Delivered and Redeemed

Romans 8:1-11

Anyone living apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ, lives in a prison. And prison is reserved for the person who has been condemned and sentenced for crimes they’ve committed; a place where a person goes where a verdict of guilty has been rendered.

Spiritually speaking, prison is reserved for those Paul refers in Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”

Here walking and living in your sin , one find themselves absent from freedom, unable to get or find your way out. Living in and pursuing the fleshly desires of your own self, your sin leaves you walking around in a place void of light and full of darkness.

Whether or not you choose to confess it, this “walk,” is intentional. Whatever path one chooses, it is intentional. Again, whether or not a person chooses to believe it, what we pursue is our trying to satisfy the brokenness deep within us. Sin has left us (man) longing for what was lost in the garden. But what we long for we cannot find/fix/mend on our own. And instead of seeking after Christ, we seek after things which bring condemnation. In seeking deliverance from brokenness, in living for one’s self and selfish desires, the satisfaction we find is temporary, the worth and value we adopt is corruptible and defiling; the identity and image we wear is worldly and one the devil manufactures We are people who, inherently seek after things to make us feel accepted, secured, worthy, complete, satisfied, and whole. The spiritually fatal mistake in living as Paul says above is seeking things absent Jesus Christ is leads to a life in prison (both in this life and the next)—leads to condemnation.

And it starts at birth; each one of us is born condemned, born into a prison of sin and separation, born with a nature that desires rebellion towards God. And that void, each one of us is born with it; a gaping hole which, as we grow, we instinctively recognize as something that needs filling.

Until the moment we hear the call of Jesus and respond to His gift of salvation in surrender, anything and everything you seek after to fill this void, in the end, is spiritually fatal; and will condemn you and keep you separated from God. All the rules you follow, the religion you participate in, the comparisons you make with other people’s sin—living with the belief and mindset of these things brings the result of condemnation.

Some of you in here have never surrendered to Jesus Christ, you may know of Him, but you are not known by Him.

Some of you in here have surrendered to Jesus Christ, yet you have regressed to old patterns of your flesh and have allowed compromise to creep in

Some of you in here have surrendered to Jesus Christ and struggle every day to pursue the desires of the Spirit and wage war against your flesh.

No matter where you stand, no matter the position you are in, Romans 8:1-11 is a message for all of us, because Paul for us the details ,the glory and, the truth of what happens when a person surrenders their lives to Jesus Christ--when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell with the believer. It is a most beautiful and wonderful miracle of God, directed at the heart of a person.

-----------------

I. (v.1) Since Christ has come, the people who believe (in Christ), are not condemned

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

(v.8a) “No condemnation”—means a believer is not doomed, no longer designated to a life set apart from God, the believer is set to a life joined with God, they are:

Freed from the penalty and condemnation of sin

He/She is beyond condemnation

He/She shall never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus

No longer judged as a sinner

Delivered from the condemnation of death and hell

No longer judged as unrighteous, but his counted to be righteous

In Christ, a believer no longer lives in, wanders in, or operates in a prison, they are liberated

Liberated vs. license

In Christ, we are not “less condemned,” and our standing isn’t improved; In Christ, we are completely transformed and our standing is no condemnation.

We cannot fail to see this, Jesus Christ went to the cross for ALL of our sins and bore ALL of God’s wrath and judgment. There is no judgment or condemnation left over for us to bear.

2. (v.8a) Only the believer who is in Christ will not be condemned.

“In Christ”—a person’s faith in Christ, places you in Christ

Positionally, it is Jesus Christ and His righteousness who stands and represents the believer; He is the believers:

Agent

Substitute,

Mediator of life, death, and resurrection.

