Today’s Daily Bible Verse: Without God, We are Lost

June 17, 2025

Romans chapter 8 verse 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

VERSE CONTEXT

The Apostle Paul is the author of the Book of Romans, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the believers in Rome, a diverse audience of Jewish and Gentile Christians living under Roman rule and dealing with both internal struggles and external persecution. Romans chapter 8 is one of the most powerful and theologically rich chapters in all of Scripture. It explores life in the Spirit versus life in the flesh, affirming that true Christian life is only possible by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.

Paul is emphatically stating in Romans 8:9 that a person who claims to belong to Christ must have the Spirit of God dwelling within them. The Greek word used for dwell is “oikeō” (οἰκέω), meaning to live in, to inhabit permanently. This is not a passing influence or momentary feeling, this is full residence. If the Holy Spirit does not dwell within someone, Paul makes it crystal clear: that person is “none of his”, they do not belong to Christ.

This verse dismantles the false idea that moral people, religious people, or good people can live out the will of God apart from the Spirit. Man, by nature, is in the flesh, governed by sin, inclined toward pride, and unable to please God (see Romans 8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.). There is no exception, no bypassing this truth. The Holy Spirit is not optional for godliness, it is essential.

Commentator Charles Hodge (1797–1878, Presbyterian theologian) wrote, “To be without the Spirit is to be without Christ. And to be without Christ is to be without life.” That is the heart of this verse.

BROADER CONTEXT

Romans chapter 8 is the Spirit-filled crescendo of a multi-chapter argument Paul began back in chapter 5, where he contrasted Adam’s fall with Christ’s gift of righteousness. In chapters 6 and 7, Paul explained that believers are dead to sin and not under the law, but the struggle with the flesh remains. Romans 7 ends with Paul crying out, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). Chapter 8 answers that cry: only through the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus can we walk in freedom and righteousness.

The chapter begins with the declaration: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1), and it unfolds into a description of what that Spirit-led life looks like. Verse 9 is the turning point in Paul’s argument where he stops addressing general human nature and starts directly speaking to the believer, encouraging them: “Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.” But only if the Spirit of God truly lives in them.

This is not just a doctrinal checkpoint, it is a dividing line between true and false faith, between works-based religion and Spirit-empowered righteousness. The entire chapter pivots on the truth that only the Holy Spirit gives us life, peace, adoption as sons, hope in suffering, and ultimately, glorification.

APPLICATION

APPRECIATING GOD’S GREATNESS

This verse reminds us of the absolute necessity of God’s own presence to accomplish His will. He does not leave us to be holy on our own. What God requires, God provides through His Spirit. He does not merely call us to obedience, He empowers us to obey. That is the greatness of our God: He saves us, fills us, transforms us, and sustains us by His own indwelling Spirit. Dr. Voddie Baucham once explained that if man could be obedient without the Holy Spirit the we would not have needed Jesus. Why would Jesus have to leave His throne in heaven, come down to this sinful world, live a sinless life, be hated by his own creation, be beaten and murder on the torturous cross, be buried, and then resurrect himself so that we could be forgiven for the sin we have to power not to commit in the first place? Jesus came because we do not have the power to be sinless without the Holy Spirit.

FOR THE BELIEVER

The believer must not attempt to live the Christian life in their own strength. Our flesh is incapable of producing righteousness. This is why Paul says in Galatians chapter 3 verse 3: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

We must recognize that victory over sin, transformation of the mind, and the power to live for God are all the results of the Holy Spirit at work within us. Any effort to serve or honor God apart from the Spirit will end in frustration, burnout, and failure.

Call to Action:
If you are a believer, examine your walk. Are you relying on your effort, personality, or willpower, or are you walking in the Spirit? Seek God daily in prayer, asking Him to fill you, guide you, and control every part of your life. Confess your need for His help. Surrender. And then walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

FOR THE UNBELIEVER

If you are trying to live a good life without the Spirit of God, this verse makes it plain: you do not belong to Christ. You may be religious, moral, generous, or spiritual, but without the Spirit of Christ, you are still “in the flesh,” and that means you are still under condemnation.

But the invitation is open: repent of your sins and believe the gospel. Jesus Christ died for your sins, rose from the grave, and offers you new life, not by reforming your behavior, but by filling you with His Spirit. You cannot save yourself. But Christ can, if you turn to Him.

FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

You were never meant to do this alone. The Christian life is not a self-help program. It is not about being a better person, it is about being a new creation. And that new life can only begin and grow through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Let this verse encourage you: God has not left you in the flesh. If you are His, you are filled with His Spirit. And if you’re not yet His—He’s calling you now.

PRAYER

Father, we confess that without Your Spirit, we are powerless. Our efforts to be righteous on our own always fall short. We thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within those who believe, to empower us, comfort us, and transform us. Forgive us for the times we rely on our flesh. Help us to yield fully to the Spirit each day and to live in a way that glorifies You. And for those who do not yet know You, may this truth pierce their hearts and draw them into saving faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CLOSING

If you’ve found these daily verses encouraging, enlightening, or fruitful, please consider helping us spread the truth and light of God’s Word by subscribing to the blog and YouTube channels and liking and following the Facebook page. Most of all, share Believers of Biblical Truth and our links with others who may need the sermons and daily teachings just as much as we do.

You are loved—so much in fact, that we want you to know and be Believers of Biblical Truth.

Shalom Shalom.

Discover more from Believers of Biblical Truth

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Published by

Unknown's avatar

Believers of Biblical Truth

At Believers of Biblical Truth, we are wholly committed to preaching the unfiltered, uncompromised truth of God’s Word. Our ministry, firmly grounded in scripture, relies on the guidance of the Holy Spirit—not the influences of a sinful world. As we present the Bible’s teachings, we do so in the spirit of 2 Timothy 3:16, which reminds us that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Through each message, we seek to present the truth in a way that is faithful to God’s inerrant Word and pleasing in His sight, guided by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, as instructed in John 16:13: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” Our sermons are not designed to entertain or tickle ears; they are solemn presentations of God’s direction and commands for our lives. In today’s world, where truth is often distorted to fit human desires, we emphasize reliance on the Holy Spirit and scripture alone. We heed the warnings of Ephesians 6:11-12 to “put on the whole armour of God,” that we may “stand against the wiles of the devil,” choosing to remain steadfastly in the Word, rejecting Satan’s deception, and grounding ourselves in God’s eternal truth. We believe in using scriptural authority to address life’s toughest issues, with an unwavering dedication to God’s truth. Each sermon is followed by a round-table discussion where our dedicated team addresses questions with the utmost care, ensuring that every answer reflects God’s wisdom. We invite all who are seeking clarity to email us at thebbt2021@gmail.com, where questions are welcomed, encouraged, and answered thoughtfully by our team. This ministry is a place for growth, correction, and alignment with God’s Word, as we strive to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) by spreading the gospel boldly. We recognize the Bible’s call not to engage in foolish arguments but rather to focus on edifying one another and upholding the truth. As 2 Timothy 2:23-24 counsels, we are to “avoid foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they do gender strifes,” and to serve as “the servant of the Lord,” who “must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” The Bible’s truths are absolute, not subject to human desires or interpretations. We stand by the conviction that “truth is not hate,” even if it brings discomfort. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that “the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,” and we believe that its power should be wielded in love to draw others to the cross, not as a weapon of condemnation but as an invitation to eternal life in Jesus Christ. In a world often at odds with the gospel, we are compelled to preach the unchangeable truth, recognizing that the only relationship of lasting value is our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our virtual church is enriched by the insights of great theologians who have profoundly influenced Christian thought, including Calvin, Wesley, Gill, Henry, Luther, Edwards, Ellicott, Spurgeon, Baucham, Grudem, Barnes, Clarke, Benson, MacArthur, Graham, N.T. Wright, Keener, Fee, Bruce, McKnight, deSilva, and Sproul, along with others who have faithfully articulated the gospel. Though we rely on these wise voices, our foundation remains the Bible itself, and we uphold the teachings of those who reinforce its truths. Stay connected with Believers of Biblical Truth for regular teachings and discussions: Facebook: facebook.com/believersofbiblicaltruth Blog: fromthecrosstothechristian.wordpress.com At Believers of Biblical Truth, we are here to spread the gospel with clarity, conviction, and reverence. Prepare to be challenged by God’s Word as we seek to “walk in truth” (3 John 1:4) and draw closer to Christ in spirit and in truth.

I praise God for letting me hear what you think!!