My Romans 6, 7, & 8 When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, he was trying to tell them about the Good News of what Jesus has done for us, and now continues to do for us, by providing the way for us to be transformed into His image. Unfortunately, most English translations of these three chapters have tended to turn the Good News into bad news. How? you should ask. A few verses of Chapter 8 will illustrate this. The King James Version says the following: 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and 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. My translation and comments say the following: (God-wannabe is a name I have coined to refer to our tendency to want to take God s place, which Paul refers to as our flesh ): 4. so that the righteousness (1345) of the law may be fulfilled in us, who are not continuously living as a result of the God-wannabe, but as a result of the Spirit. The word here translated as righteousness is Strong s 1345, dikaioma. It is a noun which is the product, or result, of God implanting His character in us. When we have the good root in us, that good root will produce good fruit namely, we will keep the laws of God by our very nature. God in us can do nothing else! 5. For those who exist according to the God-wannabe continuously act out of the Godwannabe; and those [who exist] according to the Spirit [continuously act] out of the Spirit; 6.for the nature (5427) of the God-wannabe is death, and the nature (5427) of the Spirit is life and peace; Bad roots produce bad fruit, and good roots (Jesus in us) produce good fruit By the fruit the tree is known (Matthew 7:17-20). Why is there a problem? What is the difference? At first glance both translations seem to be saying the same thing, but there is a subtle and profound difference. The King James Version has the cart before the horse, and tends to send people into striving to be good. After all, our culture says that we need to be in control of our mind. Check out several other translations, and I think you will see that they imply the same thing as the King James. Trying hard to stay out of trouble by controlling our own mind doesn t work, and is exactly the problem that the Apostle Paul addresses in Romans 7:15: For what I am doing I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do (NKJV).
If you will read all three chapters below, I think this problem will become clear to you. In my comparison I am not picking on the King James Version. In my opinion it is no better or no worse than most translations. I chose it because it is out of copyright, so no publisher will get upset with me. My translation and comments will be most meaningful if you will read the first five chapters of my book, I Will Give You Rest. You can read all of those chapters for free online on my website, www.divinelydesigned.com.
Romans 6 Transformation Verses 1.What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2.Let it not be! We who died to sin how shall we still live in it? 3.Are you all continuously ignorant that we, as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into his death? I insert you all whenever Paul is referring to more than one person. This is important for you to know, because it makes it clear that the statement then applies to all believers. You are not alone in these struggles. (See Endnote 6:3 below). 4.We were buried together, then, with him through the baptism into death, that even as Christ was raised up out of the dead through the glory of the Father; so also we, in newness of life, live our lives. 5.For, if we have become united together [with Christ] in the likeness of his death, so also we shall exist [in the likeness] of the resurrection. 6.Continuously knowing this, that our old man has been crucified with him, that the body of sin may be made useless, so that sin is no longer continuously enslaving us. I insert continuously whenever Paul is referring to an ongoing process, not a one time event. VERY IMPORTANT: Being changed into the image of Jesus is a lifelong process. Therefore, It is important for you to know when Paul is referring to your daily living here on earth (an ongoing process), and not just the one moment when you made Jesus your Lord (see IWGYR pages 85-86. This is an abbreviation for I Will Give You Rest, which is a book I wrote about how to be transformed into the image of Jesus). Also see Endnote 6:6. King James Version 1.What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2.God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3.Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4.Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5.For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. 6.Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Transformation Verses King James Version 7.for he who has died has been set free (1344) from sin. The word here translated as set free is Strong s #1344, dikaioo. It is a verb that means to be acquitted of guilt. It is then as though you never committed that sin! You no longer have to reap death and destruction because of your guilt (IWGYR pages 40-41). For more details, see Endnote 6:7 below. 8.And if we died with Christ, we are continuously believing that we also shall live together with him, 9.knowing that Christ, having been raised up out of the dead, no longer is continuously dying, death is no longer continuously being lord of him. 10.for the one who died to sin died once and for all, but on the other hand he is continuously living: he is continuously living in God; 11.so also you all, be continuously occupying yourselves to indeed being continuously dead to sin, and continuously living in God in Jesus Christ our Lord. We are to be continuously focused on the process of being changed into the image of Jesus. See Endnote 6:11. We are multifaceted inside, like a honeycomb with many compartments, rather than a honey jar which is one compartment. Some areas in us are filled with Jesus, and those good roots produce good fruit. Some other areas are filled with sin; and those bad roots produce bad fruit. We need to be continuously removing bad roots by the blood of Jesus. This will be clearer to you if you will read IWGYR, page 40. 