Walking After the Spirit

Preliminary

Thank:

General board for asking me to do Bible study

Your good attention and kind words and genuine love for truth.

Maybe mention books

Introduction

Now we have come to Romans 8. A tremendous chapter

We have watched Paul talk about man's hopeless and helpless state and God's plan for that problem

Romans 8 is a powerful chapter a high water mark if you will.

The 8th chapter of Romans is one of the most famous chapters in all of Paul’s epistles. I say, one of the most famous. There are three chapters that I think are highwater mark, and when I get into one of them I think that is the best, and when I get into the second one, I think that is the best, and when I get into the third, I think that is the best. I have three children; I think they are all the best. I can’t tell which I like the best, but I like all three of them.

The 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians, that treatise on love, is sublime, and if the church of God could live in that chapter for twelve months, I believe it would revolutionize this country. I am quite sure the church of God itself would be revolutionized. Or the 15th chapter of I Corinthians, where Paul tells us what the gospel is, how Christ died for our sins and how He was raised for our justification, and where he teaches the mighty doctrine of the resurrection and the precious truth of His coming again; when I get there, I think that is about the best chapter. And then I turn to the 8th chapter of Romans, and when I get right into the heart of it, I really think that it is the best chapter Paul ever wrote.1

1 Dwight Lyman Moody, Moody’s Latest Sermons (Chicago; New York; Toronto: Fleming H. Revell, 1900), 24.

been called the “inner sanctuary within the cathedral of Christian faith.”

This chapter has so much richness, depth, truth, theology, and hope. Every time I read it I find something rich and powerful and that feeds me.

Teaching on Romans 8)

Rom 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

A brief outline that I will be following for this study will be:

Doctrine (Rom 1-8) - Faith and Theology

Sanctification: Life in the Spirit (Romans 8)

Life in the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-11) what a Spirit filled and Spirit led life looks like.

Free from condemnation of the law (Rom. 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

“The reader is hardly prepared by the contents of ch. 7 for the glorious pronouncement that there is “no condemnation” at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. Here is the statement of the gospel in just a few words. Here is the answer to the condemnation mentioned in 5:18.” Expositors

‘Condemnation’ is a word the apostle employs only three times in his letters—here in 8:1 and in 5:16, 18. It denotes ‘not merely a pronouncement of guilt … but an adjudication of punishment’; thus, it may be translated as ‘judicial pronouncement upon a guilty person, condemnation, punishment, penalty’.285 In 5:16, 18 Paul explains that condemnation for all people followed Adam’s transgression, something he contrasts with justification for all those who believe because of Christ’s obedience.286 However, condemnation is not only the result of Adam’s transgression but also of each person’s own sins.287 Paul’s Letter to the Romans (5. Life in the Spirit 8:1–13)

Free from the control of the law of sin & death (Rom 8:2-3)

Means of Deliverance (Rom. 8:3)

Condemned sin in the flesh” means more than just pronounce a sentence of condemnation. The Law did that. Jesus death constitutes a final and altogether decisive dealing with sin, the breaking of sin'’ power. No one need remain a captive to sin.

“He breaks the power of canceld sin" Charles Wesley

Purpose of Deliverance (Rom. 8:4)

“The phrase, “righteousness of the law” means the “just requirement of the law.” With God decisively dealing with sin (ver. 3), He expects us to obey His law through the power of the Spirit. The Spirit enables us to live in harmony with His Law.”

Life in the Spirit vs Life in the Flesh (Rom. 8:5-13)

Romans 8:5-8 - this person is walking after the flesh (v. 5), is receiving death (v. 6), is not subject to God (v. 7), and cannot please God (v. 8). This is not a saved man who is “walking in the Spirit”(vs. 1, 4, 5). (A Brown 13 Key Passages

Exercise of the mind (Rom. 8:5)

mind” – aims, aspirations, striving, way of thinking. This person takes the flesh’s side in the conflict between the Spirit of God and our human flesh (desires). Remember, our walk depends on how we think. Our conduct reflects our outlook. (Prov. 23:7).

Enmity of the fleshly mind (Rom. 8:6-7)

Who we side with decides spiritual death or Spiritual life and peace. While it is somewhat flawed I think the Old Native American tale makes the point of this pretty well: An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Motives controlled by flesh (Rom. 8:8-13)

Those who are not living “in Christ” are living under the control of “the flesh” The flesh determines the motives and intents. To “mortify” means to “put to death” to live in the flesh means you allow the decisions and directions of your life to be determined by your fallen nature. You feed the flesh.

