A. Introduction
1. In Romans 6 the apostle Paul explained why a Christian wants not to sin, even though Christ has paid the full penalty for all sin.
a. In so doing, he refuted the argument for "easy believism."
b. KEY VERSE: How shall we who d __ __ __ to sin live any longer in it? (6:2)
2. Also in chapter 6 Paul began to explain how a believer can avoid sinning. To most of us, his explanation seemed to suggest that life under g __ __ __ __ is a lot like life under the law -- we acquire the h __ __ __ character God desires for us only by sheer effort of our w __ __ __!
a. "r __ __ __ __ __ yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive to God in Christ" (v.11)
b. "do not let sin r __ __ __ __ in your mortal body" (v.12)
c. "do not p __ __ __ __ __ __ your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but p __ __ __ __ __ __ yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God" (v.13)
All this counting, letting, offering and not offering sounds like a lot of work! So much for "easy believism!"
3. In chapter 7 Paul explained how we "d __ __ __" to the L __ __ as well as to sin (v.1-6). This is a vital element in our sanctification. Since we are sinful, the Law brought us d __ __ __ __, not l __ __ __ (v.7-13). For this reason, the believer has to die to the Law through Christ.
4. Having died to sin and having died to the Law's penalty of death, the Christian fervently desires to please God by keeping His Law, but we are unable to do so because our sin nature persists in sinful f __ __ __ __ (v.14-25). Paul's anguished cry over the bondage of his will ( a condition common to all believers ) brought chapter 7 to a conclusion dark with reality:
"So then, with the m __ __ __ I myself serve the law of G __ __, but with the f __ __ __ __ the law of s __ __."
5. Chapter 7 makes it clear that we cannot by w __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ obey or keep the Law we delight in. Yet chapter 7 also sets forth the first hint of the God's solution for our dilemma.
ROMANS 7:4-6 [ NKJV ]
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another -- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
a. Conspicuous by His absence (for the most part) in Paul's theological study of the great Christian doctrines has been the H __ __ __ S __ __ __ __ __. He has been mentioned only five times in the first seven chapters of the epistle but will be the very focus of chapter 8, appearing twenty-one times -- a record for any New Testament chapter.
b. "Unforeseen and from the outside, like a ray of hope extending backward from the future to the present, the Holy Spirit has broken into the dreary domain of sin, law, and death with freedom from oppression, strength for the struggle, and hope for the future." - James R. Edwards: Romans (Vol. 6, New International Biblical Commentary)
B. TEXT: Romans 8:1-13
1. In glorious contrast 7:15-25, Romans 8 begins with a thundering proclamation which is, in fact, the complete g __ __ __ __ __ in a nutshell:
Therefore, there is now n __ c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ for those who are in Christ Jesus.
a. It should be noted that all the best original manuscripts do not include the last 13 words of v.1 as it is commonly rendered in most modern translations.
b. Be sure to note the "Therefore...." which opens the chapter. As is always the case, this conjunction connects two separate teachings. Here Paul's concern is probably that, in the dismal light of his reminding them of their continuing sinfulness, his readers also remember their position in Christ.
c. The key Greek word in the original rendering of this opening sentence is, surprisingly, also the smallest Greek word in the sentence: eis, translated as "in." It is distinctly different the other Greek word translated as "in" -- en. The Greek word eis literally means "into," in the sense of a person having been moved from one place to another, brought "into" new surroundings or "into" a different set of circumstances. The promise of "no condemnation" is not possible for those who "admire" Christ, or appreciate His teaching, or believe in the "historical" Jesus; it is held out only for those who are "into" Christ -- having been brought into v __ __ __ __ u __ __ __ __ with Christ, b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ into Him by the H __ __ __ S __ __ __ __ __ by the grace of God.
(1) 1 Corinthians 12:13 [ NKJV ]
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
(2) "Once a person has faith that moves 'into' Christ, then he is securely 'in' Christ Jesus, having what we would call a mystical union with Christ. Faith moves me from outside of Christ to inside of Christ, from outside the kingdom to inside the kingdom. So anyone who is in (en) Christ has no condemnation." - R.C. Sproul: Romans
2. In v.2 Paul explains just how the believer has escaped God's condemnation.
a. We have been set free by the "the law of the S __ __ __ __ __ of l __ __ __."
b. We have been set free from "the law of s __ __ and d __ __ __ __."
(1) "So, shocking as it may sound, God's holy law could be called the law of sin and death because it occasioned both." - John Stott: Romans
(2) "So long as [believers] endeavor to rely on their own resources, they fight a losing battle; when they avail themselves of the resources of life and power that are theirs 'in Christ Jesus,' they are more than conquerors. There is therefore no reason why they should go on in a life of penal servitude, bound to carry out the dictates of the tyrannical law of sin and death. Christ dwells in them by his Spirit, and his Spirit infuses into them a new principle -- the law of life -- which is stronger than indwelling sin and sets them free from its tyranny." - F.F. Bruce: Romans (Vol. 6, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries)
(3) "Christians may still live with the effects of sin, but they do not live under its authority."
