(Group) Romans 8:1-17

(ESV)

INTRODUCTION

Paul has explained that those who put their trust in Christ for salvation are justified, freed from the power of sin, and no longer required to observe the “old way of the written code” (which he explained in ch. 7). Now he begins to explain the statement of what it means to live according to the “new way of the Spirit(7:6).

BODY

Paul outlines 3 freedoms that those “in Christ” enjoy.

I. Free From Condemnation (1-4)

A. The Spirit Has Set You Free (1-2)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

B. The Son Met The Requirements of the Law For You (3-4)

3 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,

4 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.

We feel condemned because we focus on past guilt and present failures to make us question what Christ has done for us.

Our assurance must be focused on Christ, not our performance.

What causes you to doubt that you have been freed from condemnation before God?

Memories of our past, current failures and struggles, or more mature Christians can cause you to begin to doubt your freedom in Christ. What causes you to doubt that you have been freed from condemnation before God?

When did Christ snatch you out of the fire?

II. Free From The Control of Sin (5-14)

II. Free From The Control of Sin (5-14)

A. Control by the Spirit Leads to Life and Peace (5-8)

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.

6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

B. Control by the Spirit Leads to the Resurrection (9-11)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit [positional vs. behavioral], if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

C. Control by the Spirit Means Adoption (12-14)

12 So then, brothers, 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 all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

While you have been removed from the power of sin in Christ, you have not yet been removed from the presence of sin.

There is a difference between being controlled by sin and submitting to sin. When a person is controlled by sin, he or she sins without thought or remorse. When a person submits to sin, he or she does so knowing that God disapproves and it grieves God’s Spirit that resides within the believer. Does your life choices reveal that you are controlled by sin, or often times submit to sin?

If you are in Christ you have the power to text back “no,” but if you are consistently texting back and saying, “yes,” then you are still under control of sin and should be fearful.

Do you respond “yes” or “no” to sin’s group text message?

What must you do when God confronts you with your sin? (c.f., 1 John 1).

III. Free from Fear of Abandonment (15-17)

A. We Have Been Adopted (15-16)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

B. We Are Heirs With Christ (17)

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

A little boy had a part in the school play that read, “It is I; be not afraid.” He came out on stage and said, “It’s me and I’m scared.”

You need not be afraid of being abandoned by God, PROVIDED you follow Christ’s own road to glory!

Are you fearful of abandonment, or adopted as faithful?

You are free from condemnation and adopted by God “provided” you follow Christ at all cost. Are you following Christ?

CONCLUSION

Those who are “in Christ,” are (1) free from condemnation, (2) free from the control of sin, and (3) free from the fear of abandonment by God.

Jesus said, “I will never leave you, or forsake you.” If you are not “in Christ,” however, you do have cause of concern.