The believer is identified with Christ, hidden in Him “

Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Positionally, the believer is counted sinless and righteous b/c Christ was sinless and righteous

The believer is counted as having died in Christ; the believer never has to die; the penalty and condemnation for sins are already paid for in the death of Christ

The believer is counted as having been raised in/with Christ; therefore believers have received new life of Christ

3. (v.8b) Positionally, the believer’s walk and life is in Christ—not towards the flesh

Flesh (sinful nature)--What has the flesh (sinful nature) ever done for us?

Contaminated us with sin

Made us to be fleshly and carnally minded It causes us to die—

(Romans 6:23(a)-“For the wages of sin is death…”

Provide the opposite of peace and life

Your sin will not give you rest Your sin will wear you down, wear you out, and be

Put as at odds with God

You are an enemy towards God

Unconfessed and uncleaned sin causes friction and unrest b/t you and God

We cannot please God

Spirit (obligated)--What has Jesus done?

Cleansed us from sin;

Romans 6:23(b): “…but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Caused us to think spiritually and Godly

Say NO to ungodliness and YES to the things of Jesus

Say NO to world passions and YES to desiring the things of Jesus

Say NO to no self-control and YES to yielding to the Holy Spirit

Say NO to bearing rotten fruit, and YES to bearing good and godly fruit

Provided us with peace

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

Provided true life, and contentment

Philippians 4:11-12 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Caused us to live

Brought us into a relationship with God, no longer an enemy but a son/daughter

Given us a Spirit and desire to please Him

The believer will “walk” with sense of intentionality and purpose, towards something that is deemed worthy and important--towards God’s will

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;”

II . (v.2-4) The Spirit gives life.

Romans 8:2-4 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

“The law of the Spirit of life,” has two meanings:

v.2—What the law of sin and death bound us to---Jesus Christ freed us from

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

v.3a--”For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh...”

The law could not/cannot provide salvation to man

The law reveals 2 things:

we are sinners

we are in need of a Savior

The law of sin and death—is binding (cannot go back and undo it); so something needed to happen

v.3b—”…God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

The fact that this is a law, makes it non-negotiable, regardless of what we say, how we try and manipulate it, or deny it/. This “law” of true life that is found in Jesus Christ is as firmly planted as the law of gravity or the law of motion…it cannot be altered, argued, or reasoned around. If life is what you are after, if true life is what you are seeking, it is only found in Christ Jesus!!

(Example of Esther)

Esther 3:8-11 “Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.””

This law could not be undone

Esther 8:8 “You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.””

The law could not be undone

Haman’s law:

Promised to bring death the Jewish people

Was binding and could not be broken

The law of sin and death

Promises to bring death

Is binding and cannot be broken/you can go back and alter it

Esther’s Decree

Promised a defense of the people

Was binding and could not be broken

The covenant of the cross

Is a defense people

Is binding and cannot be broken

The Law of the Spirit of life is life in Jesus Christ and Him alone. Whatever life (true life) is—energy, being, spirit, love, joy, peace—it is ALL in Jesus Christ

Real, abundant, and eternal life is not found in anything or any person within or from this world; it’s not

The size of your bank account (big or small),

Your ability to shoot a basketball, throw a football, or spike a volleyball.

Found in our human relationships (spouse to spouse, parent to child, friend to friend, b/f to g/f, sibling to sibling, etc).

Life is not found in the temporal things of this world.

If someone is believing/living/thinking their worth, identity and value are dependent upon an earthly relationship, their value system and worth are misplaced; there is are some deep roots which must be uprooted.

If someone is telling themselves, “If I just had more money, I’d feel more secure,” or, “If I had more friends,” or “If I could only attain a certain status,” they are being deceived about what true life really is and their life now is bondage and the life to come risks condemnation.

Dependency on worldly pleasures, temporal and fleeting things of the flesh, will not bring you into a relationship with Christ, will not give you favor with Christ, and they will no draw you closer to Christ; rather these things drag you further and further into bondage and condemnation.

*Life the way God intended is life eternally in relationship with Him—not the life the world offers or tempts us to.

