Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you… I. THE INHABITATION OF THE SPIRIT. Dwelling may relate either to a man in his house (1 John 3:24) or of God in His temple (1 Corinthians 6:16). The Spirit buildeth us up for so holy a use, and then dwelleth in us as our Sanctifier, Guide, and Comforter. 1. He sanctifieth and reneweth us (Titus 3:5; John 3:6). 2. He guideth and healeth us in the ways of holiness (Romans 15:14; Galatians 5:25). 3. He comforts us with the sense of God's fatherly love and our eternal inheritance (ver. 16; 2 Corinthians 2:22). II. WHY THIS INHABITATION IS THE GROUND OF A BLESSED RESURRECTION. 1. To preserve the order of the personal operations. (1) The rising from the dead is a work of Divine power (2 Corinthians 1:10). (2) This Divine power belongeth in common to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who, being one and the same God, concurred in the same work. We are raised by the Father (text), by Christ (John 5:21), by the Spirit (text). (3) They all concur in a way proper to them. The Holy Ghost is the operative love of God, working from the power of the Father and grace of the Son; and whatever the Father or Son doth, you must still suppose it to be communicated to us by the Spirit. 2. Because the Holy Spirit is the bond of union between us and Christ. We are united to Him, because we have the same Spirit which Christ had; and therefore He will work like effects in you and Him. If the Head rise, the members will follow after. 3. Because the Spirit of sanctification worketh in us that grace which giveth us a right and title to this glorious estate (Luke 20:35, 36; Galatians 6:8). 4. Because the Spirit abides in us as an earnest (Ephesians 1:14). 5. Because of His respect to His old dwelling-place (1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). 6. Because the great work of the Spirit is to retrench our bodily pleasures, and to bring us to resolve by all means to save the soul, whatever becometh of the body in this world, and to use the body for the service of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 6:13, 20; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:16, 24; Romans 13:14). (T. Manton, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But 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. |
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