12.In this manner, be not continuously letting sin reign in your mortal body, to be continuously obeying it in its powerful impulses; This transformation of your character is the only way that you can be free from the bad fruit that impels you from the force of the bad root. 7.For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8.Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9.Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10.For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11.Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12.Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Transformation Verses King James Version 13.You all also do not be continuously manifesting your members as weapons of ungodliness in sin, but on the contrary manifest yourselves in God, in that way continuously living separated out of the dead, and your members weapons of righteousness (1343) in God; This noun, #1343, dikaiosune, means the nature and quality of God s character. It means that you have actually been transformed into the image of Jesus, and now you are a new creature (in that area of your life, IWGYR page 40). Paul uses this word repeatedly in the following verses, because he is emphasizing the fact that Jesus image has actually been imparted to you. This new nature in you will continuously bring about good fruit in that area of your life. See Endnote 6:7 for more details. 14.for your sin shall not have lordship, for you all continuously are not under law, but under grace (5485). Strong s #5485, charin, here refers to God s gracious free gift of being cleansed of our sins that He has provided through Jesus Christ. 15.What then? Shall we sin seeing that we are not continuously under law but continuously under grace (5485, see previous verse)? Let it not be! 16.Have you all not known that to whom you all are continuously presenting yourselves as slaves into obedience, slaves you all are to him to whom you all are continuously obeying, whether of sin into death, or of obedience into righteousness (1343)? 17.but thanks be to God, that you all were continuously slaves of sin, yet you all obeyed from the heart the type of teaching to which you all were given; 18.and having been freed from sin, you all are enslaved to righteousness (1343). We don t have to try not to sin. When we have been transformed, we simply are like Jesus, and act like him (IWGYR pages 43-46). 13.Niether yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14.For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15.What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16.Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17.But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18.Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Transformation Verses King James Version 19.In the manner of men I speak, because of the weakness of your flesh, for even as you all did present your members slaves to uncleanness and to lawlessness into lawlessness, so now present your members slaves to righteousness (1343) into God s holy character. The word here translated as God s holy character is Strong s #38, hagiasmos. It is a noun which refers to the resultant state of the sanctification process. It means to be holy even as God is holy. Isn t this astonishing? We are actually changed into His image (IWGYR page 86). 20.for when you all were slaves of sin, you all were free from righteousness (1343), 21.what fruit, therefore, were you all having then, in the things of which you all are now ashamed? For the end of those is death. 22.And now, having been freed from sin, and having become servants to God, you all are continuously possessing your fruit as a consequence of sanctification (38), and the goal abiding life. Sanctification is Strong s 38, hagiasmos (see verse 19 above). Here Paul is saying that your good roots (Jesus in you) are continuously producing good fruit by their very nature (IWGYR pages 39-40). Also see Endnote 6:22 below. 23.for what one earns from sin is death, but the gracious free gift of God is abiding life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Perhaps you are now used to the frequency of you all and Continuously. In subsequent chapters I will no longer be color coding these words. 19.I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20.For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21.What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22.But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23.For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Chapter 6 Endnotes: 6:3: My repetitive use of you all may seem awkward at times; but modern English has no plural form of you, so you all clarifies when the you is meant to be plural. The King James uses ye to indicate plural. 6:6: The use of continuously may seem awkward, and sometimes redundant; but it is important to understand that is the meaning of these Greek verbs. Greek verbs are far more complex and expressive than are English verbs. One aspect of Greek verbs expresses continuous, ongoing action. Because Romans 6, 7, and 8 deal with the continual process of living our lives here on earth as Christians, it is crucial that we can see when the text is referring to a continuous process, and when it is referring to a one time event. 