4. How does the Spirit give life?

By freeing the believer from sin and death (“the law of sin and death”)

The rule and reign of death have been removed Every man/person dies; death rules and reigns over every man. The Spirit of God frees man from the rule and reign of death It is a rule of the universe; if a person has the Spirit of life he has no spirit of sin and death

He frees us to live righteously and eternally; to live in the Spirit of life, or the energy and power of life

He free us by doing what the law could not do

The law could not and cannot make man righteous, b/c man’s flesh is too weak to keep it (the law)

No man has ever been able to keep the law of God, not to perfection or even close to perfection.

Even in our obedience, our obedience is never perfect, therefore, no matter how “good we are,” how much, “good we do,” or how much, “our good outweighs the bad,” we will still fail miserably and come up short of God’s standard, glory and law

God will never lower the standard for one single person; He didn’t lower if for Jesus, so He certainly won’t lower it for you But the Spirit is able to do so

He can provide righteousness and life by Christ’s condemning sin in the sinful man

Christ pointed to sin and condemned it as being evil

By rejecting sin and the fact He never sinned, He showed that it was evil, not to be touched; that it was unworthy Christ secured righteousness for all men

Though He possessed the same human nature, the same flesh, with all its desires, passions, and potential for evil, He NEVER SINNED, NOT ONCE. His righteousness was perfect and ideal—therefore it becomes the model and example for all men Christ allowed the law of sin and death to be enacted on Himself instead of upon the sinner (He chose to come under the penalty of the law of sin and death in our place)

We sinned, we fall short, we deserve the cross and separation…but Christ

Asked God to accept His perfect righteousness for the unrighteousness of you, and

Asked God to lay our sin and death upon Himself; asked God to pour out His wrath on Himself, so that He may impart His righteousness on us

By Christ’s providing righteousness for us, and in our confession of Jesus Christ, (think of this statement)

The Spirit, “meets the requirements of the law in us.” He credits righteousness in us.

His giving and assurance of this life is not credited or fulfilled in everyone, but only in those who

Profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (surrender)

Do not live, “according to the sinful nature,” rather who intentionally live “according to the Spirit”

III. (v.5-8) The mind of the believer is pulled to spiritual things, b/c of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:5-8 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Our minds

Our behavior, our attitude(s), and our actions—all relate to where you keep your mind and thoughts

Mind in the gutter—you become part of the filth in the gutter

Mind on the good—you become good

Mind on achievement and success—you become successful

Mind on religious things—you become religious

Mind on God and righteousness—you become godly and righteous What does the Bible teach about the Holy Spirit and our mind

Romans 8:8 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (There is the unspiritual, carnal mind) vs. the spiritual mind

Means the mind of the flesh—what is inherited from parents; it also means… It must beed heeded (obeyed): a mind that is controlled by the flesh is the mind that gives itself over to the sinful nature—worldly desires—pursues the sinful nature,

An unspiritual mind is the mind that does not find is basis in God; any mind that is not focused A carnal mind may focus on morality, living upright, and cultured…yet still ignore, neglect, and exempt God.

An unspiritual and carnal mind may also focus on religion and still exempt from God; it’s a mind that seeks to find it’s needs met through world and fleshly means

Romans 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” (There is the spiritual mind (the mind renewed by the Spirit); it is to be

Possessed by the Holy Spirit (to belong to the Holy Spirit)

Controlled/dominated by the Holy Spirit

Set on what the Spirit desires day by day

A believer KEEPS his mind on developing spiritual character and fruit (becoming more like Jesus)

A believer KEEPS his mind upon carrying out the ministry and mission of Christ

A believer KEEPS his mind upon knowing, believing, and understanding God

A believer KEEPS his mind upon being conformed more and more to the image of Christ (this is the #1 goal of your life as a believer—sanctification—becoming more like Jesus, bearing His image

A believer KEEPS his mind upon casting down imagination, demolishing arguments, and making every thought obedient to Christ

The fate of both minds

Fate of the unspiritual mind

Death—spiritual death—being separated and cut off from God eternally; the unspiritual mind…

Cannot ignore God now and expect to have thoughts of God in the next world (life).