Sonship Through the Spirit (Rom. 8:14-17)

Lead by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14)

Galatians 5:16–18 KJV 1900

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Liberated by the Spirit (Rom. 8:15-16)

Freedom from fear (15a)

b. He provides confidence when approaching God (15b-16) 1) We are adopted in God's family (15b) 2) We have assurance through the Witness of the Spirit (16)

There is the witnesses of the Spirit “TO us” - Heb. 10:15 -16 “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;” = a fact

There is the witness of the Spirit “IN us” – Heb. 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” I Jn. 5:10 “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” –through faith

There is the witness of the Spirit “WITH us” - Rom. 8:16 “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” - by feelings

Groans To Glory (Rom. 8:18-30)

Groans of Creation (Rom. 8:18-22) focus on future glory

Groans of the Christian (Rom. 8:23-25) focus on future hope

Groans of the Comforter (Rom. 8:26-27) focus on present help

God’s Promise (Rom. 8:28)

Person who qualifies

this promise is only for those who: (1) demonstrate genuine love for God (present participle), and (2) are “the called according to his purpose” (genuinely saved and walking in all the light God has given them).

Promise given

Not everything that God allows to happen to us is what we call “good.” But God promises that He will be with us to work for our good no matter what happens. We must, however, make sure that we understand what God means by the term “good.” The “good” is not health, wealth, and happiness. Good is defined in verse 29. God will be with us, no matter what happens, to help us to become more and more “conformed to the image of his Son.” God’s wonderful promise is to work actively to bring “good” (Christlikeness) out of everything that happens

Process employed (think Rom 5:3-5)

God’s Plan (Rom. 8:29-30) Paul traces God’s saving purpose through five stages, from its beginning in God’s mind (foreknowledge) to its ultimate consummation in the coming glory (glorification). These five stages he names as foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification.

Foreknowledge

Does God know the future? God knows everything, including future events and all contingencies. He knows what will happen and what would have happened had people made different choices. He knows the consequences of all possible choices or events. 55. If God knows the future, does that mean He causes it? For God to know the future does not mean that He causes it. Knowledge does not imply causation. Just because we know the sun will rise tomorrow doesn't mean that we will make it rise.

Predestination

The term “predestinate” (proorizo) occurs six times in the Greek New Testament,7 and is a combination of two words, pro, meaning “before,” and “horizo,” meaning “to mark out definitely,” thus conveying the idea of “marking out beforehand” or “deciding ahead of time.” In the KJV it is translated three different ways: “predestined” (Rom. 8:29, 30; Eph. 1:5, 11), “determine before” (Acts 4:28), and “ordained” (1 Cor. 2:7). II. What has God predestinated? From an examination of the six occurrences of proorizo (“predestinate”) in the New Testament, we can confidently say that God has “predestinated” or “decided ahead of time” the following: 1. The events that were perpetrated against Christ (Acts 4:27, 28). • Acts 4:27-28: For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 2. That all He foreknew would be conformed to the image of His Son through calling, justification, and glorification (Rom. 8:29, 30). • Romans 8:29-30: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 3. The whole plan of salvation through faith in Christ (1 Cor. 2:7; Rom. 8:28). • 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 4. That all believers would be adopted a sons (children) through Christ (Eph. 1:5). • Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 5. That all those who hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:11, 12). • Ephesians 1:11-12: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In sum, God predestinated certain events in relation to His Son (Acts 4:28), the plan of salvation (1 Cor. 2:7), and three specific goals for His people (conformity to Christ – Rom. 8:29, 30; adoption into

Election - Eph 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

Election is God the Father’s gracious act, before the foundation of the world, of choosing Christ and, therefore, those He foreknew would be in Christ and adopted as His Sons on the basis of their grace-enabled response to the Gospel call (1) to be holy and blameless before Him in love, (2) to be obedient to Jesus Christ, and (3) to be sprinkled with His blood.

A person becomes elect in time when he believes the truth and is placed in Christ by the Spirit’s sanctification. He, through God’s gracious enabling, makes his election certain by adding to his faith and maintaining the qualities of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Justification

Glorification

Security of the Believer (Rom. 8:31-39)

Foundation of Security (Rom. 8:31-32)

Grace of God

Gift of God

Fullness of Security (Rom. 8:33-34)

Defeat of Adversary

Romans 8:33 (RHBC Ro): The implication is that if God says we are justified nothing that anyone else can say will alter that fact. Our justification is dependent upon our relationship with God—Him and Him alone—not anyone else.

Defense by Advocate

Finality of Security (Rom. 8:35-39)

No Foe can daunt us

We are more than conquerors is translated from only one Greek word, (hupernikao). Concerning this word Earle explains: “It is compounded of huper (Latin super) meaning “above,” and nikao, from nike, ‘victory.’ So it means literally ‘we are super victory.’ Paul did not believe in barely getting by, in hardly holding his head above the water. He experienced the more abundant life which Jesus said He came to bring, Jn. 10:10” (174).

No Fear can Haunt us

It is impossible for a person to be a child of God and at the same time be separated from his love. The supreme manifestation of God’s love has come to us through the love of Christ.

Prophecy (Rom 9-11) - The Nation of Israel (hope)

Past Election (Rom 9)

Present Rejection (Rom 10)

Future Restoration (Rom 11)

Love (Rom. 12-15) - Practical Application of Holiness and Ethical behavior