If In Fact The Spirit of God Dwells in You

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” -Romans 8:9

A concise summary of what Paul writes here is we become Christians by God’s Spirit. If the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are no longer in the flesh, but are Christ’s, Christians. If the Spirit of God does not dwell within us, regardless of what we profess with our tongues, we are none of his because we remain in the flesh. 

Recall, the end for those in the flesh is death; but for those who are Christ’s, the end is life and peace.

Using the second person perspective (you) to apply to their lives in practice the theology he is discussing in theory shows Paul’s pastoral heart for the Roman Christians. No doubt the testimony Paul has heard of the Roman Christians warrants such certainty about their condition (Romans 1:8).

Nevertheless, he asserts, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Paul is qualifying his assumption lest there be some within the body who profess Christ in vain. He makes this qualifying statement to prompt them to examine themselves to make sure they are indeed in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Or to use Peter’s wording, he wants them to “be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10). 

How do we know if we are in the Spirit? What does it look like practically? To continue using Peter’s words, it looks like this: 

“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:3–10).

To return to Paul’s choice of wording, he means everything Peter does in his more concise expression: “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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” -Romans 8:5