6:7: The word here translated as set free is Strong s #1344, dikaioo. It is a verb that means to be acquitted of guilt, as if there is nothing wrong with you if you were to stand in a court of justice. It means to deliver, set free; not the mere declaration of innocence, but the liberation from sin which holds man a prisoner When you have been set free, it is as though you never committed that sin! (IWGYR pages 40-41). This Greek word (Dikaioo, #1344) is closely related to two other words that appear frequently in Romans. Diaiosune (1343) is a noun that is usually translated as righteousness. It means not guilty. It refers to the nature and quality of God s character. Man does not simply receive the righteousness of God, but he is made righteous and acquires the nature of God. It means that you have actually been transformed into the image of Jesus, and now you are a new creature (in that area of your life, IWGYR page 40). Dikaioma (1345) is a noun, usually translated as righteousness. It is the produce, or result, of being justified by God. When we are declared righteous, that is solely because we now have the nature and character of God in that area of our life. We have been transformed into the image of Jesus. As you can see, all three words refer to the process and results of God s action to cleanse us from sin and change us into the image of Jesus. This is a miraculous provision and impartation. We literally become a new creature (in that area of us) in Jesus Christ. There is no other way to become holy. The frequency of the use of this family of words is additional testimony that this process of sanctification (the miraculous transformation of us into the image of Jesus) is a major topic of Romans, Chapters 6, 7, and 8. Where these words appear in these three chapters is summarized below: #1343, diakaiosune, a noun (6:13, 16, 18, 19, 20; 8:10). #1344, diakaioo, a verb (6:7; 8:30). #1345, dikaioma, a noun (8:4).
6:11: The Greek verb logozesthe (#3049) is a verb Paul commonly uses that means: to reckon, consider, take into account, weigh the reasons, to put together with one s mind. In this passage Paul is coaching people to continuously stay focused on being transformed into the image of Jesus, because this is the only way to be free from the power of sin and its powerful influence when it is present (see the next verse, verse 12). Good roots (Jesus in us) are the only way to have good fruit. 6:22: The Greek word hagiazo (#37) is a verb that means to make holy, purify, sanctify. It means to impart God s nature and character into a person (into their honeycomb, (IWGYR page 40). The Greek word hagiasmos (#38) is a noun which refers to the state of being sanctified. It means the result of the process of being made holy even as God is holy.
Romans 7 Transformation Verses 1. Are you all ignorant, brethren for to those knowing the law I speak that the law continues to have authority over a person as long as he lives? When he refers to the law, Paul is referring to the law of Moses. These commandments describe the way the spiritual realm works. These spiritual laws are unchangeable and are always in force. Nobody ever escapes the consequences of sin (living contrary to the law) (IWGYR page 22). 2.For example, the married woman has been bound to her living husband by the law; but if the husband dies, she has been freed from the law of her husband; 3.So, then, the husband being alive, she shall be an adulteress if she becomes another man s; but if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so as not to be an adulteress on becoming another man s. A legal transaction occurs in the spiritual realm when her husband dies, and as a result she is set free from the law s mandate to not commit adultery. What I am referring to as a legal transaction is like signing a contract, or charging something on our credit card. When we charge something, we then owe a debt which obligates us until the debt is paid. When we get married, we essentially sign a spiritual contract to remain married, unless something happens to release us. This is Paul s central point here: when the husband dies, the spiritual marriage contract ends. Likewise, to be set free from the consequences of our sin requires someone to pay off that debt. 4.In the same way, my brethren, you all also are made to die to the law through the body of the Christ, making you all to become different, being roused out of the dead, that we bear fruit with God. A legal transaction occurs in the spiritual realm when Jesus pays for our sin. It is a miracle. The old root of sin that dwelt in us is taken out, and Christ comes in. We become different - like Christ in that area of our being; and the new good root (Jesus in us) produces good fruit (pages 40-41). King James Version 1.Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2.For the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. 3.So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 4.Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Transformation Verses King James Version 5.For when we were in the flesh (4561), the afflictions of the sins, through the law, were continuously working in the members of our being, to bring forth fruit to death; When Paul refers to the flesh (sarx, #4561), he is referring to the fallen part of us that wants to take God s place and be our own god. I am going to call this our Godwannabe. It tries to keep the law in our own strength, by using our will power, and it plants bad roots in us (IWGYR page 96). Trying to keep the law with our willpower is sin! (IWGYR page 196-200). In those areas in us where there are bad roots, bad fruit is always produced (IWGYR page 40). Death is both separation from the presence of God and the pain and difficulties sin produces in our lives (IWGYR page 29). 