The Principle Of The Earnest

Let us muse today on Romans 8, Possessing Our Position. One of our possessions that we found yesterday is the earnest or the down payment of the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is but the down payment what must the whole be like. We muse on Romans 8:12-13a and some Principles Of The Earnest. In verses 12-13a we find the principle of indebtedness. If we live after the flesh we shall die. If I live according to my abilities, accomplishments, will power, and resolutions I shall die. A Father once took his son to an outing. The boy misbehaved something terrible. The Father told the son that because of your behavior I will have to take you home earlier than expected. Flesh living will lead to a premature death. In verse 13b we find the principle of inhabiting. If you live after the Spirit you shall not die. What does it mean to live after the Spirit? Paul says that we must mortify the deeds of the flesh. Mortify means to put to death. I was born with an old nature that loves only sin.  I was born again and given the nature of God that loves only righteousness. I am both rotten and righteous at my center. I must, through the Spirit, yield to the nature of God in me and put down my old nature. John said, ‘Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he’s born of God.’