At present, we are working with the light of truth presented by Dr. Francis Schaeffer from his book True Spirituality where we are discussing the basic considerations of the Christian life, or true Christianity.

Part 19

Now we move toward the end of this chapter ‘In The Spirit’s Power’…the basic considerations of the Christian life and true spirituality.  We will do this over the next 2 days with three points in mind.   

Point 1 and 2 today:   

First, the answers of the how we are to grow in the Christian life:  It is not to be done simply in our own strength.  Neither is it only acting in practice upon the reality that in God’s sight, as we are in Christ, judicially we are already dead and raised, as wonderful as that is.  That must never be minimized.  It is a real thing that must be comprehended.  Judicially, this is a reality, because Christ has died, and Christ has paid.  We are not trying to make something that does not have a reality.  But it is more than just acting upon this fact, even though it is so wonderful and should fill us with adoration.  It is much more.  The how is that the glorified Christ will do it through us.  There is an active ingredient:  He will be the doer.   

Second, though we will enlarge on this point later, there is the agency of the Holy Spirit:  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.  Romans 5:5 

What he is saying here is that you will not be ashamed experientially when you begin to act upon the reality, upon the teaching, as it has been presented.  Why? ‘because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.’ 

Paul writes further, But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:6  

What makes the difference?  This is the Holy Spirit, not just a ‘new idea’:  It is not to be in our own strength.  There is a Holy Spirit who has been given to us to make this service possible.   

In Romans chapters 1-8, at the end of the section, on the development of the Christians’ sanctification, the work of the Holy Spirit, the agent of the whole Trinity, is brought into full force in the eight chapter.   

In Romans 8:13 this is drawn together in this great central chapter of the work of the Holy Spirit for and to the Christian:  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  The Holy Spirit is specifically introduced to us here as the agent of the power and the person of the glorified Christ.  There is not enough strength in ourselves, but placed before us is the power and the work of the glorified Christ through the agency of the Holy Spirit.  Surely this is exactly what Christ meant when he said:  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18 

Friends…we are not left to work-out God’s plan for our life on our own…we have more than adequate provision to accomplish God’s purpose for our life…..Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 

Thoughts developed or used directly from the work of Schaeffer, Francis. True Spirituality . Tyndale House Publishers, Inc