6.but now we have been freed from the law of death,( in which we had been continuously held down), so that now we will continuously be servants (1398) in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter of the Law. Strong s #1398, douleuein. The typical translation inserts should serve, which sounds like a command (an imperative), and thus sends people into the futility of trying to produce good fruit with their willpower (IWGYR page 24). However, this Greek verb form is simply a statement of fact. Jesus in us sets us free to produce good fruit which spontaneously results from His presence in us (IWGYR page 34). This miraculous transformation is the only way we can successfully keep the law. 7.What, then, shall we be saying the law is sin? Let it not be! But I do not know sin if I don t know of the law, therefore I would not have been aware of covetousness if the law had not told me you are not to covet. 5.For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6.But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7.What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Transformation Verses King James Version 8.But sin, taking advantage of an opportunity, through the commandment works in me all covetousness for apart from the law sin is dead. 9.Yet I was living at one time without the law, but because of the commandment sin revives and I die continuously. A flaw in the way the law works in humans is that when we discover what God wants of us, we immediately begin to try to obey. Our Godwannabe (flesh) always impels us to do this with our will power. Therefore, when we discover the commandments, we are impelled to sin further by trying to obey them in our own strength (will power). (IWGYR page 196). 10.and the commandment which was to bring life, this was found to bring death to me; 11.For sin, having received an opportunity, through the commandment, deceives me, and through it slays me; 12.so that the law, indeed, is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13.That which is good then, to me has it become death? Let it not be! But sin, that it might appear sin, through the good produces death in me, that sin might become exceedingly sinful through the commandment. Without realizing it, I spontaneously, unconsciously add the sin of striving to keep the law with my willpower to the sin I was trying to avoid. My Godwannabe (flesh) is what impels me to do this. 14.for we have known that the law is spiritual, yet I am fleshly, having been sold under sin; My God-wannabe (flesh) exists inside me, and plants bad roots of sin in me (IWGYR page 197-200). 15.for that which I am doing, I do not understand; for what I will to do, this I am not practicing, but what I hate, this I am doing. 16.yet if what I do not will, this I do, I agree with the law that it is good, 17.and now it is no longer I that is doing the work, but the sin dwelling in me, By their very nature, bad roots produce bad fruit. 8.But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9.For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10.And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11.For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12.Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13.Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14.For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15.For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16.If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17.Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Transformation Verses King James Version 18.for I have known that there is not good dwelling in me, that is in my God-wannabe, for to be willing is present in me, yet to be doing what is good I am not finding. I have discovered that trying to be good through the exercise of my will power doesn t work. 19.for the good that I am willing, I am not doing; but the evil that I am not willing, this I am practicing. 20.but if what I am not willing, this I am doing, it is no longer I that is bringing it about, but the sin that is dwelling in me. Again, bad roots produce bad fruit. A spiritual law is in operation. My psychological tool (my will power) is impotent here (IWGYR page 24). 21.Consequently I am discovering there is a law, that when I am trying to do what is right, that in me evil is continuously present. 22.for I delight in the law of God according to the man within, 23.yet I am observing a different law somewhere in me, warring against the law of my conscience, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin somewhere in me. Inside I have both the image of God and my Godwannabe (flesh); and they are at war (pages 200-204). 24.A wretched man I am! Who shall rescue me out of this body of death? 25.I am thanking God through Jesus Christ our Lord; so then, I myself indeed with the conscience am serving the law of God, yet with my God-wannabe, the law of sin. Chapter 7 Summary My conscience motivates me to want to keep the law. I tend to try to keep the law with my willpower. Much to my dismay, I discover that I can t do it. In fact, the harder I try, the worse it gets (IWGYR pages 197-200). Only the blood of Jesus can rescue me from this cycle of sin and death (IWGYR page 27). 18.For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19.For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20.Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21.I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22.For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23.But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24.O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25.I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8 Transformation Verses King James Version 1.Because of what Jesus provides for us, now there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who do not continuously live their lives as a result of the Godwannabe, but as a result of the Spirit: 2.for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus in fact freed me from the law of the sin and of the death; Jesus is able to free us from the dilemma which Paul has just been describing in verses 7:15-25 above. 