so the fleeting moments of pleasure are left unsatisfying.

In verses nine through eleven, four conditional statements are made concerning the believers relationship to the Spirit. Each one begins with the word "if" that is used in the sense that what is stated can confidently be assumed as true.

1. If the Spirit indwells you, all three persons of the Trinity have taken up residence.
2. Without the Spirit no one belongs to nor lives in the realm of a relationship with Christ.
3. The believer's spirit lives even when their physical body dies.
4. Believers have one and the same Spirit indwelling them who raised Christ from the dead.

The Holy Spirit has given spiritual life to the believer now and will give physical life in the future. Death has been defeated so the separation of body and spirit that believer's experience is only temporary.