Climbing the Heights of Romans 8

Romans 8

Romans 8 has been called the Himalayas of the New Testament. I don’t know what the Himalayas are like, I’ve never seen them. I do know what the Sangre de Cristo mountain chain is like. They are all 14,000 feet and form a wall to the west of Westcliffe Colorado. I’m told there is a trail that walks along the chain of mountains. It is an exhilarating trail for expert hikers. Like those mountains, Romans 8 is filled with beauty, majesty, and power…let’s see how far we get down the trail.

The Peak of Freedom

The 1994 movie Shawshank Redemption was a prison drama. One character in the movie was an elderly man named Brooks who worked in the library. Brooks gets paroled after 50 years but cannot adjust to the outside world and commits suicide. It is a tragic irony to the fact that he was just freed but didn’t know how to live in freedom.

Romans 7 left us groaning under the weight of sin and the law and asks the questions,

Romans 7:24 NIV

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Then comes the answer…

Romans 7:25 NIV

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

I remember a visiting minister by the name of Arthur Burt making a statement something like this “the Christian life is impossible to live by your own strength; we must live it with the help of the Spirit.” I heard that 45-50 years ago now and it made a lot of sense to me even as a teenager. Here is an exact quote from him (died at 102 in 2014) as he writes about Romans 7 and the beginning of chapter 8:

How many of us have tried to live this Christian life in our own strength and failed at every hurdle? In our zeal and lack of understanding we have thought that we could attain the goal by more prayer, Bible study, fasting or good works, only to find ourselves still trapped in failure to live Christ-like. I cannot use my works as a currency to buy grace. We arrive at the desperate position that the apostle, Paul, came to and echo the very same words he uttered on his journey to understanding the depravity of the human heart in his attempt to live the Christian life in his own strength, (Romans 7).[1]

It is Holy Spirit that empowers us to embrace freedom and that is the main theme of Romans 8 – a chapter that some have called the “Mount Everest of Scripture”.

Rising by Life in the Spirit

Base Camp

Let’s begin to consume some of the chapter:

Romans 8:1–4 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Sadly, Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity, the godhead, that make people uneasy but is essential to victorious Christian living. Remember, Jesus Himself said:

“According to the Spirit”… What does it mean to live in the Spirit? Clairvoyant? Mystic? Charismatic? People often mistake “living in the Spirit” with manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit but living in the Spirit simply means “that (1) we are free from condemnation, (2) we are free from the control of the sinful nature, and (3) we are God’s children. God has adopted us into His family and made us His sons and daughters.”[2]

Brooks, the man who received parole after 50 years, couldn’t adapt to living in freedom. He was used to serving a sentence. Paul tells us that we have no condemnation – a term in Greek that “is a forensic term which here includes both the sentence and the execution of the sentence”[3]Paul gladly shares with the new believer that there is no need to continue to act like they are serving a sentence. They have been freed and are to live triumphantly in the Spirit.

The Ascent

Christ freed us from the law of sin and death and declared no condemnation for us. What we must do is get our minds right.

Romans 8:5–8 NIV

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

I heard a country music artist say this, “Pull your own weeds, and plant your own flowers”. That is a pretty concise way of conveying what Paul is saying. “Pull the weeds of flesh and plant flowers of the Spirit.” What things are growing in your life? What thoughts are you hanging onto that you would be better off without? Bitterness? Grudges? Negative thoughts? Throw them out.[4]Instead, plant love, joy, peace, truth…

The word live (Greek, peripateo), can also be translated as “walk.” Paul describes two ways of living—or, in a sense, two different roads along which we choose to walk. Jesus talked about a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13–14). Those who live “according to the sinful nature” (Greek, kata sarka, “according to the flesh”) are walking along a road that leads to death, while those who live “in accordance with the Spirit” (Greek, kata pneuma) find life (Romans 8:6).[5]

Let’s hike up the trail a bit more:

Romans 8:9–11 NIV

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Christ’s Spirit lives within our human spirits, but our fleshly bodies are still infected by sinand will die. Sin has been defeated by Christ, but sin and death still claim their hold on our mortal bodies. Yet in these bodies we are alivespiritually and can live by the Spirit’s guidance. In addition, we are promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to us. So there is wonderful hope even for our prone-to-decay bodies.[6]

The Trail

Before we move on, let’s summarize what we’ve learned about Life in the Spirit so far:

- Romans 8:2 - The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death.

