Romans 8 (part 2)

Intro

Series - Studies on the Book of Romans

Today - Romans 8

Romans chapter 8 is all about the life of the righteous

how does a righteous live?

how did Paul describe the life of one who is now justified?

Paul describes the righteous person as -

one who is “in Christ”

one in whose life the Spirit of God dwells

one who lives according to the law or guidance of the Spirit

a child of God by adoption

Review

The mind of the righteous

The righteous is spiritually minded.

His mind is focused on the things of the Spirit

His mind is subject to the law of God

His aim is to be pleasing to God

The actions of the righteous

The righteous lives and acts only by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God.

He lives for righteousness (to produce righteous acts)

His actions are animated by the Holy Spirit

He is morally obligated to live in the Spirit

His actions declare he is a child of God

The hope of the righteous

The righteous puts his hope in the glorious promise of God.

Romans 8:18–22 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. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

He joins the whole creation in eagerly waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.

the hope of creation - the revealing of the glorious children of God

glorious - released from corruption

the hope of the righteous - Christ in them

Romans 8:23–26 NKJV

Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

groan - to express discomfort, pain or displeasure with inarticulate words

groaning within - a discomfort in this world, caused by the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit

discomfort in abounding sin

discomfort in the corruption of truth and all that is right

groaning within is paired with a longing for the adoption - the redemption of the body

2 Corinthians 5:2–4 NKJV

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

He groans as the Holy Spirit shows him the glorious adoption of God’s children

Job 14:14 NKJV

If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.

Romans 8:27–28 NKJV

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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.

better translation - “God causes all things to work together for good...”

Romans 8:28 NASB95

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

some people believe in ‘fate’ without believing in God

His hope rests in the love of God and the purpose of God from the beginning

Romans 8:29–30 NKJV

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. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

foreknow - election

1 Peter 1.2 “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”

the ordo salutis of apostle Paul

predestined - before the world began

called - when you were in sin

justified - now that you are in Christ

glorified - when the righteous is caught up into glory

The security of the righteous

The life of the righteous is secured in God

Romans 8:31–35 NKJV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Who can be against the righteous?

God did not spare His own Son - God was already “for him” even before the elect was born in sin

this speaks of the past

Who will dare accuse God’s elect?

to accuse one who God calls righteous is to say that God is a liar

this speaks of the present

Who will dare condemn the righteous?

to condemn the righteous before God is to say that the blood of Christ has no power in heaven in behalf of him

this speaks of the future

The life of the righteous is inseparable from God through Christ

Romans 8:36–39 NKJV

As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ gives us the Holy Spirit that abides

John 14:16–18 NKJV

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

the Holy Spirit that abides is Christ Himself

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Conclusion

The life of the righteous on earth is directed by the Holy Spirit.

This Holy Spirit teaches and trains the righteous to focus his/her mind to the things of the Spirit, and empowers his/her body to livethe righteous life.

This Holy Spirit also imparts in his/her a discomfort in this world, and a longing for the glorious future which Christ promised to him/her and confirmed with the seal of the Holy Spirit.