Romans 8: 5-17

Rom 8:5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. Rom 8:6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

As stated earlier we all have a sinful nature within us. How well do you control that? I know I have given in on occasion and confess my sin when I realize what I had done. There is always a battle in your mind of good and evil. It is much more satisfying when good wins out.

Rom 8:7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. Rom 8:8 That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

There is a price to pay for living in sin and ignoring God’s word. Once you have accepted Christ you need to continue building your Christian knowledge. If you doubt, find books on doubting, if you have other sins that continue to be in your way read you bible and seek assistance from those that specialize in your problem.

Rom 8:9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) Rom 8:10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.

 Mat 25:10 "But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Mat 25:11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, 'Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!' Mat 25:12 "But he called back, 'Believe me, I don't know you!'  

Life Application New Testament Commentary:” 25:10-12 While the foolish bridesmaids were off trying to buy oil, the bridegroom came and everyone proceeded on to the wedding banquet. The central focus of the parable lies in the words and the door was locked. Jesus’ point, again, is that to not be ready at the right time means to miss out completely. There is a finality to the shutting  of that door. Those outside will not have another chance to be let in “.

I put these verses in to make you aware that you may believe you have time and want only to run to the store and get a few things and then you will ask for acceptance into God’s kingdom you may not have the time that you think. I could end now or a minute from now or years, decades etc. from now but warning will not be given.

Rom 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Rom 8:12Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. Rom 8:13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

This is fairly straight forward language. Romans 8:14 below puts it into nutshell. If you are born again you can look forward to living with Christ after the world has left you.

Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Rom 8:15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, "Abba, Father." Rom 8:16 For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. Rom 8:17 And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.

Life Application New Testament Commentary:

This slavery to fear most likely refers to life under the law, obedience that was concerned for scrupulous exactness with a constant fear of failure. Paul implies that believers are not to be like slaves who cower in fear before their master. Instead, we are adopted children who can call God our Father. We can know this is true because the Holy Spirit within tells us it is so. The Holy Spirit not only adopts us as God’s children, but he also assures us of our family status (see Gal_4:6). The Spirit within changes our obedience to God from slavery to a relationship where God is both our Master and our loving Father. The Scriptures indicate that believers can expect inward confirmation of the faith by the Spirit. Our very capacity and desire to approach God as our Father is itself evidence of the Spirit’s witness with our spirit that we are children of God. We are motivated by the Spirit.