Romans 8b

Introduction

OK, so we are continuing our study series called “Important Chapters of the New Testament.”

The recent situation of having to be broadcast only meant that I had the opportunity to look back in the catalog of past messages and find what I consider to be some of the most important chapters that we’ve studied through.

Hopefully, by the time everyone is feeling comfortable with getting about regular life, we’ll be able to resume our chapter by chapter study of the New Testament.

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So far, in this series, we’ve studied:

The epistle ofJude, dealing with false teachers.

And then there was Revelation 6, dealing with what is mostly known as the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.

Also Hebrews 7, and how the Old Testament character Melchizedek prefigures Christ.

And also 1 John 3 and love in the Christians life … and then we continued with the theme of love, studying 1 Corinthians 13.

That was followed by a 2 part study through 2 Timothy chapter 2 looking at the expression of grace in a believer’s life.

After that, we looked at the purpose of the law in Galatians 3.

In a study of “Important Chapters of the New Testament” there is no possible way to leave out Romans 8 … but I realized that it’s nearly impossible to study Romans 8 without chapters 6 and 7 … but it’s impossible to do those without chapter 5.

So, here we are … Several Sundays ago we began a study through chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, looking at “the implications of the revelation of God’s righteousness.”

Last week we made it through the first 11 verses of chapter 8.

And today we pick up with the second part of our study through Romans 8, starting with verse 12.

The key verse for our study is verse 16, which says:

Romans 8:16 NKJV

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

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It’s been said that people start to look like their pet dogs.

Now, I’m no expert, but I’m inclined to agree because on more than one occasion I have noticed a resemblance between a person and their dog.

Well, kind of like that … The relationships we keep can tell a lot about us.

We see this vividly in our children … we see how they begin to act like other kids that they spend time with.

That doesn’t change when we are adults.

The people we associate with continue to have great influence over us.

In our chapter for this morning, Paul tells us about the relationship with God that we have when we accept Jesus as Savior.

Children of God is who we are in Christ, in-dwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

When we allow God’s Spirit to lead us, the flesh is pushed down in our lives and we live as heirs with Christ in suffering and in glory.

As children of God, when we are led by the Spirit, we are following closely to Christ.

It is when we follow the lead of the flesh that we get ourselves into trouble.

Relationship is important … relationships form us and help to sustain us … especially our relationship or lack of relationship with God.

Consider these 3 truths about our heavenly relationship.

We are debtors to live by the Spirit

The work of the flesh can not make demands upon our lives if we live by the Spirit.

Being led by the Spirit produces joy and peace.

As Christians we are empowered over the flesh.

Real life can only come through the Spirit

Spiritual living means that the works of the flesh are put to death.

That death can only come through the Spirit.

Children of God are in-dwelt, sealed, led and guided by the Spirit.

Children of God are not in bondage nor are they controlled by the Spirit of fear.

The Spirit reveals our relationship.

We are heirs of all God has to offer.

A joint heir of Christ means to be a heir of Christ’s suffering.

If we are heirs in suffering, we are also heirs of Christ in glory!

A wealthy man called his faithful assistant into his office one day and said, “I’ve put your name in my will, and someday you’ll receive $10,000. Since it may be a while before you get that legacy, I want to make you happy now by paying you the interest on that amount each year. Here is a check for $600 as a starter.”

The surprised clerk was doubly grateful.

The prospect of the inheritance was certainly good news, but the money he received in advance gave him complete assurance that someday the entire $10,000 would be his.

As God’s children, let’s rejoice in the riches we now have in Christ through the Holy Spirit.

He is our guarantee of what Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 4 as “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” that our Heavenly Father will one day give to the heirs of salvation.

Do not read below:

2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Our present blessings are but a token of the greater inheritance we will eventually receive.

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God’s fatherly relationship with Jesus implies 4 things.

1. First it implies authority

2. Second, it implies affection

3. Third, fellowship

4. Fourth, honor

All this extends to God’s adopted children.

In, through, and under Jesus Christ our Lord, we as Christians are:

(a) ruled,

(b) loved,

(c) accompanied, and

(d) honored by their heavenly Father.

As Jesus obeyed God, so should we.

As God loved his only-begotten Son, so he loves his adopted sons (John 16:27).

As God had fellowship with Jesus, so he does with us (1 John 1:3).

As God exalted Jesus, so he exalts Jesus’ followers, as brothers and sisters in one family (John 12:32; 17:24).

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In these terms the Bible teaches us the shape and substance of the relationship which binds together the Father of Jesus and the servant of Jesus.