3.Because of the weakness of the law, which was flawed and weak by means of the flesh [God-wannabe], The flaw in the law was that it was dependent on man s willpower to fulfill it. God sending His son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and concerning sin, convicts sin in the God-wannabe, Jesus brings to an end the sin of trying to be good in my own strength. He brings to death the bad root that our God-wannabe planted, and replaces it with His life giving Spirit. In other words, we need a legal transaction to occur in the spiritual realm for us to be set free (see Romans 7:3-4 above). A major feature of this chapter is that in Jesus, God sent the cure for sin, rather than greater condemnation for sin (which is implied in most translations). He changes our character, which then results in us living from the Spirit in us. What matters is our character, not what we do. 4.so that the righteousness (1345) of the law may be fulfilled in us, who are not continuously living as a result of the Godwannabe, but as a result of the Spirit. The word here translated as righteousness is Strong s 1345, dikaioma. It is a noun which is the product, or result, of God implanting His character in us. When we have the good root in us, that good root will produce good fruit namely, we will keep the laws of God by our very nature. God in us can do nothing else! (IWGUR page 83). See Endnote 6:7 for more on this Greek word. 1.There is therefore now no condemnation to them which 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 hath 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.
Transformation Verses King James Version 5.For those who exist according to the God-wannabe continuously act out of the God-wannabe; and those [who exist] according to the Spirit [continuously act] out of the Spirit; 6.for the nature (5427) of the God-wannabe is death, and the nature (5427) of the Spirit is life and peace; Bad roots produce bad fruit, and good roots (Jesus in us) produce good fruit (IWGYR pages 40-42). See Endnote 8:6 for more information on Strong s #5427. 7.because the nature of the God-wannabe is enmity towards God, for the law of God it is never being subject to, 8.for neither is it ever able to; and those existing in the God-wannabe are never able to please God. 9.Yet you all are not in the flesh (God-wannabe), but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God continuously dwells in you; and if any one is not having the Spirit of Christ this one is not of Him. Some areas of our honeycomb (see note at Romans 6:11) are filled with Jesus, and those good roots produce good fruit. Some other areas are filled with sin; and those bad roots produce bad fruit (IWGYR page 40). This verse is not saying that if we sin, we don t have the Spirit of Christ and are thus eternally lost. Remember that the flesh is referring to our God-wannabe and the deposits (bitter roots) it makes inside us. When Jesus has replaced a bad root in your honeycomb, your Godwannabe is gone from that root; and Jesus continues to live there (IWGYR page 40). 10.Therefore if Christ is in you, the body, indeed, is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit is life because of righteousness (1343), Strong s 1343 (see note at Romans 6:7). Righteousness means the Spirit of God has the nature and quality of God s character. 5.For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and 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: for 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 have 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.
Transformation Verses King James Version 11.and if the Spirit of Him who did raise up Jesus out of the dead continuously dwells in you, He who did raise up the Christ out of the dead shall also make alive all of your mortal bodies, through His Spirit continuously dwelling in you all. 12.Consequently, then, brethren, we are not to be bound in our God-wannabe, to be continuously living in accord with its nature; Our God-wannabe (flesh) plants bad roots. Jesus sets us free from continuing to be stuck with the bad fruit those bad roots produce (IWGYR page 52-53). 13.for if according to the God-wannabe you all are living, by the nature of things you all are to be dying; yet if with the Spirit you all are putting to death the functions of the body, you all shall be living. The functions of what Paul here refers to as the body are the bad roots planted by our Godwannabe (flesh). See Endnote 8:13. 14.for as many as are being carried with the Spirit of God, these are sons of God; When our bad root has been transformed, the new good root is Godly. 15.for you all did not receive a spirit of bondage again into fear, but you all did receive a spirit of sonship in which we are crying, Father Father. 16.The Spirit Himself is testifying together with our spirit, that we are children of God; 17.and if children, also heirs, heirs, indeed, of God, and joint-heirs of the inheritance of Christ if, indeed, we are suffering together, so that we may also be glorified together (4888). Strong s #4888, sundaxazo. It is a verb related to #1391, doxa, translated as glory in the next verse. We are not alone in this quest, but are meant to live out this process with our brothers and sisters in Christ. See Endnote 8:17 for more. 11.But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12.Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14.For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15.For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16.The Spirit itself beareth 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.
