INTRODUCTION Last time we looked at the battle between the law of the mind (conscience) and the law of sin (the law of Moses) This battle is raging in this body of death, referring to our human body which is under the curse of sin and death Thus the natural man battles between his conscience (the knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong) and God s law (summarized in the 10 commandments and applied in the 613 commandments of the Torah) This leads Paul to the conclusive question who will deliver me from this body of death? To which he answers Jesus the Messiah, our Lord! Jesus delivers us from the torture of living with a guilty conscience and being condemned by the law What is the result? Chapter 8 Romans 8:1 (NKJV) 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Scholars refer to Romans 8 as the Mount Everest of the Bible F. Godet, the Swiss commentator, called these thirty-nine verses great because they begin with no condemnation and end with no separation, to which another writer, C. A. Fox, added that in between there is also no defeat. Prominent in this chapter is the work of the Spirit The Holy Spirit is mentioned 19 times in reference to what He does He is referred to as the Spirit of life (vs. 2) He is the Spirit who lives in us (Vs. 9) He is the Spirit who raises us from the dead (Vs. 11) He is the Spirit of Adoption (vs. 14-17) He is the Spirit who bears fruit (Vs. 23) He is the Spirit who helps us (Vs. 26) He is the Spirit of intercession (Vs. 27) Thus Romans 8 is really about life in the Spirit Chapters 1-7 is life without Jesus Chapter 8 and following is life with Jesus
It s important to make this distinction the dividing line is Jesus Himself It is the Presence of Jesus in us that makes us different from the world We are a blessed people and the theme of this chapter is the blessings and privileges conferred on believers by the Holy Spirit Thus the beginning point for all believers is NO CONDEMNATION Paul says there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus Condemnation means you ve been tried and found guilty and now you are awaiting punishment In Chapter 7 we are under condemnation, enslaved under the power of sin and unable to keep God s law In Chapter 8 I am free from condemnation because I have been set free from the tyranny of the law through Jesus Christ The doctrine of Christian universalism teaches that Jesus paid for all sin and thus there is no condemnation to anyone But Paul makes it clear that the FREE gift of NO CONDEMNATION is only for those who are in Christ Now there is a textual criticism in the 2 nd half of vs. 1 who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit does not appear in the best and most reliable manuscripts It is believed that is was added to bring clarity or to add commentary to the scriptures (to explain what being in Christ Jesus meant) This passage should read Romans 8:1 2 (NKJV) 8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Vs. 2 the Law of the Spirit of Life replaces the law of sin and death God cannot relate to you outside of grace it is simple fact The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free from the law of sin and death So now there is a new law working in me. God said to Jeremiah Jeremiah 31:33 (NKJV)
33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is written on my heart. Now I have the capacity to love God, to serve God, to desire to please God Before, I was ruled by the battle between my conscience (head) and my heart (my desire to obey God) We want to please God, but we fail So we apologize, repent for failing God and we promise to do better God, I promise next time I ll do the right thing Then the next time comes and you fail again and you feel guilty and condemned for breaking your promise In Christ, that cycle is taken away Now, I have a new heart, I m a new creation It doesn t mean I m perfect or that I ve arrived at some sinless perfection It means my heart is changed and now I desire to love, please, serve and trust or believe God God accepts me based on the faith that is in my heart because of this work of grace that has changed me from the inside out Romans 8:3 4 (NKJV) 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. When it says what the law could not do in the Greek it literally means what was impossible for the law to do Paul is speaking of the Mosaic Law which he said was good, holy, just The problem with the law is not that it s bad, the problem is that it s weak through the flesh I do not have the power to keep the law The flesh is man s power, man s perspective At the end of Chapter 7 Paul says the law is spiritual but I am carnal The law makes demands, it condemns when those demands are not met, but it cannot overcome sin because of the weakness of my flesh
So now God has a problem man who was created for fellowship with God is separated from God because of sin and is powerless to do anything about it So what is the solution? Since the offense occurred in the flesh through Adam (the first man) who represented all men, it would require another man to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law in the flesh on behalf of all men That is what Jesus did Jesus is God in the same sinful flesh that all men are born into God sent Jesus to be born in the same sinful flesh that we are born into because of sin Jesus condemned sin, in the flesh, in order to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law How did He condemn sin? How is sin judged? By fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law How did He do that? Romans 6:10 (NKJV) 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Paul says the wages of sin is death, in order to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law man had to die By dying on the cross, Jesus satisfies the righteous requirements of the law once and for all The righteous requirements of the law are not fulfilled by me (Flesh) The righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled by Jesus (Spirit) Thus I cannot receive forgiveness on the basis of my goodness, I can only receive forgiveness on the basis of Jesus goodness Romans 8:5 8 (NKJV) 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to 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; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Paul makes a clear distinction between the flesh and the Spirit To be in the flesh is to be in the unregenerated state To be in the flesh is to have the flesh as the regulating principle of one s life to be controlled by the desires of the body To walk according to the flesh is to carry out in conduct those things dictated by the flesh Being carnally minded is equated with the flesh and brings spiritual and physical death (I believe people can bring about premature death) However, to be in the Spirit is to be born again To be in the Spirit is to be led by the Spirit To walk according to the Spirit is to do what the Spirit commands Being Spiritually minded is equated with the new nature and brings life and peace Paul says emphatically those who are not born again, in the flesh, cannot please God they do not have the capacity to please God Romans 8:9 11 (NKJV) 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is 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 Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. If you are born again, you are no longer in the flesh, but in the Spirit You are a new creation, a new person The world does not look good on you The smell of death is not attractive, the old nature is not attractive It might get a chuckle God can still use you in spite of you But God intended man to live and walk after the Spirit The Spirit of God dwells in you, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead The Holy Spirit is releasing life into every part of our physical bodies Healing is simply the life of the Spirit released into sickness Recovery is the life of the Spirit released into addiction Deliverance is the life of the Spirit driving out demonic powers It is the life of the Spirit that makes me alive in Jesus and gives me the power to live victorious over the intense cravings of my physical body
