1. Freedom from Defeat – No Obligation (Rom. 8:5-17)
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh” (Rom 8:12). There is no obligation to the old nature. The believer can live in victory. In this section, Paul described life on three different levels; and he encouraged his readers to live on the highest level.
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh” (Rom 8:12). There is no obligation to the old nature. The believer can live in victory. In this section, Paul described life on three different levels; and he encouraged his readers to live on the highest level.
In The Spirit (v. 5).
The unsaved person does not have the Spirit of God (Rom 8:9) and lives in the flesh and for the flesh. His mind is centered on the things that satisfy the flesh. But the Christian has the Spirit of God within and lives in an entirely new and different sphere. His mind is fixed on the things of the Spirit. This does not mean that the unsaved person never does anything good, or that the believer never does anything bad. It means that the bent of their lives is different. One lives for the flesh, the other lives for the Spirit.
The unsaved person does not have the Spirit of God (Rom 8:9) and lives in the flesh and for the flesh. His mind is centered on the things that satisfy the flesh. But the Christian has the Spirit of God within and lives in an entirely new and different sphere. His mind is fixed on the things of the Spirit. This does not mean that the unsaved person never does anything good, or that the believer never does anything bad. It means that the bent of their lives is different. One lives for the flesh, the other lives for the Spirit.
Life (v. 6).
The unsaved person is alive physically, but dead spiritually The inner man is dead toward God and does not respond to the flings of the Spirit. He may be moral, and even religious; but he lacks spiritual life. He needs “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2).
The unsaved person is alive physically, but dead spiritually The inner man is dead toward God and does not respond to the flings of the Spirit. He may be moral, and even religious; but he lacks spiritual life. He needs “the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:2).
Peace with God (vv. 6-7).
In our study of Rom 7, we have seen that the old nature rebels against God and will not submit to God’s Law. Those who have trusted Christ enjoy “peace with God” (Rom 5:1), while the unsaved are at war with God. “‘There is no peace,’ saith the Lord, ‘unto the wicked'” (Isa 48:22).
In our study of Rom 7, we have seen that the old nature rebels against God and will not submit to God’s Law. Those who have trusted Christ enjoy “peace with God” (Rom 5:1), while the unsaved are at war with God. “‘There is no peace,’ saith the Lord, ‘unto the wicked'” (Isa 48:22).
Pleasing God (v. 8).
To be “in the flesh” means to be lost, outside Christ. The unsaved person lives to please himself and rarely if ever thinks about pleasing God. The root of sin is selfishness – “I will” and not “Thy will.”
To be “in the flesh” means to be lost, outside Christ. The unsaved person lives to please himself and rarely if ever thinks about pleasing God. The root of sin is selfishness – “I will” and not “Thy will.”
2. Freedom from Discouragement No Frustration (Rom. 8:18-30)
Paul in this section dealt with the very real problem of suffering and pain. Perhaps the best way to understand this section is to note the three “groans” that are discussed.
Paul in this section dealt with the very real problem of suffering and pain. Perhaps the best way to understand this section is to note the three “groans” that are discussed.
Creation groans (vv. 18-22).
When God finished His Creation, it was a good Creation (Gen 1:31); but today it is a groaning Creation. There is suffering and death; there is pain, all of which is, of course, the result of Adam’s sin. It is not the fault of creation. Note the words that Paul used to describe, the plight of creation: suffering (Rom 8:18), vanity (Rom 8:20), bondage (Rom 8:21), decay (Rom 8:21), and pain (Rom 8:22). 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 (Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:15-18). Today’s groaning bondage will be exchanged for tomorrow’s glorious liberty!
When God finished His Creation, it was a good Creation (Gen 1:31); but today it is a groaning Creation. There is suffering and death; there is pain, all of which is, of course, the result of Adam’s sin. It is not the fault of creation. Note the words that Paul used to describe, the plight of creation: suffering (Rom 8:18), vanity (Rom 8:20), bondage (Rom 8:21), decay (Rom 8:21), and pain (Rom 8:22). 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 (Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:15-18). Today’s groaning bondage will be exchanged for tomorrow’s glorious liberty!
We believers groan (vv 23-25)
The reason we groan is because we have experienced “the first-fruits of the Spirit,” a foretaste of the glory to come just as the nation of Israel tasted the first-fruits of Canaan when the spies returned (Num 13:23-27), 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. We are waiting for “the adoption,” which is the redemption of the body when Christ returns (Phil 3:20-21). This is the thrilling climax to “the adoption” that took place at conversion when “the Spirit of adoption” gave us an adult standing in God’s family. When Christ returns, we shall enter into our full inheritance.
The reason we groan is because we have experienced “the first-fruits of the Spirit,” a foretaste of the glory to come just as the nation of Israel tasted the first-fruits of Canaan when the spies returned (Num 13:23-27), 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. We are waiting for “the adoption,” which is the redemption of the body when Christ returns (Phil 3:20-21). This is the thrilling climax to “the adoption” that took place at conversion when “the Spirit of adoption” gave us an adult standing in God’s family. When Christ returns, we shall enter into our full inheritance.
The Holy Spirit groans (vv. 25-30)
God is concerned about the trials of His people. When He was ministering on earth, Jesus groaned when He saw what sin was doing to mankind (Mark 7:34; John 11:33,38). Today 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.”
God is concerned about the trials of His people. When He was ministering on earth, Jesus groaned when He saw what sin was doing to mankind (Mark 7:34; John 11:33,38). Today 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.”
3. Freedom from Fear – No Separation (Rom 8:31-39)
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: “What shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom 8:35)
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.
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: “What shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom 8:35)
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.
