Romans 8:1-17
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Intro
Life. Death. These are things of importance. Things worth considering. There are all sorts of questions you could ask about life and death, all kinds of topics you can dwell on, obsess over. During my time in the Marines, I spent a lot of time considering the value of life, sacrifice, facing death vs being surprised by it. As an infantry point man for patrols, my duties included walking in front of everyone else keeping my eyes peeled for strange shapes in the windows that might shoot at us, and unexpected piles of rocks or recently overturned dirt where explosives might be hidden. My job was to mark a path as safe or not, putting my money where my mouth was by taking the first steps into what I said was “safe”…that is as safe as anyone could really be in Iraq…and so you understand I spent a lot of time thinking on death. Mine. My fellow marines. the bad guys. kids, locals and so on.
When it comes to life and death, it is paramount that as Christians we consider such topics through the lens of the Word of God. His word is truth and as such is worth knowing and shaping our very thoughts. Now Romans is an excellent source to meditate on, and to be honest one of my favorites. Romans was written by Paul
:: snapshot on romans::
This morning’s passage is from Romans 8, building on the previous 7 chapters.
:: quick overview leading up to Romans 8::
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Condemnation, what is Paul talking about when he uses this word? To be condemned. Its a legal finding of guilt, along with a punishment as a result of being guilty. Romans 1 and 2 went over how our God is a perfectly just God. Romans 3 starting at verse 10. Romans 3:10-18
Romans 3:10–18 (ESV)
as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
So if no one is righteous or does good and we will be judged by our perfectly just God, no condemnation sounds pretty good, right? But how? That’s clearly not what we deserve. “No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.“
We see Paul referring to two principles, which he calls laws. There is the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and on the other side we have the law of sin and death. If under the law of sin and death, we are subject to the full penalties of that law, including eternal death. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, is in essence, the principle of the gospel, it has the power to set us free from the bondage of sin and from paying the penalty of eternal death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
We read through the law earlier in the service. Praise God, He has revealed His will to us so that we can see our sin, but to do our best to live by it is not something that will satisfy our Lord’s requirement for perfect obedience. Because our best isn’t good enough. Our fallen nature prevents that from even being a possibility.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Now, Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, he took on our human nature with the exception of our sinful nature, original sin. For if he had, he would be a sinner and unable to save. “He condemned sin in the flesh” And so, as such, God’s condemnation, judgment poured out on Christ. So for those that are in Christ, there is no condemnation left. Praise God. So, the question becomes, why? Verse 4 continues
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Are we set free from punishment just for punishment’s sake? No! Christ came to set us free from the power of sin as well, for righteousness!
Here, see what Paul says in verse 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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit.