Life in the Ruach
Notes
Transcript
Review & Intro
Review & Intro
We are about to begin chapter 8 of the letter to the Romans. Before we do I would like to begin with a quick word study of the word “law” as used by Paul in this letter.
Firstly, Paul talks more about the “law” in the book of Romans than any other author of the New Testament, and more than twice the amount of any other book or letter.
Secondly, the word “law” is used in nine different ways or Senses, including: The Torah, the Mosaic law system, the generic law of God, the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures/Tanakh, legal principles, legal system, or a specific law. A difficulty faced by translators is that there is no differentiation between these senses other than the context given, Paul uses the same Greek word, “nomos” to mean all of these different things, but expects the audience to understand the difference based upon the context. I like the TLV because it differentiates between translating “nomos” as “Torah”, “law” and “principal”.
Next, Richard Averbeck also points out that 90% of the times that Paul uses the word “nomos” is prior to Romans 8:7, and states the following:
It is conspicuous that the term law does not occur in the chapter after Romans 8:7. Paul moves on to the human spirit and the Holy Spirit in the core of the discussion from this point forward. We are called to leave the “flesh” behind, which the law has no power to transform and, in fact, makes use of for its own corrupt purposes. So [Paul] leaves the term law behind in the discussion in favor of spirit or Spirit. The shift began at Romans 8:2 but now takes full force. The Holy Spirit works in our human spirit so that “we cry ‘Abba, Father’” because “the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (8:15-16).
So let us now read the passage from Romans 8:1-17
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua. For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what was impossible for the Torah—since it was weakened on account of the flesh—God has done. Sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh— so that the requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Ruach. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Ruach set their minds on the things of the Ruach. For the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Ruach is life and shalom. For the mindset of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not submit itself to the law of God—for it cannot. So those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Ruach—if indeed the Ruach Elohim dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Ruach of Messiah, he does not belong to Him. But if Messiah is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Ruach of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Ruach who dwells in you. So then, brothers and sisters, we do not owe anything to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Ruach you put to death the deeds of the body, you shall live. For all who are led by the Ruach Elohim, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall again into fear; rather, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Ruach Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. And if children, also heirs—heirs of God and joint-heirs with Messiah—if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
No Condemnation
No Condemnation
Because Paul starts this section with the word “therefore” we have to look at the previous section to fully understand his argument. In particular we need to look at the previous 2 verses (I was going to say previous 7 chapters). For the sake of time let’s just look at Rom. 7:24-25
Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—it is through Messiah Yeshua our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself serve the Torah of God; but with my flesh, I serve the law of sin.
David Stern rephrases these few verses in the following way:
The Jewish New Testament Commentary Romans, Chapter 8
I believe that the structure of Sha’ul’s argument relating chapters 7 and 8 is reflected best if 7:25 and this verse are joined, with the words “although” and “nevertheless” added, thusly:
“To sum up: although with my mind I am a slave of God’s Torah, but with my old nature a slave to sin’s “torah,” nevertheless, therefore [i.e., because of Yeshua, as explained above], there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua.”
The Greek, however, does not justify putting this rendering in the text itself; for this reason I have consigned it to the notes.
The reason that there is not condemnation is because we are in covenant relationship with Messiah Yeshua, and because the Ruach HaKodesh is inside of us. What this means is: When God sent His own Son, as a man, as a sin and guilt offering (in fulfillment of Isa. 53:10), just as He died, so also we have died; just as He was raised, so also we walk in newness of life; just as Yeshua was filled by the Ruach HaKodesh, so also we are filled with the Ruach, empowered by the Ruach and “walk … according to the Ruach.”
Life to Mortal Bodies
Life to Mortal Bodies
Paul now, in verses 5 to 11, discuss the difference between living according to the flesh and living empowered and filled with the Ruach of Adonai. Paul summarizes Chapter 7 by saying that the flesh can not submit itself to the law of God, because of the internal battle that he has just described.
However, this is a wonderful transitional word, however, we are no longer constrained by the weakness of our former lives. Now we are filled with the Ruach of God, and in Rom. 8:9 we read that the same Ruach that filled Yeshua, is the same Ruach that now fills our lives, and empowers us to live a holy life. I want to read Rom. 8:11 again, because I find it extremely encouraging:
And if the Ruach of the One who raised Yeshua from the dead dwells in you, the One who raised Messiah Yeshua from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Ruach who dwells in you.
The Spirit of God is filling us, strengthening us, helping us please Adonai through what we do and say. We are no alone. Rather we are called to continuously trust in the power the Ruach of Adonai for everything in our lives.
Adoption as Children
Adoption as Children
Paul starts this next paragraph, in verse 12, by calling the believers “brothers” which includes “sisters”, and describes that we are now one huge adopted family. We are now adopted into the family of God, because of what Yeshua the Messiah did, and through the ongoing leading of the Ruach Elohim. We are now children of God! This breaks down all barriers of status and self promotion, because we are equal before God.
Paul then uses one of my favorite terms; he says that we can now cry out “Abba! Father!” The word “Abba” is translated as “Daddy” and is an intimate term only used by children of their parents. We now have that sort of relationship with Adonai.
Remember when Yeshua taught his Talmidim to pray? In Matt. 6:9-13 Yeshua says:
“Therefore, pray in this way: ‘Our Father in heaven, sanctified be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Yeshua teaches to pray to the Father, and uses a term of endearment “Our Father”. This recognizes the new adopted relationship that we have with Adonai, but also reminds us of the new family that we are adopted into, each other. I know that we don’t always get along, and I know that we sometimes annoy one another, but we are called to love each other, forgive each other, and work together as a loving family.
Finally, in vs. 17, Paul points out that as adopted children of God we are also going to get an inheritance. Paul will clarify exactly what this entails later on, but for now, it is enough to point out that we are loved by God and brought into His family.
Application
Application
In terms of applying this to our lives, we need to see that receiving the Ruach HaKodesh is a part of the New Covenant. This was promised through the Prophet Ezekiel 36:24-28
“ ‘For I will take you from the nations, gather you out of all the countries and bring you back to your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. Moreover I will give you a new heart. I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the stony heart from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Ruach within you. Then I will cause you to walk in My laws, so you will keep My rulings and do them. Then you will live in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be My people and I will be your God.
Adonai is speaking through Ezekiel and pointing out that the new heart comes with Him putting His Ruach within us. This receiving of the Spirit of God gives us the power to walk in His laws, keep His rulings and becoming part of His people.
Paul lived by example, and one time when Paul was traveling in Ephesus we read Acts 19:1-7
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul traveled through the upper region and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples and said to them, “Did you receive the Ruach ha-Kodesh when you believed?” They replied to him, “No, we’ve never even heard that there is a Ruach ha-Kodesh. He said, “Into what were you immersed?” They said, “Into John’s immersion.” Paul said, “John immersed with an immersion of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One coming after him—that is, in Yeshua.” When they heard this, they were immersed in the name of the Lord Yeshua. And when Paul laid hands upon them, the Ruach ha-Kodesh came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. In all, there were about twelve men.
So I am going to close by asking the same question that Paul asked: “Did you receive the Ruach HaKodesh when you believed?” If not, I invite you come up at the end of the service for prayer. This is part of following in Yeshua’s footsteps.
