The vast difference between living and operating with the thought processes and actions of the world and living and operating with the thought processes and actions of God is nicely explained in Romans 7:9 through 8:17. Here Paul is discussing his life as lived in the flesh as opposed to his life lived in the empowering, infilling presence of the Holy Spirit. He starts out by stating that the Law (the commandments) is holy and was given to help people avoid sin. However, human nature, influenced and controlled as it is by ungodly ideas and attitudes, used the Law as a springboard to sin. Not that the Law is to blame; it is human nature without God that draws people aside and causes them to revolt against the Law. And even if humans know what is right, and would like to live fully in the right, none-the-less, human nature, being what it is, draws us aside into rebellion against God and His Law.

Then Paul goes on to say, O unhappy and pitiable and wretched man that I am! Who will release and deliver me from [the shackles of] this body of death? O thank God! [He will!] through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) our Lord! So then indeed I, of myself with the mind and heart, serve the Law of God, but with the flesh (human nature without God—GB) the law of sin (Rom. 7:24-25). From this, Paul goes on to make one of the most important statements in the New Testament regarding all believers, Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice], So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit] ((Rom. 8:1-4).

“Controlled by the Holy Spirit.” That’s the life of the believer. Paul clearly states that those living without God are putting their minds to work on rebellious actions (sin) because the mind of the natural man (without God) is hostile to God and will not submit itself to God’s Law. He says, indeed it cannot. So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the [Holy] Spirit of God [really] dwells within you [directs and controls you]. But if anyone does not possess the [Holy] Spirit of Christ, he is none of His [he does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God]. But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]. And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you (Rom. 8:8-11).

Earlier in his letter, Paul noted that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), and here he repeats this certainly, noting that those who live by the dictates of the flesh will surely die, but if one is leading a life governed and directed by the Holy Spirit, then the result is eternal life. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory (Rom. 8:14-17).

The Holy Spirit is not an “it,” out there somewhere doing “Holy Ghost” hauntings of Christians. He is God, Himself, ready to fill us and maximize our ability to be all that God intends us to be. He is God, freeing us from sin and death and giving us life eternal. He is God, enabling us to speak life to others and carry on the mission that Jesus initiated when He was here on earth. Living with the fullness of the indwelling Spirit is living in the fullness that God intends for every one of His children.

Loving Father, I give you praise and thanks in Jesus’ name for making Your Holy Spirit available to me to indwell and fill me with Your presence. Help me to live my life in that Truth. Amen.