Transformation Verses King James Version 18. For I am continuously concluding that the sufferings of the present time are not of equal value with the glory (1391) being about to be revealed into us; God uses our trials as a means of changing us into the image of Jesus (IWGYR pages 78-81). Strong s #1391, doxa, is a noun. Here it means God s splendor and holy character. That is going to be revealed in us in this life! Not only will we have His character in us, this good root will be evident to those around us. See Endnote 8:17 for more. 19.for the earnest expectation of the creation is awaiting the unveiling of the sons of God; Something inside us knows there is something better than we have been experiencing, and is looking for the answer. What God is wanting to do is produce a new creature inside us, to replace the bad roots with good roots, Jesus living in those places in us (Galatians 6:15). 20.for in futility was the creation being subjected not willingly, but because of the one subjecting toward the desire of good coming about. God uses our trials as means of perfecting us changing us into His image (IWGYR pages 78-81). 21.and that the creation itself shall be being freed from the slavery of the corruption into the liberty of the glory (1391) of the children of God; Strong s #1391, here translated as glory, is the same word as in verse 18 above. 22.for we have known that all the creation is groaning together, and is continuously travailing in pain together till now 23.Yet not only so, but also we ourselves, continuously having the first-fruit of the Spirit, and we ourselves in ourselves are groaning continuously, expecting sonship the deliverance of our bodies. Our bodies refers to our bad roots. See Romans 8:13 above). 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 creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20.For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope; 21.Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22.For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23.And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Transformation Verses King James Version 24.for in hope we were saved from the consequences of sin, yet hope being seen with the eye is not hope; for what any one is seeing, why also is he hoping? We have to trust what we can not see (and thus control). When Jesus replaces the bad root with Himself (the good root ), this event is not observable to the eye. It is only when the new good fruit appears that we can see it (IWGYR page 47). This is why it takes trust that He is actually working inside us when we pray as we need to, to remove the bad root (IWGYR Chapter 5). 25.yet if that which we are not seeing we hope for, through patience we are continuously awaiting. 26.and in like manner also, the Spirit is aiding in our weaknesses; for, what we may pray for as it is continuously necessary, we have not known, but the Spirit Himself is continuously making intercession on behalf of us with unspoken groaning. The Holy Spirit inside us tells us when we have a bad root inside. He sends up a negative emotion as a signal so we will know the bad root is there, and we can then know where to apply the blood of Jesus (IWGYR pages 174-176). 27.and He who is continuously searching the hearts has continuously known what is the inclination of the Spirit, because in accord with God he is continuously pleading for saints. God knows our difficulty, and He wants to set us free (IWGYR page 84). 28.And we have known that to those continuously loving God, all things are working together for good, to those who are being continuously called according to the plan. God is actively working out our individual sanctification plan (our process of being changed into the image of Jesus) and is guiding us in it by the Holy Spirit (see verse 26 above, and IWGYR pages 87, 92). 24.For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25.But if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26.Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. 27.And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28.And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.
