完全的自由
罗马书八章5至11节
5因为随从肉体的人，体贴肉体的事；随从圣灵的人，体贴圣灵的事。
6体贴肉体的就是死；体贴圣灵的乃是生命平安。
7原来体贴肉体的，就是与神为仇，因为不服神的律法，也是不能服。
8而且属肉体的人不能得神的喜欢。
9如果神的灵住在你们心里，你们就不属肉体，乃属圣灵了。人若没有基督的灵，就不是属基督的。
10基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。
11然而叫耶稣从死里复活者的灵，若住在你们心里，那叫基督耶稣从死里复活的，也必借着住在你们心里的圣灵，使你们必死的身体又活过来。
信息分享
圣经通常把这种旧本性称为「肉体」。在我们归向基督之前，它一直辖制着我们。即使我们信从基督之后，我们的肉体仍想继续控制我们，要我们体贴它而行。它就像一种要主宰我们生命、要驱使我们远离神的势力。
但如今已有一种新的生命和能力在我们里面，那就是圣灵的能力。圣灵的能力能胜过旧本性的势力。请再读第6节，看看这两种势力的分别：「体贴肉体的，就是死；体贴圣灵的，乃是生命、平安。」
我们无须再像第七章所描述的，继续生活在挣扎与懊丧之中；反之，我们能够安稳地紧靠圣灵的掌管和能力。
我们经常听到人用飞机来作为例子。万有引力的定律会阻碍飞机起飞，或即使飞起也拉扯它降落地面。
然而，机翅膀上面的气流和本身的设计，却制造了一个新的动力和拉力，使它能胜过万有引力。那就是所谓的「空气动力」。人只要安坐机上，就可以享受这种新的能力在空中飞翔。
圣灵的能力也是一样。我们只要在圣灵里面作息生活，我们便能靠圣灵的能力，胜过旧本性的拉力。按照神的计划，当耶稣为我们众人受死的时候，祂已将人类旧本性的权势粉碎；因此，当我们接受基督的时刻，胜利已经属于我们。我们是否过着得胜的生活呢？我们是可以的。
每个基督徒都有圣灵住在他的心内，我们只要让祂作成祂的工便可以了。你愿意容让圣灵在你心里作工吗？
牢记的经文：「体贴圣灵的，乃是生命、平安。」（罗八6）
FREEDOM - INSIDE AND OUT!
Romans 8: 5-11
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Message
It is often called the flesh. It controlled us before we came to Christ. It still wants to do so and to have its own way. It is like a power which wants to turn us away from God and His will for our lives.
But there is a new life and a new power within us now, the Holy Spirit's power. This power can overcome the strength of the old nature. Look at the difference. Read the words of verse 6 again “The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
Instead of the struggle and frustration in chapter seven, we can rest quietly in the control and power of the Holy Spirit.
An illustration that is often used is that of an aircraft. The law of gravity would keep the plane on the ground or pull it back down.
But the flow of air over the wings and their design create a new power, a new force which overcomes the pull of gravity. It is the law of aerodynamics. As long as we stay in the aircraft, we enjoy that new power and lift.
So it is with us. As we walk, as we live or as we rest in the Holy Spirit's presence and power, we will not be controlled by the strength and pull of our old nature. God considers the power of the old nature to have been broken when Jesus died. Then when we accepted Christ, that victory became ours. Are we living on the victory side? We can.
Every Christian has the Holy Spirit living within. Why not allow Him to do the work He came to do?
A VERSE FOR TODAY: “The mind controlled by the (Holy) Spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6)