"In their earthly frames Christians are never free from the hold of sin, yet there is a marked difference between their response to that grip and that of non-Christians. Augustine said prior to conversion, 'My sin was all the more incurable because I did not think myself a sinner' (Confessions 5.10). Christians are alerted to the ways of sin and are no longer ignorant and unresisting accomplices to its work. They recognize the power and deception of its tyranny and fight against it in the name of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit." - Edwards: Op. cit.
3. Previously in this epistle Paul has addressed the purpose of the Law of God.
a. The law r __ __ __ __ __ sin. (3:20)
b. The law a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ sin. (7:8-9)
c. The law c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ both s __ __ and s __ __ __ __ __. (7:11)
4. In v.3 Paul sets forth the glaring l __ __ __ __ of the Law of God: it contains no provision for s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ from sin. Humanity is hopelessly sinful, and the Law reveals this, offering a proper diagnosis of the disease, but no cure.
5. Since our fallen nature could not obey God's Law, so the Law became, instead of an instrument of salvation, an instrument of damnation. For this reason, Paul continues, God acted on man's behalf, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin.
a. We must take note of Paul's extraordinarily careful language in this phrase.
(1) Had Paul said that Christ had come "in the likeness of flesh," he would have pleased those who taught that Christ did not have a human body, but only "appeared" to come in human form.
(2) On the other hand, had he said that Christ has come "in sinful flesh," he would have implied that Christ had a sinful nature like ours.
(3) Had he said simply that Christ had come "in flesh," he would have missed the essential point of the Incarnation.
b. "Christ came into our humanity and assumed our personality, but He was unique in that, while human flesh is consistently corrupt, He lived with and in our nature without in any way succumbing to the sinfulness which goes along with it. It was the inescapable fact of His sinlessness while living in the vehicle of our humanness which roundly condemned the fleshliness of our nature and the sinfulness of our lives." - D. Stuart Briscoe: Romans (Vol. 6, The Communicator's Commentary)
6. The result of God's gracious sending of His own Son for sin is declared in v.4: 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. This verse contains two indelible truths:
a. There lies within every Christian the "p __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of holiness."
(1) Christ came to save sinners from the p __ __ __ __ __ __ of sin; the Spirit of Christ frees us from the p __ __ __ __ of sin.
(2) "With the Holy Spirit residing in us, we may fulfill righteousness by the way we live. The law is not simply set aside as Antinomians would have us believe, but in the cross we have been set free for righteousness." - R.C. Sproul: Op. cit.
(3) "The law is given that grace might be sought; grace is given that the law might be fulfilled." - J. Stewart: A Man in Christ (quoting St. Augustine )
b. That a person is "in Christ Jesus" can be observed by his / her lifestyle. Such a person -- an "authentic" believer -- does not walk according to the f __ __ __ __ but according to the S __ __ __ __ __.
(1) The believer's "walk" in Scripture refers to his / her lifestyle. The idea of this term as it used in the New Testament is one of d __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and not p __ __ __ __ __ __ __.
(2) It is the willingness and the strength to r __ __ __ __ __ sin that is the unmistakable sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of one who claims to be a Christian. The claim to posses the Spirit of God is justified only where it is accompanied by the b __ __ __ __ __ against the f __ __ __ __.
(3) ref: Galatians 5:16-23
7. Paul further delineates the differences between "walking in the flesh" and "walking in the Spirit" in v.5-8. It is, according to the apostle, a matter of the m __ __ __.
a. Those who l __ __ __ according to the flesh have their m __ __ __ __ set on the things of the flesh.
b. Those who l __ __ __ according to the Spirit have their m __ __ __ __ set on the things of the Spirit.
c. These two mind-sets are so diametrically opposed that one is described as d __ __ __ __ while the other is described as l __ __ __ and p __ __ __ __.
(1) "Paul is calling attention to one of the best-kept secrets of the human race. Everybody in this world wants life and peace and they go through a million different avenues trying to find them. But Paul is telling us that the key is to be spiritually minded. To have our minds focused on lofty things, on the things of excellence, goodness, truth and beauty is the secret to life and to peace. Now that may sound life a call to be sophisticated or cultured, to understand fine arts so that we can quote the great poets and the great novelists. That is not what I mean, and I don't think it is what the apostle meant. He is saying that there is a peace that flows from the contemplative life, the life that focuses on the good, the true and the beautiful." - R.C. Sproul: Op. cit.
(2) ref: Isaiah 26:3
Philippians 4:8
d. V.7 has been a source of theological controversy. Is Paul's reference in this verse to the "c __ __ __ __ __ mind" that of a non-believer or a "back-slidden" believer? The charges made against the "carnal mind" here by the apostle are indeed serious.
(1) The carnal mind is "e __ __ __ __ __" against God. The Greek word translated as "enmity" conveys the sense of "pure, anti-God hostility."
(2) The carnal mind "s not s __ __ __ __ __ __ to the law of God." Those whose minds are controlled by the flesh feel no obligation whatsoever to obey God's will. They break His law with complete impunity.
(3) The carnal mind is not even c __ __ __ __ __ __ of obeying God! Christians who spend a lot of energy trying to "legislate" the unsaved world into doing God's will are wasting their time.
