· Romans 8—Life In The Spirit

· Romans 8-Life in the Spirit Romans 8 asserts that because of Jesus Christ there is no condemnation to those in him, since the Law Of The Spirit in Christ sets those in him free from The Law of sin and the death it requires. Showing that what couldn't be done by The Law through the flesh; God made it possible through Jesus by sending him to be in the likeness of flesh as an offering for sin where he condemns sin in the flesh which he was in likeness of, in order that the requirements of the Law may be fulfilled in those who walk according to the spirit and not of the flesh "4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." -Romans 8:4 NASB. Paul then shows the contrast between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit; he highlights that those that walk in the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh and those that walk in the Spirit set their minds in the spirit and that the difference in both is that the mindset on the flesh is death and the mindset of the spirit is life and peace. Paul makes sure to showcase the difference; to show the importance in the difference between them and the condemning difference is that one is hostile towards God and CANNOT please God because they are incapable of doing so "7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God". -Romans 8:7-8 NASB. Thankfully those who walk in the spirit can please God; if (εἴπερ/ eiper = since, if indeed) the Spirit of God dwells inside of them, then they are in Christ but if the Spirit of Christ is not in them they DO NOT belong to him. Paul once again states that if Christ is in them their spirit will be alive because of righteousness though their body is dead because of Sin; reassuring that the fact that the spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in them, then he will also give life to their mortal bodies through the Spirit of God making it so believers are no longer obligated to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. Once again stating in assertion that living in the flesh means you MUST die and living by the Spirit means you ARE putting to death the deeds of the body therefore having life, because those who follow the Spirit of God are Children of God. "13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." - Romans 8:13-14 NASB). Having received the spirit of adoption that cries out to God the Father bears witness and testifies to our spirit that we are children of God, if we are children, heirs of God, heirs with Christ we will indeed suffer with Christ (added comment on my part carry our cross with him) and if we do so we may also be Glorified with him. Paul then reminds his audience that the present suffering does not compare with the Glory that will be revealed ( which I believe it references back to Romans 5:2 the glory of God[ jesus, Colossians 1:27]); Creation waits anxiously for the revealing of sons of God, since creation was not willingly subjected to futility(ματαιότητι/mataiotés= emptiness, uselessness/purposeless) but He(Jesus) subjected it in hope that it may also be set free into the glory of the children of God from its slavery to corruption. Since creation has groaned and suffered together until now(συνωδίνω/sunódinó: to suffer agony together), not only creation groans but we (believers) having the first fruits of the spirit groan awaiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and redemption of our body. Paul emphasizes that in hope we have been saved and reminds us that hope that is seen is not hope since who would hope for what they already see?; He tells us that if we hope for what we do not see,we wait for it eagerly with perseverance. Paul makes us aware that in the same way the Spirit helps our weakness not knowing what to pray for the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings. " 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." -Romans 8:27 NASB. The Spirit intercedes according to the will of God and all things work for the good for those who are called and love God according to his purpose. Paul gives a revelation that those who God foreknew were predestined to be confirmed to the image of Jesus and those who were predestined were also called therefore justified and glorified. Paul asks a rhetorical question now that the revelation has been made, if God is for us, who is(can be) against us? He reminds us of major key points that we should know and remember; if God did not spare his own son but delivered him over for us, then what else would he not give freely. He continues to ask rhetorical questions; who can charge God's elect? Stating that God is the one who justifies and Jesus Christ is the one who has the power to condemn, that he died but was raised and is at the right hand of the father yet he also intercedes for us. Paul asks who can separate us from the love of Christ then? Stating that none of the things listen can separate us from the love of Christ because in all those things we are conquerors through him(Jesus) who loved us, therefore nothing including death, life, angles, rulers, nor present or things to come, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus our Lord. " 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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." - Romans 8:35-39 NASB.