The Spirit who gives life
Today's focusPaul says believers are in the Spirit if the Spirit of God dwells in them; the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to their mortal bodies.
Read
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Reflection
The Apostle Paul gives you a beautiful promise regarding who you belong to and where you live. He explains that if the "Spirit of God dwell in you," you are no longer defined by the flesh, but you are truly "in the Spirit." This presence of the "Spirit of Christ" is the very mark of being his. Even though our physical bodies experience the effects of sin, the Spirit brings a new reality: "the Spirit is life because of righteousness." You are not left to your own strength; you are sustained by a life that comes directly from God dwelling within you.
This passage also looks forward with great hope to your future. The same Spirit belonging to the One "that raised up Jesus from the dead" is active in your life right now. Because this Spirit "dwelleth in you," God will also "quicken your mortal bodies." Just as Christ was raised, the Spirit provides the power for your own restoration and life. You can take comfort today knowing that the life of the Spirit is not a distant idea, but a present power that secures your belonging to Christ.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
How does knowing that God's own Spirit lives in you change how you face weakness and the fear of death?
Pray
Holy Spirit, thank you that you live in me. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in your people. Give me life and hope today.