Transformation Verses King James Version 29.because who He did foreknow, He also did foreappoint, conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be first-born among many brethren; I am not capable of solving the weighty theological question of predestination. What does seem clear in the context of these verses is that God is the one who initiated the plan to change us into the image of Jesus. He made the provision by sending Jesus, and He is now purposefully working things together to promote that agenda in our lives (verses 8:28 and 8:31). We are not left to struggle through this difficult process on our own, or to have to beg for His reluctant help. Rather, He is out in front of us, clearing the way and guiding us (See Chapter 6 of IWGYR). 30.and whom He did fore-appoint, these also He did call; and whom He did call, these also He declared righteous (1344); and whom He declared righteous (1344), these also He did make glorious (1392). The word here translated as righteous is Strong s #1344, dikaioo. It is a verb that means to be acquitted of guilt. When you have been declared righteous, it is as though you never committed that sin! (IWGYR pages 40-41). See Endnote 6:7 for more details. The word here translated as make glorious is Strong s #1392, doxazo. It is a verb that means to impart with God s character and attributes into the honeycomb, IWGYR page 40), and that character will then be evident outwardly good fruit from a good root (IWGYR pages 34-35, 83-86). See Endnote 8:17 for more on these words. 31.What, then, shall we be saying unto these things? If God is over us, who is against us? 32.Surely He who His own Son did not spare, but for us all did deliver Him up, how shall He not also together in Him pardon (5483) in us all things in the future? Strong s #5483 is charizomai. It is a verb that means to pardon or remit the penalty for sin; to graciously remit our sins; to forgive us. We don t have to be afraid, or think that we have to work out our lives on our own. God is actively protecting and leading, and is eager to wash us clean with the blood of Jesus. 29.For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30.moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31.What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32.He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Transformation Verses 33.Who shall lay a charge against the cherished ones of God? God is He that is continuously justifying (Strong s #1344, here implying God declaring us not guilty. See Endnote #6:7 for a more complete definition of this Greek word.), 34.who is the one continuously condemning? Christ is the one dying, but rather also being raised; who is also continuously on the right hand of God - - who also is continuously interceding on behalf of us. 35.Who shall separate us from the love of the Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36.(according as it has been written For your sake we are continuously being put to death all the day long, we are reckoned as sheep of slaughter, ) 37.but in all these we are continuously more than conquering through the one loving us; 38.for I have been persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor messengers (angels), nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things continuously impending, 39.nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are secure from outside forces because of His love for you you don t have to strive or be your own protector in order to be safe (IWGYR pages 75-76). Your life is a continuous walk of being changed into the image of Jesus. This process will continue as long as you walk this earth. King James Version 33.Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34.Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh 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 they sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37.Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV).
Chapter 8 Endnotes 8:6 The word I have translated in verse 6 as nature is phronema, #5427. It is derived from phren, #5424, which literally means the diaphragm. Starting with this root meaning, over time Phronema has developed a wide range of meaning; but in the context of what Paul has been speaking of in Romans Chapters 6, 7, and 8, he is referring to something deep inside us, not to a conscious process that we can control. When referring to the non-conscious part of us, phronema is variously defined as: inclination, disposition, mind-set, bent. In other words, it is referring to the very nature of the root deep inside us that impels us in a certain direction. Unfortunately, the typical translation implies that with our will power we can either pursue the flesh or the Spirit. But we will always fail in this attempt, because the truth is that we need the blood of Jesus to change the very nature of our phronema from darkness to light, from death to life. By force of your will, you can not make one hair white or black (Matthew 5:36). 8:13: The way this verse is typically translated is very dangerous. To imply that by its nature my physical body is evil will impel people to ignore or judge as bad their normal bodily needs. If we do this, the escalating needs will eventually overwhelm us and perhaps cause us to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. Paul speaks of this problem, with regard to sex (1 Cor. 7:5, 7:9). Our physical body is our friend, and we need to meet its needs in legitimate ways so that it will prosper. The Greek word typically translated as body in this verse is soma, Strong s # 4983, has a wide range of meanings. Whenever a word has a wide range of meanings, the only way to choose the correct meaning is by the context. In many contexts soma is referring to our physical body, but here in context it means the seat of sinful affections and appetites (Zodhiates, page 1356). In Romans 6:6 he calls it the body of sin. In Romans 7:23-24 he refers to it as body of death. In Col. 2:11 he calls it the body of the sins. Our bad roots are what impel us to bad fruit (IWGYR page 34). 8:17: Strong s #4888 is sundaxazo, a verb which appears in Romans 8:17. It is related to two other words that appear in Romans, Chapter 8: #1391, doxa (verses 18 and 21), and #1392, doxazo (verse 17). These words all involve the glory of God, which is His glorious moral attributes, excellence, perfection, and holiness. In other words, His character. In these scriptures In Romans 8 Paul is not talking about God or describing Him. He is talking about Christians, and how they can in fact have God s divine character implanted in them. This is astounding, and hard to believe; but Paul is describing how this can be true of us. The fact that these three Greek words are clustered together says that Paul is trying to make a point. #1392 is doxazo, a verb, that means to make glorious, to bestow the divine character and attributes. #1391 is doxa, a noun which means the glorious moral attributes of God, the divine nature. #4888 is sundoxazo, a verb which means to glorify together.