Romans 8
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Introduction
Introduction
1 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. 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 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. 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. 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.
Pray
Point 1: Condemnation & Conviction
Point 1: Condemnation & Conviction
What if I told you that the Gospel is the only love story that I know of where the hero dies for the villain?
What if I told you that the Gospel is the only love story that I know of where the hero dies for the villain?
It’s interesting when you think about it. Looking back, we can recount that Paul is writing to the Jewish and Gentile Christians who are quarreling about minute issues reminding them of their common threat: their salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul thus far has exhorted them as to:
Justification by Faith
The true nature of wisdom and how man is without excuse
The nature of God’s righteous judgement
Equal Guilt between the Jews and the Gentiles
Man’s fallen state and the order to put the flesh to death
The law’s inability to save us .... and now in these next 3 chapters, the answer to all of these things is made clear to them and to us.
Let’s look back: What is therefore, there for?
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to 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 will deliver me from this body of 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.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By works, the only outcome we can purchase is death. God’s grace is freely given but it will cost us our flesh. A decision has to be made.
So we see here condemnation and we always hear it as conviction. One has purpose the other is useless to our walk.
Conviction:
Conviction:
Source: The Holy Spirit
Purpose: To bring us back:
14 For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.
He’s that kind of God.
Condemnation:
Condemnation:
Source: The enemy and the flesh
Purpose: (crickets…)
I do this funny trick with kids and our ladies in the program where I tell them, “I have a secret talent I am going to show you.... I CAN IDENTIFY ANY BIRD.” and then have someone pull up a random bird on Google image search … telling them to pick the hardest one and try to stump me. After searching deep down on page 13 or so of the Google image search results, they show me a picture of the bird… and I say
Yep. That’s a bird!
Condemnation is the same way.... stop trying to name the bird and just know that it is a bird.
Stop trying to narrow down the subtle intricacies and just know that if you are in Christ and IT IS CONDEMNATION, IT DIDNT COME FROM GOD.
YOU ARE FREE, YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE HOLD OF IT!
YOU ARE FREE, YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE HOLD OF IT!
Paul goes on to say:
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. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 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.
We are indebted to God… you didn’t earn this… it was given freely, but it will cost you your flesh!
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Point 2: The Way of the Cross
Point 2: The Way of the Cross
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 tells those in Rome that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed IN US.
This is interesting for several reasons:
1. Paul wrote this letter in 57 AD, 3 years after Nero took the throne and as Paul exhorts them about the sufferings of this present age, they are 7 years away from the fire of Rome which Nero likely set himself and blamed on the Christians leading to heinous persecution to the point of using Christians as human torches in his garden parties… The inspired nature of the Scriptures would tell me that Paul is exhorting them for this reason.... STOP FIGHTING, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IT TOGETHER FOR WHAT IS TO COME
IM HERE TO TELL THE MODERN CHURCH: STOP FIGHTING WE HAVE TO ALL BE IN UNITY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE ALL KNOW IS COMING.
LET HE WHO HATH AN EAR HEAR!
STOP ARGUING WITH THE SAVED AND START PREACHING TO THE LOST! THIS IS A CONTRACT!!!! We are called to a purpose
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.
Do you love Him? Are you called? Then count it all joy and let’s get moving. Why?
Point 3: BECAUSE IF GOD BE FOR US!!
Point 3: BECAUSE IF GOD BE FOR US!!
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.” 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.
14 For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.