Charles Spurgeon Commentary Romans 8:8-9

"and they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." — Romans 8:8-9 (ASV)

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Christ does not own any that are not indwelt by His Spirit. They may wear the Christian name; they may perform some acts which look like Christian acts; but all this avails nothing. You must have the Spirit of God within you, or else you are none of His; and what a thing it is to be "none of his." "Truly," says Christ, I never knew you. But, Lord, we ate and drank with you: you preached in our streets. But He says, I never knew you. They are none of His.

Oh, dear friends, the highest point to which human nature can reach of itself falls short of being in Christ. There must be the Spirit of God dwelling in us, or else we are none of His.