- Romans 8:4–5 - He enables us to live a life pleasing to God.

Disappointment or disgust at my failure to be a better Christian can only lead to depression if I focus on it. The desire for change is birthed in me by the Holy Spirit. He places the desperate desire for change in my heart. I cannot change myself. – Arthur Burt

- Romans 8:9 - He lives in us.

- Romans 8:11 - He gives life to our mortal bodies.

Freedom…Victorious living…Eternal life…these are all amazing realities of living in the Spirit but Paul points out that we do have an obligation.

Romans 8:12–13 NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Our obligation is not to the flesh. While believers cannot earn their salvation, they are nevertheless responsible for their conduct. Our little town in NY used to have a fireman’s carnival. Up at the front were the kids rides and the games. At the back was the beer tent and clam boil (I think). I wasn’t allowed to go back there. On the bus (in the back) I heard two of the high school boys talking about a fight that happened at the beer tent. I guess one man got drunk and rude and a fight started. One of the older boys on the bus said to the other that the man who apparently won the fight shouldn’t have hit the other man because the guy was drunk. This didn’t make sense to me. Drunk or not (Afterall, he chose to drink) wasn’t he responsible for his conduct? I thought so, and I still think so.

“We have an obligation” to respond to God’s grace and goodness to us in Jesus Christ. We are obligated to reject the desires of the sinful nature and say “No” to godless living and sinful pleasures.[7]

Titus 2:11–12 NIV

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

The Vista

I had the opportunity to climb some mountains in the Adirondacks when I was a teenager. This is the view from near the summit of Giant Mountain. Look at that view! Verses 14-17 give us amazing views for the believer.

Romans 8:14–17 NIV

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Consider this view! We are children of God!

It is common for even worldly people to acknowledge that men/women are children of God, but for the worldly person there is no greater meaning. To really understand what Paul is telling these Romans is that they are loved and embraced by God.

Bruce provides an explanation of adoption in Paul’s day: “An adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was no whit inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature, and might well enjoy the father’s affection more fully and reproduce the father’s character more worthily” (1985, 166).[8]

Consider this view! Holy Spirit brought about the adoption!

We’ve said that this chapter focuses of the work of Holy Spirit. So far we’ve seen:

- Romans 8:2 - The Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death.

- Romans 8:4–5 - He enables us to live a life pleasing to God.

- Romans 8:9 - He lives in us.

- Romans 8:11 - He gives life to our mortal bodies.

- Romans 8:14 – He leads us

Now we can add to that Romans 8:16, He testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Consider this view! Although we share in His sufferings, we will share in His glory!

Mountain climbing is not like watching a football game on TV. You are going to get sweaty if it is in the summer or freeze all the other months. You will fight off black flies, mosquitos, sweat flies…maybe even a bear. Your muscles ache and the air gets thin but eventually you break out into the open on the top of the mountain.

Is this suffering the effects of “setting our minds” on the Spirit and not the flesh? Maybe. Is this suffering the persecution of the world for our commitments to follow Christ in obedience. I’m sure that is a part of it as well. I just know that the path is narrow but well worth it at the end!

Matthew 7:13–14 NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A Good Spot to Rest

We are about ½ way through the beautiful mountains of Romas 8. I hope that you are seeing the glorious views that Paul was describing!

More importantly I hope that you are on the trail!

[1] https://arthurburt.com/its-a-no-brainer-2/

[2]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 122.

[3]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 122.

[4]Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell, “Get Rid of Mind Clutter,” in 300 Illustrations for Preachers, ed. Elliot Ritzema (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015).

[5]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 125.

[6]Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 607.

[7]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 126.

[8]William F. Lasley and Richard Dresselhaus, Romans: Justification by Faith: An Independent-Study Textbook, Third Edition (Springfield, MO: Global University, 2010), 127.