In order to become a joint heir with Jesus we must be born again.

There is no in between.

Many people today want to have their cake and eat it to.

They want the glory without the suffering.

Or they want the relationship without the walk.

Paul plainly tells us that the relationship and the walk go hand in hand.

If we allow the Spirit to lead, the walk is natural, and we will have Jesus to help us make it through all trouble.

Jesus never said we would have it easy, but He did say we would not have to go it alone.

If you are born again into the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus, you are co-heirs with Christ.

Let’s see what Paul has to say about some relationships this morning:

Our relationship with the flesh.

Our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Our relationship with God the Father.

Our relationship with the Son.

But before we do that, let’s pray:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for this new morning, the breath that you have placed in our lungs, the beats of our hearts … You are truly the Living God Who is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. We ask that as we enter into our study of Your written Word that You would give us wisdom and understanding. We pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Body of Message Part 1

V12-17

Last week we continued in our exposition of Romans 8 as an extension of Romans 7, speaking of the flesh and the Spirit.

Only, with the first verse of chapter 8, Paul moved on to answer the Big Question of chapter 7, which was, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

Last week we learned that there is no condemnation for the Christian - our chapter began this way:

Romans 8:1 NKJV

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

That was good news, wasn’t it?

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Paul was giving instruction regarding the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.

Things seemed desperate until we learned that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, … who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

In verse 5, Paul said:

Romans 8:5 NKJV

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, the things of the Spirit.

Setting their minds on the flesh” is carnality.

Carnality is: Having the nature and characteristics of the flesh.

The Flesh is used in a metaphorical sense referring to our disposition for sin and to oppose or omit God in our lives.

The flesh is characterized by works that include lusts and passions.

It can enslave, and in it is nothing good.

So, to be carnal means to be typified by things that belong to the unsaved life.

To be carnally minded, said Paul, is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

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The carnal stands no chance of pleasing God, so what are we to do?

Paul says in verse 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.”

The flesh in me hears that and then tries to tell me that I need to sustain or maintain my salvation by my NOT walking in the flesh.

My flesh tells me that … because it wants the advantage.

If we determine that any part of our salvation depends on ourselves, we will become discouraged by our constant inability to uphold our end of the deal.

Some may then just (a) give in to the flesh and (b) harden their hearts toward God.

Others may try even harder to do it themselves.

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Perhaps they find that while they fail in many areas, there are a few that they are pretty good at … and suddenly salvation depends on doing those things.

In other words, they act as if their salvation is earned and must be maintained.

This is when the flesh becomes puffed up and suddenly we start to look around to see who the “True Christians” are.

Of course, we’ll determine that “True Christians” are the one’s who also place importance on the same rules we are able to keep.

And again, that’s all about the flesh … legalism is carnality.

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By trying to maintain my standing with God by works doing, I have given myself over to legalism, … saying that salvation is dependent on something I do or something I do not do, rather than by the free gift of God’s grace.

The only part of Salvation that is dependent on ourselves is by faith accepting that gift.

There’s a lot of legalism getting taught today.

Only, much of it has to do with “what we should be doing so that we can be better Christians.”

Legalism will always point at something or someone other than Jesus.

There’s whole sections in the bookstore, both Christian and regular about SELF and doing this Christian thing satisfactorily.

Look around and you will see churches teaching whole sermon series that are, at their core, legalism.

But, again, doesn’t the “no condemnation” of verse 1 hinge on walking in the Spirit rather than walking in the flesh?

Well, yes, but it’s not about what we do, but about what Christ has done!!!!

Paul wrote in verse 12 that we owe the flesh nothing.

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Now, to understand this better, we need to understand what is meant by (a) “Walking in the Spirit” and (b) “Walking in the Flesh.”

The Greek Word that is translated in verse 1, verse 4, as “Walk” literally means to move or proceed, and figuratively it refers to living.

It’s the same word that we find in chapter 6, when Paul wrote, “even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Paul used this same word in his letter to the Galatians.

In the book of Galatians when countering the legalists, Paul said, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Do not read below:

Galatians 5:16 NKJV

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Paul wrote: the “flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Do not read below:

Galatians 5:17–18 NKJV

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

What follows is a list of works of the flesh, all of which are sinful:

Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV) adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;

Do not read below:

Galatians 5:19–21 NKJV

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Paul then lists out the fruit of the Spirit, all of which were made manifest in the life of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV) love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.

Do not read below:

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

So, now we might be concerned because honestly, we each could check off more items from the list of bad things than from the list of good things.

