In spring, I like to look through seed catalogues. It’s fun to anticipate the wonderful things we’ll grow in our yard! Romans chapter 8 is a catalogue of the gifts God makes available to every Christian. The gospel is not only about the death of Christ that forgives our sin; it is also about the life of the risen Christ who dwells in our hearts with life changing power. “He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men (and women)”.
Because Jesus is able to enter a human heart and change it:
There is no condemnation for the believer (Rom.8:1-4). We may sometimes feel guilty and ashamed, but the fact is that we have been declared not guilty before God. Gradually, our feelings come into line with this fact, and we grow in peace love, and hope (Rom.5:1-5).
The Holy Spirit begins to grow some new desires and aspirations in us. “Those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Rom.8:5). The Spirit develops with us a hunger for the Bible, a desire to talk to God, and a need for Christian fellowship. He is rearranging our appetites.
The Spirit “gives life to our mortal bodies” (Rom.8:11). This is not only the promise of the resurrection of our bodies, but it is also the promise that God will give us the necessary strength to accomplish His will for us today. You will not be too tired, too weak, or too sick to complete what He wants you to do. The health and wealth gospel teaches that God wants you to enjoy physical health and strength every day you live, but the promise of Romans 8 is different. God’s purpose is not to bless you with a strong healthy body; His purpose is to make you healthy enough to have a strong healthy spiritual life. Even a “thorn in the flesh” won’t stop his mighty resurrection power released in your spirit, enabling you to do His will.
The Spirit gives us a sense of adoption into God’s family (Rom.8:14-17). The fact is that God has chosen you to be His child. He knew you before you were born, He decided to work in your life to “conform you to the image of His Son”, He developed a purpose for you that would make every day of your life meaningful, and on resurrection day, He will share His glory with you. You’re adopted, and He invites you to call Him “Father”.
The Spirit ignites within us the hope of Christ’s return (Rom.8:18-25). As this world darkens with random acts of violence, war, increasing hopelessness, and confusion, the Spirit gives us the confidence that all this mess will end at the feet of Jesus. In the Spirit, we are “looking for that blessed hope”.
Last in this wonderful gift catalogue is that fact that the Spirit intensifies our prayer life. A little child once said, “sometimes I pray, sometimes I just say my prayers.” There is a difference. An earnest, heartfelt conversation with the Father is a blessing given by the Spirit. God within us talks to God above us in a conversation far better than just “saying our prayers”.
You don’t have to pick and choose in God’s gift catalogue the way I will select seeds from Burpee’s. When the Spirit enters your life, He brings the full array of blessings that Jesus called the abundant life. God “freely gives us all good things”( Rom.8:32) Hallelujah!