8. In v.9 Paul turns his attention away from the unbeliever and toward the believer.
a. Those in whom the S __ __ __ __ of God dwells cannot be "in" the f __ __ __ __.
b. Any person who does not have the S __ __ __ __ of Christ is not a Christian.
(1) This verse would seem to do away with the flawed understanding that there are two "types" of Christians -- the "spiritual" ones and the "carnal" ones. Paul knows of no such things. In v.9 he states plainly that a person is either controlled by the flesh or by the Spirit. The ultimate test of whether a person is "in Christ" is this: Is the Spirit of God dwelling in you?
(2) "God does not hold his children over the fires of anxiety regarding their salvation; neither is it his pleasure to keep them guessing whether or not they belong to him. God has sent his Spirit into the heart of each believer and each community of faith to produce an inner conviction based upon demonstrable change in character and conduct, reassuring Christians to God's sovereign and irrevocable love for them, thus freeing them for praise, witness and service." - James R. Edwards: Op. cit.
10. V.10-11 contain two truths regarding the Christian's condition in this life; one disappointing and the other cause for rejoicing.
a. V.10 reminds us, again, that despite the fact that Christians have been brought into vital union with Christ, we are still human in this present age, and our bodies are subject to the lingering and destructive effects of our fallen nature.
b. V.11 is a wonderfully Trinitarian verse, making reference to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the salvation and justification of the believer. The most profound message of this verse is the fact the same power that raised Christ from the dead now dwells within every believer, giving us "life" even while we are living with our imperfect bodies.
(1) ref: 2 Corinthians 4:16 [ NKJV ]
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
(2) "The presence of the Holy Spirit is attended with blessed results, for while the body of a believer is still subject to the law of death and certain in time to die, yet his spirit is instinct with a new and heavenly life because of the very fact of the righteousness which has been received by faith. No only so, but the presence of the Holy Spirit is an earnest and a pledge of the resurrection of the body; for if the Spirit of God 'that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead" dwells in the believer, then surely God will raise from the dead the body of the believer. Of this certain resurrection the Spirit may be regarded as the Agent ('through his Spirit'), or more probably the Pledge ('because of the Spirit'); for a body which has been sanctified as a temple of the Holy Spirit will not be left permanently under the power of death, but will be raised in immortal glory. Such a glorious destiny of spirit and of body awaits all those who are 'in Christ Jesus.'" Charles R. Erdman: The Epistle of Paul to the Romans
11. In v.1-11 Paul presented a first consequence of the dwelling in us of God or Christ through the Holy Spirit: "real" life -- in the present and in the eternal future. In v.12-13 Paul explains the second "consequence" of life in the Spirit: the o __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of holiness.
a. The literal meaning of the Greek word translated as "debtor" in some versions of v.11 refers to the lifetime commitment required of all believers to -- in the power of the Holy Spirit -- continually "sustain warfare with sin."
(1) "The Spirit is not a promise to those who succeed in overcoming sin, but God's abiding presence in the midst of the flesh or sinful nature. The ability to sustain warfare against sin signals the Spirit's presence. The Spirit emancipates believers from slavery to sin and joins them in sonship with Christ (v.15, 29)." - James R. Edwards: Op. cit.
(2) V.13 reminds us of a sober truth regarding life in the Spirit: the radical principal of "l __ __ __ through d __ __ __ __" which lies at the heart of the gospel.
(3) "According to Romans 6 it is only by dying with Christ to sin, its penalty thereby paid, that we rise to a new life of forgiveness and freedom. According to Romans 8 it is only by putting our evil deeds to death that we experience the full life of God's children. So we need to redefine both life and death. What the world calls life (a desirable self-indulgence) leads to alienation from God which in reality is death, whereas the putting to death of all perceived evil within us, which the world sees as an undesirable self-[denial], is in reality the way to authentic life." - John Stott: Op. cit.
C. APPLICATION
1. The apostle Paul has clearly shown that the s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of each believer is a "joint effort" between the Christian and the Holy Spirit.
a. The indwelling Holy Spirit provides the divine p __ __ __ __ to obey God.
b. The Christian responds by taking up the necessary struggle against his / her flesh required in order to obey. This struggle, Paul has shown, is prima facia evidence of the Spirit's indwelling presence in my life.
2. Elsewhere in Scripture this lifelong commitment of moral obligation to the Spirit's presence is called "m __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __:" the "putting to death" of our flesh.
a. Colossians 4:5-11 calls on believers to put to death your members which are on the earth:
(1) f __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
(2) u __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
(3) p __ __ __ __ __ __,
(4) e __ __ __ d __ __ __ __ __, and
(5) c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, which is I __ __ __ __ __ __ __."
Paul in this passage also exhorts believers to put off all these:
(6) a __ __ __ __,
(7) w __ __ __ __,
(8) m __ __ __ __ __,
(9) b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __,
(10) f __ __ __ __ __ l __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and
(11) l __ __ __.
b. EPHESIANS 4:17-24 [ NIV ]
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
c. ref: Galatians 5:16-24
Luke 9:23-24