But Paul continues by telling us that:

Galatians 5:25–26 (NKJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Do not read below:

Galatians 5:25–26 NKJV

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

What we have in us by inheritance from Adam are those things that are bad.

Those come easy to us.

In fact, apart from Christ we are incapable of much else.

So, how do we manifest the Fruits of the Spirit, then?

WE don’t!

That’s why they are called the Fruit of The Spirit.

Body of Message Part 2

So, it sounds like we still have a problem.

If carnality comes easy to the flesh and those good fruits are of the Spirit, it sounds like we are pretty much consigned to carnality.

Maybe we just give up, then?

No, because there is good news.

Jesus died on the cross for our sins, rose again and ascended to heaven.

By His death on the cross we have forgiveness of sins, by His resurrection, new life and by His ascension into heaven, access to the Father.

The apostle Paul writes in chapter 3 of Romans:

Romans 3:21–22 NKJV

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

Through our faith in Christ, the righteousness of God is given to us.

This is called “imputed” righteousness.

To impute something is to ascribe or attribute something to someone.

When we place our faith in Christ, God ascribes the perfect righteousness of Christ to our account so that we become perfect in His sight.

2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Do not read below:

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This is important because as Paul already observed in chapter 7, “The good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

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In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Do not read below:

Matthew 5:48 NKJV

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Apart from Christ’s imputed righteousness, we cannot do that.

But, we don’t have to worry about being apart from Christ’s righteousness, because God sent to us the Holy Spirit.

The Bible calls the Holy Spirit a seal, a deposit, an earnest and a pledge.

The Holy Spirit is given to believers as a “first installment” to assure us that our full inheritance as children of God will be delivered.

The Holy Spirit is given to us to confirm to us that we belong to God Who grants to us His Spirit as a gift, just as grace and faith are gifts.

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From here we look back to our concern, which was whether we needed to sustain or maintain our salvation by striving to live in the Spirit.

If that is the case, then Grace is by faith plus works, which is counter to what scripture tells us.

Here’s the deal, if you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, you have received the Holy Spirit, and thus you are sealed to God.

Jesus said, “Nobody can snatch them out of my hand.”

You live in the Spirit and you walk in the Spirit even as Paul wrote in verse 9 of our chapter, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

Do not read below:

Romans 8:9 NKJV

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

This is some awfully good news.

Paul says in verse 14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

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We all have struggles … things that we seem to come up against again and again.

Sometimes we fail and give in.

Other times we wisely discern the means of escape which the Lord has provided us.

Because a Christian is sanctified as belonging to the Lord:

There are some things that a Christian should do.

There are some things that a Christian should not do.

There are some things that a Christians can do, but to do so would violate our conscience.

Paul put it this way:

1 Corinthians 10:23 NKJV

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

This leads to some logical questions.

Is there a balance that we have to constantly keep?

And if so, how do we do that?

I mean, as we saw, the Super Christian Apostle Paul couldn’t do it … he even called Himself the chief of sinners.

Israel, even with all God’s instruction had a very difficult time not doing those things that the other nations did.

As we have already observed in verse 9, “you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”

Do not read below:

Romans 8:9 NKJV

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Here, Paul recognizes a very important truth.

That truth is that we act according to what we know we are.

Paul says in verse 15 that we have, “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

And Paul then continues in verses 16-17, “Te Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together”

The way to live pleasing to God is to see yourself as He sees you.

And the way to break the power of the most vicious and evil habit is to see yourself as God sees you.

Then you begin to act that way.

Put simply, I stand in grace and walk in the Spirit because I belong to God and I am in-dwelt and empowered by the Spirit.

When I understand this, understand who I am in Christ, I am allowing God free reign in my life.

Body of Message Part 3

In this section of Romans 8, Paul specifically describes what happens when we live with our mind set on the Spirit.

When we live in such a way, we are doing more than following God—we are simultaneously putting to death the deeds of the flesh.

Instead of living in the behaviors that lead to death, we put those deeds to death so that we have life.

Only God’s indwelling Spirit enables us to live this way; without His presence, we’d end up being enslaved to sin once again.

I don’t know if you’ve ever ditched anyone or not.

Ditching someone is when someone get’s totally absorbed in something and you continue on without them.

Then they finally look up and realize that they have been left alone.

Paul is calling us to ditch our flesh, so to speak.

The idea is that we are so engrossed in walking in the Spirit, that our flesh and sinful desires are left behind.

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Of course, the flesh is not happy with this arrangement and this is why there is an ongoing struggle.

As we pursue God, we are led by the Holy Spirit, and we show ourselves to be sons of God.

