Romans 8 Sermon

Text

Luke 24:1–12 ESV

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Luke

Romans 8:1–11 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, 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. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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.

Romans 8:1–13 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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, 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. 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. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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.

Main Thought

Jesus died to take away our sin, and was raised to give us new life.

Intro

Celebration weekend

Friday celebrated Jesus’ death - why?

The cross - where justice and mercy meet

Eulogy for Jesus’ funeral?

“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away”

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God”

“If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”

“If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - even his own life - he cannot be my disciple.”

“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven”

Jesus only preached to 2 groups of people - with him or against him

No eulogy - Jesus did not stay in the grave

Today: celebrate Jesus’ resurrection - why?

Jesus died to take away our sin, and he was raised to give us new life.

1. The Curse of Death

I’m also addressing 2 groups of people

All at one time or another stood condemned

Implied in

- "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

- ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’

Paul also speaks about 2 groups of people - those who live according to the flesh, and those who live according to the spirit.

“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.

According to the flesh - still condemned

According to the Spirit - no condemnation

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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Flesh = world

Mind = thoughts, attitude, will, affections, whole being, identity

Hostile to God = elevated self above God, selfish

Doesn’t submit to God’s law - can’t

cannot please God - even when we try, we fail

Total depravity = unable to keep God’s Law

Cursed to die under condemnation because we cannot fulfill the requirements of God’s Law

2. The Fulfillment of the Law

Answer: Because God is love, God fulfilled it for us

Romans 8:1–3 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 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,

Rom 8:1-

God did for us what the Law could not do

The law could not set us free

The law has no power over us to make us obey (speed limits)

Because its weakened by the flesh

God then did for us what the law can never do - set us free

likeness of sinful flesh = as a man - to be our substitute

likeness = not as a sinful man, but in the likeness (He didn’t have the sinful nature)

God condemned our sin in Jesus’ body (in the flesh)

“in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled”

3. The Promise of New Life

“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”

Its not just that Jesus takes our sin away

He also gives us something

- For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Great Exchange

So the requirement of the law was fulfilled in Jesus, but also in us, so that God receives us as righteous and having fulfilled the Law

How?

“(We) are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.”

Being set free is not by keeping the law, it is received by faith in the death & resurrection of Jesus

That is not all we receive…

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Whereas the Law does not have the power to make us obedient to God, the Holy Spirit DOES

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.

Two promises:

The same Spirit of God that was in Jesus is in you

The same Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead will also raise you from the dead

after death - and you will receive your glorified body

in this life - “will give life to your mortal bodies”

That means that you will begin to experience now what it will be like in heaven

The Spirit will give you new life - and power to set your minds on the things of the Spirit

Power to live not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit

Do you see evidence of that in your own life?

Romans 8:11 ESV

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.

Is obeying God a chore that reveals your heart is still hostile to God?

Romans 3:24–25 ESV

and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Or is obeying God now what you have set your mind and your affections on because the Spirit has given you that desire?

Are you striving to live in obedience to God out of fear, or out of love?

Acts 2:38 ESV

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Verse 2 says that the Spirit of life will set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death

The one who has faith in Jesus doesn’t live in fear

Rom 3:24-

The one who has faith in Jesus lives in peace because he has been set free

Not set free from having to be obedient, but set free from the chains of sin and death so that you love God and love to be obedient to Him

And

Why did Jesus HAVE TO die?

strange thing to celebrate?

In one word: Justice

God is holy - standard

because of what it means

3:23 - all have sinned

Rodney asked: Why did Jesus HAVE TO die?

Jesus died to satisfy God’s justice

What must a holy, good God do with sinners?

Jesus died to take away our sin

Justice requires a punishment fit for the crime

We celebrate the cross - because that is where God’s justice and mercy meet

So God won’t just forgive sin - He is just

Therefore, in love, He gave His Son

What would a eulogy at Jesus’ funeral be like?

One of the things you’d have to say is that Jesus never minced His words

If Jesus didn’t die as our substitute, we would have to

“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away”

“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God”

“ Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

“If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”

“If anyone comes to me and doesn’t hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - even his own life - he cannot be my disciple.”

“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven”

Something that marked Jesus’ teaching - there was never a middle ground

So whenever Jesus addressed a crowd, he was always addressing two groups (never 3)

So when Jesus addressed a crowd, that is how he spoke

Either with him, or against him

Of course there wasn’t a eulogy - Jesus didn’t stay in the grave

We celebrate his resurrection - what it means for us

Why did Jesus have to be raised?

Jesus died to take away our sin, and he was raised to give us new life.

1. The Law of Sin & Death

I am going to address you like Jesus addressed crowds

There are those who are with Jesus and those who are against

members think I’m talking about 2-timers (2 times a year - Christmas and Easter)

If you’re tempted to feel smug… We all at one time stood condemned before Jesus

This is implied in - “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

If there is now no condemnation for us, then what was there for us before?… condemnation

Comes from the same root Greek word as what is used in for the word “curse”

There Paul says: "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

And that is a direct quote from:

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’

Outside of Christ, this is where everyone stands - cursed

The curse goes back to Adam - when Adam sinned, he brought the curse of death on the whole world

God told him not to eat of the tree of knowledge, because he will die

You are dust, and to dust you will return

- Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned

If you were born, you were born under the curse of death

As a result of being born under the curse,

Paul is addressing two kinds of people here in Romans 8

Put simply, everyone who does not keep every one of God’s laws is under a curse.

Those who live according to the flesh, and those who live according to the spirit

Adam in the garden

“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.

According to the Flesh

Condemned

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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

How do you know you are living according to the flesh?

Your mind is set on the flesh

Flesh = world

Mind = attitude. Will. Affections.

Hostile to God = not necessarily obvious hostility.

Selfishness.

Romans 8:7–8 ESV

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. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Rom 8:

Romans 8:5 ESV

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.

Rom 8:

The curse goes back to Adam - when Adam sinned, he brought the curse of death on the whole world

God told him not to eat of the tree of knowledge, because he will die

You are dust, and to dust you will return

- Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned

If you were born, you were born under the curse of death

Here’s what happens because you were born under the curse: you sin

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

You break God’s law

Deuteronomy 27:26 ESV

“ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’

Deut

Galatians 3:10 ESV

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

2. The Fulfillment of the Law

3. The Promise of New Life