Being alive in the spirit is a central aspect of the Christian faith. It refers to the experience of having a living relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. This relationship is not based on outward religious practices or moral achievements but on a personal encounter with God that transforms the innermost being of the believer.
The belief of being alive in the spirit is rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. In John 3:5-6, Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." This passage teaches that we are not only physical beings but also spiritual beings. We need to be born again in the Spirit to experience the fullness of life that God intends for us.
Paul also elaborates on this belief in Romans 8:9-11, "You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." In this passage, Paul emphasizes that the Holy Spirit gives life to believers, not just in a spiritual sense but also in a physical sense.
Being alive in the spirit also means being led by the Spirit. In Galatians 5:16-18, Paul writes, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." Here, Paul is reminding us that when we live in the Spirit, we are not bound by legalistic rules and regulations but are guided by the Holy Spirit to live a life that is pleasing to God.
Living in the Spirit is not an optional extra for Christians; it is an essential part of our faith. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot have a personal relationship with God, and we cannot live the kind of life that God has called us to live. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples after he ascended to heaven, and that same Spirit is available to us today. All we need to do is to open our hearts and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.
In conclusion, being alive in the spirit is a transformative experience that brings us into a living relationship with God. It enables us to live a life that is guided by the Holy Spirit and empowers us to overcome the desires of the flesh. As Christians, we need to cultivate this relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, worship, and obedience to God's word. May we all be filled with the Holy Spirit and live lives that are pleasing to God.