Romans 8 (Week 2)
Notes
Transcript
Recap
Recap
Last week, we began our series titled Your Verse. I really should have called it Your Chapter because we are looking at , which holds my favorite verse even if it is a few weeks till we get to it. ;)
And in building towards a full understand of the 8th chapter of Romans, I laid some groundwork to help us get a fully understand of the letter as a whole.
Briefly, here are the highlights we looked at:
The apostle writes to a well-established Christian community, one which he himself did not found.
THE LETTER:
The letter itself containing the 16 chapters it has come to be divided into was written by Paul. It was written from Corinth during the winter months prior to his trip to Jerusalem in the Spring of 57. We are told that Phoebe would be taking the letter to Rome for him. Phoebe was his agent for Rome. As an apostle, Paul was pleased when a work was established and could stand on its own with local leadership not requiring his constant oversight. You hear this when Paul says things like “if I was there” or “I desire to come to you to...”. And these are typically areas displaying the churches immaturity, that they would require his presence and are unable to operate without him.
SIDEBAR
I mentioned it Sunday during our lunch with those signed up for Life Groups that much of the model of the New Testament church didn’t depend upon an individual to lead them or a budget to fund them. I had a professor in Bible School who was a champion for apostolic and team ministry. I recently heard him challenge the form we have today for church structure. He argues that many of our churches would cease to exist if you removed the primary leader and funds that run the organization. He says this represents a Christian company but not a church (in his opinion on how the church operated in the NT). He says that the apostles sought to established works that they oversaw and provided guidance to but by and larger were run autonomously by the leadership within each congregation. They operated independent of paid leadership and funded outreaches. It was a different model. This idea challenges me on what we are establishing today in the West.
THEOLOGY
We believe Paul writes this letter, or better yet, dictates this letter to his scribe from Corinth in late 56 or Winter of 57. He sends the letter with Pheobe
Paul spends a lot of time encouraging the Gentile Christians in their faith, leveling the playing field of God’s goodness and grace to be partakers of His precious promises. He removes any barriers of superiority to have God’s righteousness and favor cornered. Instead, Paul spends ample time creating a knowledge within the reader of both right doctrine that will lead to right living (or Christian practice).
The question as to what is most central to Pauline theology has been long debated. Some have said that it is justification by faith. Others have insisted that life “in Christ” is the secret, for it lifts one out of the rigidity and barrenness of legal terminology, disclosing the positive and dynamic relationship the believer may have with God’s Son. Thankfully, we do not have to choose between these two, because both are important in Paul’s presentation. Without justification there can be no life in Christ (5:18), and such life in turn confirms the reality of justification.
This is where the simplicity and powerful statements starting chapter 8 ring loudly the Gospel message:
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
This is the Gospel for which Paul is not ashamed, that through the work of Christ we now can all find acceptance, forgiveness, and freedom.
The Son of God is held up to view also from the first, because the gospel centers in him (1:3). He is the one through whom the grace of God is mediated to sinful humanity in justification, reconciliation, and redemption. The man Christ Jesus is set over against the first Adam as the one who has succeeded in undoing the universal ruin wrought by the fall (5:12–21) and who now sustains and preserves all who put their trust in him (5:10). The Spirit’s role is to nurture the new-creation life of the children of God by providing assurance of their sonship (8:16), release from the bondage of sin (8:2–4), effectiveness in prayer (8:26–27), and experience of the love of God (5:5), as well as other joys of the spiritual life (14:17). It is the Spirit who crowns the saints with the confident hope of the bliss of the better state that is to come (8:23; 15:13). The Spirit also provides the dynamic for Christian service (15:19).
TRANSITION
Let’s get back into our text of , looking at what God wants to speak to us this morning.
5 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.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:
Paul begins a length exposition contrasting “the flesh” with “the Spirit”. The flesh, as it is translated here, can be a difficult word to understand. At times, it can simply refer to the physical body. Though, more often than not, it refers to something very different.
But usually in Paul the ethical force of the word, referring to human nature as corrupted and weakened by sin, is dominant. Because the variety of expressions about the flesh may be confusing, some explanation is necessary. To be “in the flesh,” as the word is used in v. 8 (NIV, “controlled by the sinful nature”), is to be in the unregenerate state. To be (ontes, v. 5) “according to the flesh” is to have the flesh as the regulating principle of one’s life. To “walk [peripatousin, GK 4344; NIV, “live”] according to the flesh” (v. 4) is to carry out in conduct those things dictated by the flesh, i.e., to live sinfully.
He introduced these terms in verse 4, but now gives greater contrast to what they look like and how they play out in our lives.
This isn’t the only place where Paul talks about giving ourselves to the ways and life led by the Spirit.
