Having the Spirit of Christ

April 3, 2005

Introduction

In Rom 8:6-10, we have these words, “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.”

I believe that Jesus used this idea of the evidence of the Spirit as He talked to Nicodemus. In John 3:8 Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." There is evidence of the wind. No one denies the existence of the wind even though we cannot see it, we see and feel its evidence and effect.

This morning, we want to look at some of the evidence that the Spirit of Christ is in someone. We’ve all heard the “spirit” used in this way. Someone has a good spirit, or someone is mean spirited. Let’s look at the life of Christ to see the evidence of His Spirit.

Body

I. He came with a gentle, forgiving spirit.

A. Consider the case of the woman taken in adultery.

(John 8:3-11 NKJV) Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, {4} they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. {5} "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" {6} This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. {7} So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." {8} And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. {9} Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. {10} When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" {11} She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more."

1. Jesus was perfect, but He was forgiving.

2. Forgiving the woman did not mean that He condoned what she had done.

3. In fact, He said, “go and sin no more."

B. Jesus spoke of smoking flax.

(Mat 12:18 "Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel¹ nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory.

¹dñßæù

erizoô

Thayer Definition:

1) to wrangle, engage in strife

1a) used to describe the calm temper of Jesus in contrast with the vehemence of the Jewish doctors wrangling together about tenets and practices

1. Smoking flax He will not quench – a lamp about to go out.

2. A bruised reed He will not break – not much strength without being bruised, now even less, but He will not finish it off.

C. C. He spoke of Himself as the good Shepherd.

(John 10:11 NKJV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

(Luke 15:4-6 NKJV) "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? {5} "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. {6} "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'.

1. This is a picture of gentleness and kindness.

2. It isn’t the picture of a rancher in a cattle roundup.

D. D. He even wept over Jerusalem.

(Luke 19:41-44 NKJV) Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, {42} saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. {43} "For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, {44} "and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."

II. We, in turn, are to be a gentle people.

A. Jesus spoke of our love as being one of the distinguishing marks of His people.

(John 13:34-35 NKJV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. {35} "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

B. Paul urged us to have a gentleness toward one another.

(Eph 4:1-3 NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, {2} with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, {3} endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

C. We are to have a gentle spirit in correcting others.

(Gal 6:1 NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. .

D. D. In dealing with others, our speech is to be gentle.

(Col 4:5-6 NKJV) Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. {6} Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. .

(Col 4:5-6 NIV) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. {6} Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. .

E. E. We are to act without offense.

(1 Cor 10:32 NKJV) Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,

Conclusion

I. Where does the gentleness principle apply? – In everything.

A. It applies in our home in our dealing with each other in love.

B. It applies in our business

1. The way we deal with those we work for, and those who work for us.

2. It applies in the home

3. It applies in the church

4. It applies in the way we speak of outsiders.

II. Do you have the spirit of Christ? Have you been baptized into Him?

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