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Romans

  1. Lesson One
    Romans as a Theological Treatise (Romans 1–6)
    22 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Romans as an Occasional Letter (Romans 9–11)
    19 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    The Real Difference (Romans 7–8)
    19 Activities
  4. Lesson Four
    Living out the Gospel in "Rome" (Romans 12–14)
    21 Activities
    |
    5 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Author and Audience (Romans 15–16)
    22 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

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Romans The Real Difference (Romans 7–8) In | The Holy Spirit in Paul
Lesson 3, Activity 10

In | The Holy Spirit in Paul

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The theology of the New Testament, beginning with the Gospels, is unavoidably Christ-centered, or “Christo-centric.” The catalyst for the New Testament narrative is the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. However, relationship to Jesus and membership in His body is now only possible through the Holy Spirit. Paul’s letter to the Romans says this in no uncertain terms, as he reminds them of the significance of the life of the Spirit in them:

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 
Romans 8:9 NIV

In other words, if we don’t have the Spirit of Christ, we are not Christians. The presence of the Holy Spirit in us is the definition of Christianity. We are saved in Christ through the Spirit. The gravity of Paul’s theology of the Spirit should remind us of a scene from the Gospel of John, where Jesus insists that it is somehow better for Christians if he isn’t around. He tells followers that it’s more important for them to have, “another advocate to help you and be with you forever” (John 14:16):

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 
John 16:7 NIV

At times we can think of the Spirit as a kind of supporting cast member in the New Testament story. Paul will make it clear that God’s Spirit is the content of our faith. As one modern theologian has put it:

The presence within us of the Holy Spirit—inalienable and personal to each one of us—is the foundation of all Christian life.

Quote: Vladimir Lossky, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, 1997, p. 171.