NO CONDEMNATION … for those in Christ Romans 8:1-30 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Questions
- How did the law of the Spirit free us from the law of sin and death?
- What could the law NOT do?
- Why could the law not do that?
- How did God solve Man’s problem?
- How did God condemn sin in the flesh?
- What has happened as a result of the condemnation of sin?
Comments
- God has provided His children, those whom He has saved, with the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Those who walk in the Spirit are able to overcome the power of sin and to practice that righteousness which God requires through the Law (see Romans 8:4).
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace 7 because the carnal mind is enmity against God; it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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 has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit who dwells in you. Questions
- What causes someone to mind the things of the flesh?
- Is the carnal mind subject to the law of God?
- Can the carnal mind ever be subject to the law of God?
- Can someone in the flesh please God?
- What is the difference between someone who is “in the flesh” and someone who is “in the Spirit”?
- What can we say about someone who does not have the Spirit of Christ?
- If God’s Spirit is in you, what will God do for you?
Comments
- A better way to understand verses 9b-10 would be “Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his and the body is dead because of sin, but if Christ be in you, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you will die, but if you, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Questions
- This same Spirit, who now indwells and empowers every Christian, is the Spirit who raised the dead body of Jesus Christ to life. He can and will raise our “dead” bodies to life as well, not only in the physical sense, but in giving us the ability to live righteously.
- Just as Abraham and Sarah were “dead” so far as producing a child, but were “made alive” to do so (Romans 4:19), so we who are “dead” with respect to living righteously are “made alive” to do so by His Spirit.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope, 21 because the creation itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but we also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit; even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 We are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we do not see, then we patiently wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities, for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover those whom He predestined, He also called; those whom He called, He also justified and those whom He justified, He also glorified.
- The provision of the Holy Spirit should not be understood in such a way as to suppose that perfect righteousness will be experienced in this present, evil world. Our righteousness will not be complete until we are in heaven. We will continue to fail and to fall short of all that God requires. The shed blood of Christ provides for our forgiveness in such cases.
- The world that we live in is imperfect as well. It too awaits the day of its complete restoration and perfection, a day which is referred to here as “the revealing of the sons of God” (8:19). Until that day, there will be suffering and groaning, in the saints as well as in the creation.
- The Holy Spirit is God’s provision for our present inadequacies, helping us in our time of weakness, interceding for us with God, even when we are not able to express our groanings with words.
NO SEPARATION … from God’s Love Romans 8:31-39 The Security of the Believer 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is He that condemns? It is Christ who died, who rose and who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake, we are killed all day long and are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 No. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 And I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything in creation, will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.