None of us can overcome our sins and shortcomings without God's help.
Even if we could by our own will alter our actions, only God can change
our hearts.
This is why Paul appealed to members of the church in Rome not to be "conformed
to this world, but [to] be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2) through the power of God's Spirit.
Earlier in this epistle, in chapter 8, he helps us understand how the
Holy Spirit works in the life of a Christian. In verse 14 he writes
that "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of
God." Here we see that, to be considered God's children, we must
be led by the Spirit of God.
He continues this same thought in verse 9. Here Paul dogmatically states
that if you do not have God's Spirit dwelling in you, you are "not
His." This is why it is vital that we repent and be baptized-so
we can surrender our lives to God and receive the gift of His Spirit.
Paul elsewhere writes that you have "Christ in you" if you
are a Christian (Colossians 1:27). It is through the power and influence
of God's Spirit that we allow Christ to live in us.
After he had received God's Spirit, Paul described his new outlook
on life: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I
who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the
flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself
for me" (Galatians 2:20).