We see him write to the Galatians:
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Galatians 5:
We see that where Paul used the term to have your mind set on the things of the Spirit he now says walk by the Spirit. Using these ideas almost interchangeably we see that Where our mind dwells so will our feet follow. Last week, I talked about the order of theology being KNOW BE DO. I said that when we have right thinking we will then have right living, not vice versa. Paul is saying that when you are regenerated, when you have been made new through the work of Christ in your life, then you will no longer set your mind on the things of the flesh, of this world, but will set your mind on the things of the Spirit.
John writes in 1 John:
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1 John 3:
The law points out sin, and to break the law is to sin. But, remember we have one who has taken away our sin.
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
The penalty of sin that we deserved has been removed because in Christ we find favor we didn’t nor could earn. We receive grace. The one who was without sin () became sin. And no one who lives in him keeps on sinning. (Pres Act Ind 3rd Sing: sins) (Pres Act Part Sing Nom: continues sinning).
This doesn’t mean that in Christ we live a perfect life. That isn’t what I am saying at all. It means we have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. God has changed us, is changing us, and will continue to change us until to see Him in all His glory. But we don’t walk in continual, constant rebellion to His ways. I don’t want to get off track talking about the security of salvation and the potential to backslide.
Instead, as Paul so often does, he draws our attention to a place of strength and power for our spiritual journey—where our mind and thoughts dwell. This is where the battle for spiritual life and death takes place. This is where we draw strength to fulfill the purposes of God in our life or we become weary and worn down. The battle takes place in our mind.
1 John would not sin (live a lifestyle of sin)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Col 3:
Have you heard the statement: He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good? I don’t agree with this statement. I don’t think Paul would; I don’t think Jesus would. Instead: the Scripture I read tells me that only when I am heavenly minded am I any earthly good.
set your mind on things above
STORY:
Recently, I posted an article about Pete Buttigieg running for the democratic candidacy. It was written by the President of a Bible School I had attended. I respect and value his opinion as based on Scripture, presented well, and sticks to Kingdom values. I didn’t add my comments to the article, I simply re-shared the article. How many of you know it didn’t take long before my Facebook friends were all over that post? The first was a former professor I had in NT literature at Johnson University. He was released from his duties at the college when he came out. I had already been thinking about him recently because he taught my class on Romans. He was always scholarly, but sometimes a little too knowledgable for his own good I guess. He, like Pete, claims to be a believer but lives a life that I consider to be a life full of something God wouldn’t approve of. In my mind, this is calling good-evil and evil-good. There is no shortcut to understanding that when we claim to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit but continue in a life of disobedience and defiance to who He is and His ways, we may be filled with a spirit, but it is not the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is very good at his job.
John 16:8
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
The Holy Spirit comes with an assignment in our lives. He brings about conviction regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this work in our lives, and I can attest that whether I like it or not, whether I give heed to the Spirit’s warnings and leadings every time, He is still active in these ways. When we give our lives to Christ, He fills us with His Spirit, and these are things we begin to experience as the Spirit leads and guides us into all truth.
The fleshly are occupied with fleshly things, whereas those who possess the Spirit are controlled by and concerned with the things of the Spirit. Paul has already taught (1 Co 2:14) that the natural or fleshly person does not welcome the things of the Spirit. They are foolishness to such a person, who neither comprehends them nor desires to do so.
14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
Your family, your co-workers, your friends who do not know Jesus, who do not have a relationship with God will not understand the life you live. They will not understand your value system. They will not understand the basis for which you make your decisions. Your rationale being based on eternal, heavenly things will not compute to them. It will seem foolish. Stop expecting them to get it. They have to have their own encounter with God, they have to be awakened to the reality of who He is in their life before they will understand what He is doing in yours. Don’t apologize. Don’t back down. Don’t act timid about…but instead, with understanding, be prepared to point them to the hope you found.
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
PIANO MAN
The contrast that Paul paints for the life without Christ and the life with couldn’t be any more transparent. The stark display of a life that leads to death versus the life that leads to life and peace is what we put on display because of what He has done for us. We respond with gentleness and respect, not forgetting what it was like to be bound in sin and hopeless without Christ. We respond recognizing we aren’t that far off from knowing the great divide that Christ creates in the life of a believer.
Those far from God are hostile towards Him. They cannot even follow His ways. They can’t please God. Not simply because of sin, but the appeasement God is looking for is not a righteousness of our own but the only pure righteousness that comes through Christ. The only blood, sweat, and tears that will justify you with God isn’t yours—it’s His.
Spirit to convict of sin
mind set on the flesh
thoughts
where we dwell
The reputation you used to have has all been removed and you have a clean slate, a new canvas to begin the story of His redemptive work in your life.
Which is where we will pick up next week...
one leads to death
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.
the other to life and peace
one is hostile towards God, doesn’t submit to God’s laws nor can it do so. They can’t please God.
You don’t belong to these ways if the Spirit of God lives in you. If you don’t have the Spirit of Christ, then you don’t belong to Him.