Romans 8:12 13 (NKJV) 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. As a new creation, I m no longer under the control of the flesh I don t have to live according to the flesh I am FREE The problem is I still believe I am controlled by the flesh I still believe that the flesh is more powerful than my will Proverbs says as a man thinks in his heart, so he is Whatever you believe to be true according to your faith it will be done If you believe the flesh is more powerful, then for you it is But Paul gives us the simply formula for walking in victory The Spirit puts to death the deeds of the body and releases life It s a work of the Spirit not my work Thus I must be willing to cooperate with the work of the Spirit Romans 8:14 (NKJV) 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. This is the point of grace sonship through the Spirit God isn t looking for an army He s looking for sons! Romans 8:15 17 (NKJV) 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. The Holy Spirit will never lead you into bondage under the law The Holy Spirit doesn t motivate you out of fear People who say in order to be holy, you must stop watching TV, quit listening to the radio, stop drinking, smoking, cussing they re lying None of that will make you holy you are already holy in Christ Contrast that to the work of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit fills you with love for God and gives you the assurance that you are His son and daughter And if we are His sons and daughters, then we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ speaking of our inheritance EX: Roxie is the executor of her mom s estate. Although we aren t hoping her mom will die anytime soon, we know there is an inheritance coming. This perspective (that we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ) changes how we see life in the physical dimension Romans 8:18 25 (NKJV) 18 For I consider 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 eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will 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 labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Paul expands the work of the Spirit to include all of creation All creation is groaning to be delivered from the bondage of corruption or the effects of sin on the world As redeemed people, we are the first fruits of the Spirit, the indicators that God will deliver all creation Of course we see God s fulfillment of this longing, this groaning in creation at the end of Revelation where God creates a new heaven and a new earth But until that time, we eagerly wait for God to do it We don t hope that God will do it because God tells us ahead of time what He is going to do so we wait with anticipation But God doesn t want us to just wait but to participate through prayer
Romans 8:26 27 (NKJV) 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Intercessory prayer is when I pray God s prayers for someone else I don t know how to pray, but God does so I want His prayers How do I get His prayers? The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit knows the will of God and prays accordingly What does that mean? Every prayer the Spirit prays happens You want your prayers answered, pray according to God s will You want to know God s will, be led by the Spirit in your prayer Romans 8:28 30 (NKJV) 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to 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, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. This verse is an anchor for me It tells me that I am not an accident, that I was created with purpose The purpose that I was created for was to be conformed to the image of Jesus The process that Jesus is taking me through happens in 3 steps He calls me into relationship with Himself He justifies me, declares me righteous, not guilty of sin He glorifies me, raises me up to be seated with Him in the heavenlies Everything in my life is working to accomplish that purpose That is the good God is working... to make me like Jesus Keep in mind this verse is in the context of prayer I look at God s goodness selfishly what do I get out of it, how does it benefit me If it doesn t benefit me, if I don t get my way then God is not good
This twisted view of God is because I don t believe God knows what s best for me I believe God is against me because I don t get my way My prayer wasn t answered the way I wanted it Romans 8:31 36 (NKJV) 31 What then shall we 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 bring a charge against God s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall 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; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Paul gives us an irrefutable defense for God s love (Vs. 31) First is God s demonstration that He is for us To demonstrate this Paul uses God s personal sacrifice He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all If God gave His own Son, why would He wouldn t He be FREE with everything else He has? (Vs. 33) God s defense of us Paul asks the question who will bring a charge or a formal accusation against God s elect? Of course the answer is the law, the devil, religion or our conscience God s elect refers to Israel, but we are also included as Gentiles who have been grafted in (Romans 11:11-31) God is the one who justifies us, so it doesn t matter where the accusation comes from it doesn t stand up in court (Vs. 34) Who can condemn us? Again the answer is the law, the devil, religion or our conscience Paul says again it doesn t matter because Jesus died on the cross to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law, He rose from the dead and we are raised with Him and are no longer ruled by the law And to top it all off, Jesus is at the right hand of God making intercession for us which is a legal term meaning He is our attorney representing us before God
(Vs. 35) Paul gives the final defense that we cannot be separated from God s love He lists a whole bunch of things that can happen in this life that on the surface are all bummers tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness (a bummer for me and everyone else), peril, sword Anyone of these would make me feel like God doesn t love me Paul tells us NO none of these things separate you from God s love Romans 8:37 39 (NKJV) 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For 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 any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Vs. 37) We are more than conquerors but notice how through Him who loved us the emphasis is not on WE, it s on HIM That s where the emphasis should always be not on WE but on HIM It s not my power, my authority, my work it s His power, His authority, His work and when we forget that it s all JESUS then we crossed the line and we re trying to finish in the flesh what was begun in the Spirit (Vs. 38) For I am persuaded Paul reviewed all the evidence and now he is absolutely convinced nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus If you believe this you are bomb proof, an unstoppable force against the powers of darkness That is why Paul praying for the Ephesians prayed that we would be rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17) If you are not rooted and grounded in love, then you will controlled by hurt feelings, emotions, stress, anxiety, bitterness, unforgiveness and all the external circumstances listed in vs. 35 But when you know nothing condemns me, nothing separates me from God s love Why do we doubt? Because we believe the lies of the enemy, we fear rejection, we fear being wrong, we fear the future, we fear punishment, being misunderstood or misrepresented Jesus wants to deliver us from all these strongholds in order to set us FREE to love Him without any barriers holding us back