Cannot focus upon the flesh now and expect to focus upon God in the next world (life)

Cannot think as it wills now and expect to think as God wills in the next world (life)

Cannot have a worldly mind now and expect to have a spiritual mind in the next world

Cannot choose the sinful nature now and expect to be saved from the spiritual nature in the next world (life)

Cannot reject God now and expect to be accepted by God in the next world (life)

If you think you can fool God and put Him to the test, thinking you can live and think as you please, only at the last minute to make some kind of profession, that moments before you die…

Fate of the spiritual mind

Life and peace; the very opposite of death The spiritual mind is full of

Meaning, purpose, and significance.

Assurance and confidence.

Joy and rejoicing

Knowing, believing, and understanding God.

Spiritual fruit, the fruit of love, joy, and peace

IV. (v.9) The Spirit dwells within the believer—The Holy Spirit is in those who believe in Christ

Romans 8:9 “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

“Lives”—(Greek) speaks to the picture of a home. The Holy Spirit lives in you

Temple (O/T) only had its TRUE value and worth, when God’s presence was there. God’s presence was what the people longed after/for. It’s where they traveled to gather with God….but NOW You and I (N/T)—what gives you true, real value and worth is seen when God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of you.

God dwells in YOU…we can commune, experience, know God

Indwelling presence-What does this mean?

“Controlled” by the Spirit (“be filled with…,” or yielding to)

Spirit of God is not dormant in the believer—rather He is alive—has life—and gives life to the believer.

The believer possesses the same spirt of Christ.

Christ is said to be in the believer

The power of the Holy Spirit actually removes of believer of being controlled by the sinful nature (why do you think it stings and convicts so much when we act apart from the Spirit…we are acting opposed to our new nature…our nature is no longer to be comfortable with the sinful nature, but with the nature of Christ)

Believers, in God’s eyes, are no longer positioned in the sinful nature: not in God’s eyes and not in His accounting;

Believers no longer make their home in the sinful nature

Believers are positioned in the, “Spirit of God.”

God sees and counts the believer as being placed and positioned in His Spirit We live “IN” the Spirit (walking in the Spirit, led by, guided, taught, etc.)

The Power of the Holy Spirit identifies the believer as being “in” Christ

Whatever spirit lives in you, it is that spirit to whom you belong.

V. (v.10-11) The Spirit gives life to the believer—

Romans 8:10-11 “And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Two Points

The Holy Spirit gives life to the spirit of man NOW, the very moment a person believes

Our body is corruptible—in the process of death and decay—so quick in fact it said to already be dead—death is inevitable (one out of one person will die); in the midst of this, when Christ is professes and the Holy Spirit is indwelt within a heart, He converts the spirit of man from death to life.

The Holy Spirit quickens, gives life to the mortal body in the future

“Gives life”—means to make alive; to cause to live, to renew and remake life “mortal body”—given life and made alive

(Worship Team)

The joy of resting in these truths are only experienced as we confess.

Are you desiring a relationship with God?

Are you desiring a closer walk with Christ?

Are you the believer who’s discovered that you’re quenching the Holy Spirit?

Being free from condemnation, true and abundant life, divine joy, peace, and love, is reserved and given to those who willingly confess and forsake their sinful nature, respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and yield to the Holy Spirt.

What needs to be forsaken? What are you turning to in order to find satisfaction?

What does God need to consume that is not of Him?

What sin or sins need to be laid down in order for you to walk rightly with Him?

Have you genuinely surrendered your life to Christ (beyond reciting a prayer), turned your heart over to Him and said, “Do with me what you will,” I surrender and throw up the white flag

The moment when you meet Jesus, you are indwelled with His Holy Spirit, with Himself, God dwelling in you, and in an instant, you are gifted everything your soul has been looking for.