Romans 8: All that is ours in Christ
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Romans 6 and 7 examine deeply the frustration we all have experienced in living the Christian life. Many times we are left wondering what we are going to do. We want to live like Christ wants us to live, but our fleshly tendencies keep getting in the way.
Romans 7:17–20 “So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.”
It is so frustrating, is it not?
Our old nature is no good, and our new nature seemingly has no power because the old nature is consistently winning. Even the great Apostle Paul struggled in his Christian life, the one who turned the Roman Empire upside down through evangelism, the one who wrote half the New Testament.
If the Book of Romans ended with Chapter 7, we would be left living in doubt and left living powerless lives, but Romans does not end with Chapter 7.
Romans Chapter 8, according to some, is the greatest chapter in the entire Bible. No other chapter in the Bible more fully and deeply describe the hope and tender mercies we have at our disposal in God’s love. No other chapter in the Bible so completely describes the magnificent work of the Holy Trinity in our lives. The truth presented in Chapter 8 forms the basis for Christians to experience what God intends for us.
Just as a reminder before we begin Chapter 8, let’s read two verses from Chapter 7.
Romans 7:24–25 “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”
Life in the Spirit:
Romans 8:1–4 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (CSB)
The great assurance for all Christians is that since it is Jesus who saves, there is no more condemnation now or in the future. If Christ completed His work on the Cross, He has completed His work for our sins. If you are saved, your debt is paid in full. Now, here is how I like to say it because I think it makes it easier to understand. I am no longer condemned because Jesus Christ paid for all my sins which includes my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.
Do you understand that? Do you understand, if you are saved, that the things in the flesh that give you so much trouble have already been forgiven? There is no condemnation in those things. How should that fact impact our lives?
Now, when you are saved, you are given the indwelling Holy Spirit who “frees” you from sin and death.
Ephesians 4:30 “And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.”
Jesus Christ bought you, and the Holy Spirit is your warranty, a warranty that will be good until the Holy Spirit escorts you to meet Christ in the air at the Rapture.
This is really an important point. I will not say, but I will come close to saying it. A person who thinks that he or she can be lost again needing to be saved again does not understand completely what Jesus Christ did for us and does not understand the work of the Holy Spirit in sealing us.
Just as Noah was sealed in the Ark, I am sealed by the Holy Spirit. The flood waters of judgment could not get to Noah. In the same way, my sins cannot alter my eternal destination because those sins have been completely paid for and because the Holy Spirit has sealed me protecting me from those sins.
In your own words, explain the work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in your salvation.
Now, let’s examine verses three and four closely.
Romans 8:3–4 “For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Those who think that you can live a certain way and go to heaven are badly mistaken. Those who think the Law can perfect them have been badly fooled.
Notice what Paul says. He says the Law could not do it because of the flesh.
What is Paul saying?
Let’s take adultery as an example. The 10 Commandments say this about adultery.
Exodus 20:14 “Do not commit adultery.”
The “Law” says this about adultery.
Leviticus 20:10 ““If a man commits adultery with a married woman—if he commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.”
Deuteronomy 22:22 ““If a man is discovered having sexual relations with another man’s wife, both the man who had sex with the woman and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.”
The New Testament, unfortunately for us, expands the definition of adultery.
Matthew 5:27–28 ““You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
OH-NO!!!!!
I dare say that many Christians would like to say they have not committed adultery, but according to Jesus, every single person born on this planet, dare I say, has committed adultery, and because of that, what does the Law demand?
Notice, what Paul says. He says the flesh could not do anything about the Law. Let me put that in my own words. Now, I know this does not apply to any of y’all. If I get out in public and I see a beautiful woman, I will almost give myself a whiplash looking at her. I would love to say that I do that wondering how to share the gospel, but that’s not really what I am thinking. I do not want to look, but in the flesh, I look. What I could not do, God did.
God took care of what the Law demands, and He took care of the Law’s demands by offering His Son, Jesus Christ, as our sin offering.
