Many years ago, there was a study done on the effects of social isolation on Rhesus monkeys. Today such a study would not be allowed on ethical grounds. The experimenter wanted to know how the monkeys would turn out if they were reared in 1) total isolation 2) alone with stuffed bears and 3) with their mothers. The result was staggering. Those reared in total isolation displayed self-destructive behaviors like biting and constant rocking. When they were put in with other monkeys, they either fought or withdrew in fear. Those who had some 'touch' of the stuff bears were not as bad while those reared by their mothers displayed no problem.

Can you imagine living your life in isolation and in fear of rejection? Can you imagine living your life without those who love you and care for you? Can you imagine life without God?

The eighth chapter of the book of Romans begins and ends with the following great truths:

THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS!

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD!

That is right. As one theologian noted, this chapter is all about 'no condemnation and no separation.' How does God help us understand and experience this wonderful news of 'no condemnation and no separation'? The apostle Paul reminds us that it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Spirit is the hallmark of Christian life.
You will recall from my last sermon on Romans 7 that the inward struggle Paul describes is most likely the description of a non-believer, a person who realizes that by keeping the law all by himself, he can never please the living God. No matter how much we try, life outside Jesus Christ is a very lonely life.

Now we come to chapter 8 and the word 'Spirit' appears many times. What a contrast from chapter 7:7-25 where the Spirit is not even mentioned once. Paul says clearly, 'If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.' (8:9). The Spirit is at the center of our new life. It was the Spirit who has set us free from the law of sin and death that dominated our life all along (8:2).

• Note the role of the Spirit in Jesus' public ministry. It was the Spirit who descended upon him and opened up his public ministry.
• Jesus promised to his disciples that soon the Spirit would come.
• In Acts 2, that is exactly what happened and the first Church was born.

This same Spirit is available for every believer who begins a journey with Jesus Christ. But some of you might ask, 'How do we know we have the Spirit?'

Some say that if you can speak in tongues, then, that is a proof. This was once the position of pastor David Yonggi Cho of Yoido Full Gospel Church, the largest church in the world. In his book Fourth Dimension, he wrote that speaking in tongues is the outward sign of the presence of the Spirit. But, later on, he changed his opinion and said that it can be one of the signs but not the sign. I am glad that he changed his position because if he had insisted on his original position, he would have had to face two problems: 1) not every Christian speaks in tongues (including myself!) and 2) some people in other religions speak in tongues in their own ways.

What did Paul say about this?

In vv. 16-17, Paul says that we experience the inward presence of the Spirit when our own spirit joins with the testimony of the Spirit and call God, 'Abba, Father.' As you know the term 'Abba' connotes closeness like Daddy. It is the Spirit who enables us to approach God without the fear of rejection. We can approach God just as a child can approach his or her father and call him Daddy. That is the work of the Spirit in us.

Paul also says in Ephesians 1:13-14 that the Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of God's people is completed. So we also believe by faith that we have the Spirit living in us.

If that is the case, then should we not cultivate our understanding of the Spirit in our lives? Yes, we should learn to listen to his small voice. He guides us through important decisions and he is the comforting voice in times of mercy.

The life in the Spirit is very different from the life under the flesh
Paul is at pains to describe the fundamental difference between 'walking according to the flesh' and 'walking according to the Spirit.' He has already shown us in vv. 1-4 what God has done in Christ to enable us to live according to the Spirit:

What the law was not able to do, God did by sending his Son and making him a sin offering on our behalf. The righteous requirements were met. We are no longer under condemnation.

We used to live in the flesh before we came to know the LORD. We used to think and act apart from God. Our mind was hostile to the law of God.

What is this 'flesh'?

The flesh (or 'sinful nature' in NIV) in vs. 5 refers to "neither the soft muscular tissue which covers our bony skeleton, nor our bodily instincts and appetites, but rather the whole of our humanness viewed as corrupt and unredeemed, 'our fallen, ego-centric human nature' or more briefly 'sin-dominated self'" (Stott, Romans,p. 222).

The flesh is really 'the old self,' the life we used to lead before Christ came into our lives.

But the Christian life is all about living under the Spirit, not under the old self. Paul says elsewhere in his letters what it means to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh.

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (flesh). For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Gal 5:16-18)

Paul says not only is the life in the Spirit very different from the life in the flesh, they are in conflict with! What we must remember is that when we become a Christian, our old self (the flesh) is not absolutely eradicated. Rather, by the work of the Spirit, it is being weakened each day until it gives up its sting altogether on the day of Jesus Christ. That means our Christian life can expect an ongoing battle between the two forces, the old management versus the new management.

The good news is that not only are we justified but we are also being sanctified each day. We are under the Spirit. He guides us each day. Paul says that:

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. (8:9)

This is a wonderful assurance. We know that the Spirit lives in us. We also know that God wants our lives to be controlled by the Spirit. How can we live Spirit-filled and Spirit-led lives?

We must listen to the Spirit and walk with the Spirit closely. Last week, while I was in Korea, I met one of the church members back in Toronto. After lunch, she gave me two hundred dollars.

She said, 'O, pastor, this is little. Please buy some things for your family in the Philippines.'

I was grateful.

But shortly after, the Spirit spoke to me. 'Give one hundred dollars to your student you are supposed to meet tomorrow.'

I began thinking selfishly, 'humm … this is actually money for my family. Isn't that what the lady said?' I was wavering between listening to the Spirit and honoring the wish of the donor.

The next day, I met my former student whom I had taught at ATS and who now returned to Korea for further studies. I asked him, 'How are you doing?' I knew he was without a job.

He said, 'well, I am doing fine. The Lord is taking care of all our needs and our family's.'

I realized that I was part of the chain that the Lord was using to help this man. As far as I could see, it started with the lady's generosity in giving two hundred dollars to me. Now I needed to continue the chain by giving one hundred dollars to my student. This was how God was working in this man's life. So I gave the money to him and said, 'Oh, buy something for your family.'

I learned the important lesson of listening to the Spirit. What the Spirit told me that day is really what Jesus taught before, 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.'

Brothers and sisters, let us be more loving and giving people. Let us also encourage one anther and be a more positive person. Instead of criticizing people, let us build one another up. Let us listen to the Spirit and walk in the Spirit.

When we walk in the Spirit, we will continuously experience, 'no condemnation' and 'no separation.' May the Lord bless you all!