Romans 8 ( 01/02/2022)

Romans 8

Intro |

The entire book of Romans up to this point finds its climax here. The gospel has been laid out, the origin of sin has been established, the battle between flesh and Spirit are present, and now Paul lays out before the world the source of life, the longing for more, and the liberation that can only be found in Christ.

(vv.1-12) Secure in the Spirit– Life

Flowing out of Romans 7 there some tension, a conflict if you will, between the flesh and the Spirit, that shows that we are not capable to live lives that are pleasing to God in our own strength.

· Rom. 7:14 - For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

You know what I am talking about. You know what is right, you try to do what is right, but you just can’t do what is right!

So, what is going on? Well we have to look back to Rom. 3 to find the source of this problem.

Paul makes it clear that “No one is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God.”

But some do seek God, or so it seems. But to seek God on our own terms is not to seek God at all.

You see, as Paul has said, the righteous shall live by faith – not by their own efforts, ideas, or strategies - this is to live by the law.

A life of works is a law focused life and leads to comparison, frustration, and ultimately condemnation.

In contrast to the law, Paul makes clear that that the life of faith is freeing (vv.1-2) “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.”

Some of you are wondering why you don’t seem to have “life.” Everything, especially spiritual things seem to be just out of your reach. You try and try to do what is “right,” but you feel as if you can never get close to God.

You are in good company. This is an area where most Christians, if they are honest, live.

The reason for this is we are trying to live in our own ability. We are trying to live spiritually with an earthly mindset.

This is what the Law was. It was a God given earthly system that set the Israelites apart and provided them the opportunity to live physically as God’s chosen nation.

But the Law was never meant to be the final way for God’s people to live God honoring lives.

Romans 3:21 – “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”

Rom. 8:6-7 “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.”

The law of the flesh = legalism, rule keeping, death.

The law of the Spirit = freedom, grace, life.

Maybe as you take inventory of 2021 and are looking to 2022 you feel this way. If so, let me remind you of Paul’s words – There is no condemnation for you who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, has set you free from the law of the doing that leads to death.

Think about this - By the work of Christ and the power of the Spirit you have been adopted into a family of free pilgrims who can now call out to their heavenly Father and be reminded by his Spirit that you are not lifeless law keepers, but adopted children, heirs of the kingdom of God!

That is the LIFE you have been given in Christ; you are free and secure in the Spirit!

Rom. 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

v.14 -15 - “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall bacck into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba, Father!’”

Ex. A child can never remove themselves from being part of their family - no matter how much they try! That is a picture of God’s love for you.

(vv.16-30) Secure in Suffering – Longing

Though we are free we must remember that spiritual conflict doesn’t go away.

Remember the tension of Chp. 7. You go on living in this world pressed by the law that leads to death yet longing for something more.

I have used the word pilgrim or traveler a few times. This is truly what Christians are.

This is the tension for you and me…we are here, but we don’t belong.

The church in Rome, Paul’s audience, was facing great tension under Nero and disunity from within. As they longed to live in the Spirit, their daily reality was full of suffering. They were very aware that this life was not their home.

To understand this better it is helpful to see Romans 8 is part of a flow of thought that begins in the larger context of Romans 5. In this section (vv.1-2) Paul reminds the church, “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

With the “hope of the glory of God” as the foundation Paul deals directly with suffering in Chp. 5 and continues that thought here in 8.

o Rom. 5:3-5 – “[W]e rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

o Rom. 8:18 – “consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

So we now, like the creation, are longing for things to be made right.

We can look to the difficulties of today and know that they “are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to the adopted children of God.

You see, everything has been affected by sin. Even creation is longing for a return to the way things should be.

o V.22 – groaning with anticipation like the groans of childbirth.

The pain is great, but there is something far greater and more real coming.

The day is coming when our adoption will be complete – so we hope, we endure!

Do you feel it? Do you have that longing in your heart? Some of you have never felt at home in this world. You look around and wonder “why does everyone else seem to have it all together and I seem to struggle? I don’t feel spiritual enough, Christian enough, motherly enough, fatherly enough!”

Some of us have already made resolutions to try and make this year more comfortable, but none of your resolutions will give you to sense of belonging that you are looking for.

V.24-25 - This way of thinking is to hope in what you can see, but we are called to live by faith trusting that in all things...

V.26 – the Sprit helps you in [y]our weakness. - “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought...”

v.27 - And until this life is over the Spirit of God is working on [y]our behalf in perfect unison with the will of the Father!

How comforting is that!?!

V.28 – And the Father, in our longing and suffering, is working all things together for good.

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V.29-30 is the source of hope for weary travelers. Here, Paul encourages his audience in the security they have in the Spirit, in suffering, because it is God who began a good work in them and he will finish it.

Rom. 8:30 – “those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

The life you groan for is secure in Christ! The life you are feverishly working to achieve, is secured in God’s eternal redemptive plan for you in Christ.

This is the filter through which all our earthly experiences should flow, but this will leave you longing for home.

Ex. This world feels less like home than ever. Recently was the first time I really thought and then said, “I’m ready for Jesus to return, today would be fine!”

But, I have seen that many Christians, rather than finding their security in the Lord during this time of great change, have worked tirelessly to restore a sense of normalcy, are striving to create a sense of safety and security for today rather than recognizing that safety and security can only be found in the promises of God in Christ.

We have life today, yet we are longing for more!

God knew the tension would be present in the lives of his people, so Paul leads the reader to ask the question, “What then shall we say to these things?”

How do we handle the tension of eternal security and temporal suffering?

(vv.31-38) Secure in the Savior - Liberty

Rom. 8:31 – If God is for us, who can be against us?

Paul has declared the freedom of those who are in the Spirit and here he clarifies how – If God spared his son for you, how will he not then give you all things according to his will now?

This is not the prosperity gospel - name it claim it kind of cheap theology.

(v.v.33-36)But, Paul further establishes his point with several “who shall” statements.

“who shall charge God’s elect – no one Christ died on your behalf.

“who shall condemn?” – no on Christ was raised from the grave to the position of authority!

(v.35) “Who shall separate us?” – NOTHING!!!

Then (v.36) Paul references Psalm 44 to further solidify the love of Christ and the love of God historically for his people.

Morris, Pillar Commentary - “The words in the original psalm express the perplexity of the people of God in the face of inexplicable suffering. But Paul cites them to bring out the truth that for God’s people there is real risk and a call for real devotion. Christians might be tempted to think that because the love of Christ is so real and so unshakable they need not fear that they will run into trouble. Scripture shows that, while the love is sure, so are troubles. For the sake of God we face death all day long. Actually Paul says something stronger than this: “We are being killed all day long”

Paul’s reference to the Psalms would have connected his audience and their situation with the people of God as throughout time.

The people of God have always lived in the tension of the here and now, but with the knowledge that we have been freed from sin’s ultimate influence through Christ.

v. 37 - “ [I]n all these things [distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword] we are more than conquerors through him who loved us…”nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Those of you who have put on a few too many pounds this holiday season - you are completely and utterly secure in Christ!

Those of you who did not finish your bible reading plan this year - you are completely and utterly secure in Christ!

Those of you who have children that are not walking with the Lord - you are completely and utterly secure in Christ

Those of you who are struggling with sin, addiction, fear, and anxiety - you are completely and utterly secure in Christ!

Paul was so confident of this that he concludes this monumental chapter by saying, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Main Point - “Though life seems unsettled at times, I will trust in Christ knowing that in him nothing can separate me from God’s love”