This is what you must understand.
When Jesus Christ was on the Cross, He who never sinned became sin which is why God had to turn His back on Him. For example, when I do something like I described above, Jesus Christ took that adultery with Him on the Cross. He took the penalty for what the Law demands for that offense so that I would not have to take it.
When I was saved, I was given the Holy Spirit who has now freed me from the need to obey the law of sin. The Law could never save us or sanctify us, but it is something Jesus could do. Literally, Jesus took your death and died for you so that you would not have to die for your adultery.
Do you understand? Think of the 10 Commandments. Pick one. Do a google search to see what the Bible says about it. Do you see what Christ did for you regarding that sin?
Let me just conclude this section by saying this.
Some people say that Jesus Christ did away with the Law. That is absolutely, 100% wrong. Even though Jesus Christ died for the demands of the Law, it is still sin to murder, it is still sin to commit adultery, and it is still sin to lie. The difference, now, for Christians is that they walk in newness through the Holy Spirit who makes it possible for us to walk in the Law.
The Spirit vs. The Flesh:
Romans 8:5–8 “For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
In these verses, a clear contrast is set before us, and that contrast is that there is a clear difference between the flesh and the Spirit, and there should be noticeable differences between Christians and lost people.
Here is what we must understand.
If you are saved, the Holy Spirit WILL NEVER lead you into sin or to sin. He will never lead you to focus on earthly things. A Christian who completely yields to the power of the Holy Spirit in his or her life will have the power of Christ in his or her life.
How would you describe your focus? Are you living in the power of Christ?
Paul is telling us that a Christian should not consistently pursue the things of the flesh.
Are Christians going to sin?
Should Christians pursue sin?
Galatians 5:16–21 “I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:22–26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
In these verses, what things do a fleshly person pursue?
What things do a Spirit-filled Christian pursue?
JC Ryle says that when a person is saved, everything changes. A person that is saved has a new mind, a new heart, new views, new principles, new tastes, new dislikes, and a new hatred toward things once loved.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!”
Using Paul’s language, what does it mean for the old to pass away and the new to come?
Let’s look at Romans 8:6 in several translations.
Quite a contrast is presented.
A carnal person whose thoughts are on all things physical will reap death. All the world can offer cannot satisfy in the end. Just ask the rich man found in Luke 12.
Luke 12:19–21 “Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?’ “That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.””
All the money, property, cars, and worldly possessions one can accumulate will be of no benefit when you are buried six feet under.
A Christian, however, filled with the Holy Spirit who sets his or her mind on the things of the Holy Spirit will not only have eternal life but will have peace with God, and while we may not understand everything that happens to us or our family, we can have the peace of knowing that God is in charge.
Philippians 4:6–8 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.”
This is one of the great passages in the Bible. Dear friend, it is the peace of God that should guard our hearts in any situation. Sure, things cause us distress and grief, but in those situations, if we focus on the Holy Spirit, the peace of God will guide us beyond the need to understand why.
Why is it so hard for many us to guard ourselves with the peace of God?
I want us to look at verses 6-8 in a different translation because I think it probably paints a more complete picture.
Romans 8:6–8 “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
There are three classes of Christians:
Baby Christians
Maturing Christians
Carnal/Apostate Christians
Carnal Christians live in sin. Living in sin causes a barrier to be built between that person and God. Only if you are being led by the Spirit as either a baby Christian or as a maturing Christian can you realize the peace of God that passes all understanding. Paul closes this section by saying in verse 8 that those carnal Christians cannot please God.
Here is the principle at play. Anytime you and I sin it is because we are being led by our flesh. We cannot sin in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. God cannot sin, and God tempts no man to sin. When we sin, we choose to take the Spirit to set it to the side.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
The Holy Spirit will not lead you into sin. The Holy Spirit leads you away from sin. That is why our free will is so corrupt. There is not a person in this class or anywhere who has not chosen to sin.