Having received His Spirit, we walk in His Spirit and in following Jesus, we are being led by the Spirit, instead of by the flesh.

This is completely a work of the Lord and the evidence of it is manifested in the fruits of the Spirit.

Having been sealed unto God, we can look forward to the day when our fallen flesh and this fallen world will be finally redeemed.

We can look forward to a day when we are with Christ in glory.

We can look forward to a day when the power and consequences of sin are no more, for there is a return to the way God intended things to be.

It’s easy to look at things only as they affect us personally and forget that there is a greater plan.

For now, we live in a fallen world and it is hard for us to live here in the midst of so much sin and suffering.

But better things are yet to come.

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JOKE: An old man goes to his doctor and says, "I don't think my wife's hearing is as good as it used to be. What should I do?"

The doctor replies, "Try this test to find out for sure. When your wife is in the kitchen doing dishes, stand 15 feet behind her and ask her a question. If she doesn't respond keep moving closer, asking the question until she hears you."

The man goes home and sees his wife preparing dinner. He stands 15 feet behind her and says, "What's for dinner, honey?" No response. He moves to 10 feet behind her and asks again -- no response. Five feet, no answer.

Finally, he stands directly behind her and asks, "Honey, what's for supper?" She says, "For the fourth time, I SAID CHICKEN!"

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Loss of hearing is one form of suffering, but it’s not all.

We all experience many forms of suffering in this life: physical changes that come with age, physical diseases, suffering, mental, emotional, etc.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we all go down physically as we age.

I can’t do all the things I did in when I was a kid.

I can’t do all the things that I did when I was in my 20’s.

Now that I’m in my late 20’s … okay, I’m kidding … I’m in my mid forties … I can’t do all those things I did when I was younger.

And if I begin to think I can, a few minutes with my two children reminds me.

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All suffering in this life, however, is not just physical.

Although, that’s often the kind of suffering we think of the most.

But we also suffer mentally and emotionally in life.

We raise our children and continue to worry over them.

Someone once said, “When they’re little, they step on your toes; but when they're grown, they step on your heart."

Suffering is ever present with us now, but there is a day to come when suffering will be no more.

Paul says in verse 18:

Romans 8:18 NKJV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

The future is bright … But for now, we take comfort in knowing that the future is also secure.

Nothing, including suffering can disrupt God’s plan.

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The Bible says … and we’ll get to this verse in next weeks study:

Romans 8:28–29 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

That being the case, even suffering is useful in the hands of God to bring about His good will.

C. S. Lewis: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

What's the idea?

God gets our attention very well when we're in pain or are experience troubles and suffering in this life.

When things are going well, we don't pay much attention to Him.

Can suffering cause us to become more obedient to God as well?

I think so.

Suffering brings a person down.

And God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Suffering humbles us and makes us more submissive and obedient to God, which is something we all need to do more of.

But God also uses suffering to:

Make us recognize this world for what it is … fallen

Cause us to relish His promise of something better

And also to give us the opportunity to receive help for our weaknesses

ILL.- One man took a tour of an orange grove. He was told that an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. The man giving the tour then took the man to his own orchard where irrigation was used sparingly. He told him, “These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks.” “You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper into the soil in search of moisture. Now mine are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these are finding moisture at a greater depth.”

We find our moisture, blessing, help, and strength in the Lord.

If we never experienced any hardships or suffering we might never reach up to Him.

Perhaps you are suffering this morning.

Perhaps you are struggling with temptation or enduring the consequences of sin.

Perhaps you have family, friends or children who are suffering.

I have good news for you.

If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have “received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

You can reach up to your heavenly Father this morning, just as a child calls out to his daddy.

If you don’t know Jesus, come to me after service and I would be glad to introduce you to Him.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your love. How immensely thankful we are for Your grace and Your mercies that not only endure forever, but are new with every morning. Your name is holy in our hearts and we pray that Your name would be holy in all the world, to all people and in all nations. We desire Your kingdom and we seek to do Your will. You have provided, and we know that You will continue to provide according to our needs and we thank You. As You love us, teach us to love one another. And as You have forgiven us, help us to forgive one another. Lord, help us to have our treasures in heaven, rather than seeking after our selves here on earth. We ask that You would establish us in all good things. We ask that You would guard our hearts and keep our hands from evil and that You would protect us from the deceptions of our enemy the devil. Thank You for the trials that You graciously see us and grow us through. May You be glorified in our trials. Thank You for being our Great High Priest. Lord, we place ourselves before you to do Your will. Lead us in victory, and use us to spread knowledge of Jesus Christ to the unsaved world.