Romans 8

Intro

God has shown us a new way to live - Not through legalism but by grace.

That rule following does not produce the fruit of holiness but relational theology does.

Having established this in Romans 7 and 12, we can now go back and see how this freedom works in Romans 8.

Romans 8 declare to us 4 freedoms that every single Christian has and should enjoy to the fullest.

It is, in all sense, the Christians Declaration of Freedom.

Galatians 5:1 AV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

So what are these 4 freedoms?

Freedom from Judgment-No Condemnation

Romans 8:1–4 AV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The basis for this wonderful assurance is the phrase “in Christ Jesus.” In Adam, we were condemned. In Christ, there is no condemnation!

The verse does not say “no mistakes” or “no failures,” or even “no sins.” Christians do fail and make mistakes, and they do sin.

Abraham lied about his wife; David committed adultery; Peter tried to kill a man with his sword.

To be sure, they suffered consequences because of their sins, but they did not suffer condemnation.

The Law condemns; but the believer has a new relationship to the Law, and therefore he cannot be condemned.

Freedom from Defeat-No Obligation

There is no obligation to the old nature.

The believer can live in victory.

Romans 8:12–17 AV

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

We have no obligation to the flesh, because the flesh has only brought trouble into our lives.

We do have an obligation to the Holy Spirit, for it is the Spirit who convicted us, revealed Christ to us, and imparted eternal life to us when we trusted Christ.

Because He is “the Spirit of Life,” He can empower us to obey Christ, and He can enable us to be more like Christ.

The Holy Spirit is also “the Spirit of adoption”.

The word adoption in the New Testament means “being placed as an adult son.”

We come into God’s family by birth.

But the instant we are born into the family, God adopts us and gives us the position of an adult son.

A baby cannot walk, speak, make decisions, or draw on the family wealth.

But the believer can do all of these the instant he is born again.

He can walk and be “led of the Spirit”

The verb here means “willingly led.” We yield to the Spirit, and He guides us by His Word day by day.

There is no need for the believer to be defeated.

He can yield his body to the Spirit and by faith overcome the old nature.

The Spirit of life will empower him.

And the Spirit of adoption will enrich him and lead him into the will of God.

Freedom from Discouragement-No Frustration

(Rom. 8:18–30)

Paul in this section dealt with the very real problem of suffering and pain.

Romans 8:18 AV

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

We see a lot of groaning happening,

Romans 8:22 AV

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

However, this groaning is not a useless thing: Paul compared it to a woman in travail.

There is pain, but the pain will end when the child is delivered.

One day creation will be delivered, and the groaning creation will become a glorious creation!

The believer does not focus on today’s sufferings; he looks forward to tomorrow’s glory.

Today’s groaning bondage will be exchanged for tomorrow’s glorious liberty!

We believers groan

Romans 8:23–25 AV

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

The reason we groan is because we have experienced “the firstfruits of the Spirit,” a foretaste of the glory to come.

Just as the nation of Israel tasted the firstfruits of Canaan when the spies returned, so we Christians have tasted of the blessings of heaven through the ministry of the Spirit.

This makes us want to see the Lord, receive a new body, and live with Him and serve Him forever.

Meanwhile, we wait and hope.

What hope?

Titus 2:13 AV

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The best is yet to come!

The believer does not get frustrated as he sees and experiences suffering and pain in this world.

He knows that the temporary suffering will one day give way to eternal glory.

The Holy Spirit groans

Romans 8:26 AV

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

God is concerned about the trials of His people.

The Holy Spirit groans with us and feels the burdens of our weaknesses and suffering.

But the Spirit does more than groan.

He prays for us in His groaning so that we might be led into the will of God.

We do not always know God’s will.

We do not always know how to pray, but the Spirit intercedes so that we might live in the will of God in spite of suffering.

The Spirit “shares the burden.”

How can we Christians ever be discouraged and frustrated when we already share the glory of God?

Our suffering today only guarantees that much more glory when Jesus Christ returns!

Freedom from Fear-No Separation

There is no condemnation because we share the righteousness of God and the Law cannot condemn us.

There is no obligation because we have the Spirit of God who enables us to overcome the flesh and live for God.

There is no frustration because we share the glory of God, the blessed hope of Christ’s return.

There is no separation because we experience the love of God:

Romans 8:35 AV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

The emphasis in this final section is on the security of the believer.

We do not need to fear the past, present, or future because we are secure in the love of Christ.

Paul presented five arguments to prove that there could be no separation between the believer and the Lord.

God is for us

Romans 8:31 AV

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

The Father is for us and proved it by giving His Son.

The Son is for us and so is the Spirit.

God is making all things work for us.

In His person and His providence, God is for us.

The conclusion is obvious:

“If God be for us, who can be against us?”

The believer needs to enter into each new day realizing that God is for him.

Christ died for us

Romans 8:32 AV

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

The argument here is from the lesser to the greater.

If when we were sinners, God gave us His best, now that we are God’s children, will He not give us all that we need?

God has justified us

Romans 8:33 AV

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

This means that He has declared us righteous in Christ.

We are God’s elect—chosen in Christ and accepted in Christ.

God will certainly not accuse us since it is He who has justified us.

For Him to accuse us would mean that His salvation was a failure and we are still in our sins.

Christ intercedes for us

Romans 8:34 AV

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

A dual intercession keeps the believer secure in Christ: the Spirit intercedes and the Son of God intercedes.

The same Saviour who died for us is now interceding for us in heaven.

Christ loves us

Romans 8:35–39 AV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We need not fear life or death, things present or things to come, because Jesus Christ loves us and gives us the victory.

Conclusion

A review of this wonderful chapter shows that the Christian is completely victorious.

We are free from judgment because Christ died for us and we have His righteousness.

We are free from defeat because Christ lives in us by His Spirit and we share His life.

We are free from discouragement because Christ is coming for us and we shall share His glory.

We are free from fear because Christ intercedes for us and we cannot be separated from His love.

No condemnation! No obligation! No frustration! No separation!

If God be for us, who can be against us!