If you look at James 1:13 and 1 Corinthians 10:13, what else could God do to keep you from sinning?
As we close this section, I want you to think about this.
You, as a Christian, can live for the world, or you can live for Christ, but you cannot do both at the same time. At any point in time in your Christian life, you are either living for the world, or you are living for Christ. Living for the world will never, never please God. Living for the world is living according to our old fleshly desires. That is why we could not be reformed. We had to be transformed as we are made new creatures in Jesus Christ.
Thinking of your own personal life. Explain the difference between being transformed and being reformed.
You and I are to present our bodies to Him, and we can do it through the Holy Spirit and the new birth.
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
If you are saved, sin disrupts your fellowship with God and with the church. If you are saved, it is easy to restore that fellowship with God.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If you are lost, you cannot please God, and you will never know the life God wants for you nor will you ever understand the peace of God.
Seriously, let me ask you this.
Are you saved? Do you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are saved?
The Bible commands us to make sure we are saved.
2 Corinthians 13:5–6 “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? But I expect that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.”
Our Changed Status:
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God.
Now, Paul, and I like the way he says it, assumes that all Christians are being led by the Holy Spirit. If you are being led by the Holy Spirit, your are a son or a daughter of God. The command Paul is hinting at is that if you are saved you should be led by the Holy Spirit.
Now, you can follow your heart, but you will not feel much like a child of God. The Bible says many unflattering things about the heart.
Jeremiah 17:9–10 ““The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, To give to each person according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.”
Matthew 15:18–20 “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and those things defile the person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements. These are the things that defile the person; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the person.””
Genesis 6:5–7 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe out mankind whom I have created from the face of the land; mankind, and animals as well, and crawling things, and the birds of the sky. For I am sorry that I have made them.””
Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”
Those are enough to paint the picture. The heart is evil. It is from where all evil springs forth. Have you ever heard someone say follow your heart? If someone has told you that, run from that joker because he or she is not giving you very good advice.
How does God renew us, through our hearts or through our minds? (Scriptural proof please)
Romans 8:15 “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!””
This is a verse that ought to make you say Amen!
Since we are saved and no longer under the power of sin or under the demands of the Law, God is our Father and not our Judge.
To help explain the relationship, Paul uses the word ABBA. Abba is an Aramaic word that means “daddy”. It is what you will hear you children in Israel shouting out to their fathers to this day. What is shows is the closeness with and our dependence and closeness to our heavenly Father that we have.
Literally, you can speak to God as your dad. That is how close of a relationship you have with Him if you are saved.
Let me ask you a question.
Now, I would not advise you calling Him dad when you prayed, but I hope you see the picture Paul is trying to illustrate. There is a great passage in Isaiah that explains God’s closeness to us.
Isaiah 59:1–2 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
God is within earshot of His children all the time.
Explain how it makes you feel knowing you are a child of God. Does it help you understand the relationship between those who are saved and God better?
Romans 8:16–17 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
1 John 3:1 “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.”
Dear friend, this is incredible. Not only are we are children of God,, but we are joint heirs with Christ.
What does that mean?
Well, it means a couple of things.
First, as Christ suffered in this world, Christians can expect to suffer persecution, trials, and tribulations. As a matter of fact the Bible says something incredible about those things and the Christian.
2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
If you live a godly life, you are going to be persecuted as Jesus was persecuted on this earth. The world hates Christ, and the world hates Christians. Christians and Christ stand in stark contrast to what the world is and what the world wants to do. Until the Rapture, the church will be persecuted, but there is something else being joint heirs with Christ means.
Second, it means that one of these days, we will be glorified as Christ is glorified.
Using the New Testament, give some characteristics of the body of Jesus Christ after His resurrection.
Guess what? When you are glorified, you will be exactly like Christ.
What an incredible first half of Chapter 8. As we finish Chapter 8, we will see how certain our salvation is, and we will see how God’s purpose for us will be completed.
