By Nicole McLeod
Romans 8, this is such a wonderful chapter that’s been rightly called “The Heart of the gospel.” I hope you were here last week for the introduction Diane taught, summing up the first 7 chapters of this epistle. A recording of that message it is available here.
I want to take a moment to say how glad we are that you’re joining us for this Study of Romans chapter 8 this year. The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian doctrine and theology that we have in the Bible. It helps us appreciate and understand God’s great plan of salvation, and that it is for all people. We are praying pray God will use this chapter to lead us all into a deeper understanding of who we are in Christ, and the wonderful blessings God has given us as His children.
There were many churches in Rome at the time Paul wrote this letter, and so he addressed it, “To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” (Rom. 1:7). As we study his letter together, I want us to keep in mind that the letter was also written to all of us as well, beloved of God and called to be saints!
Last week we left off at the end of Romans 7 where Paul described the person who wants to do what is right according to God’s law, but finds they are hindered by their sin nature always warring against them. It’s a poignant picture of the futility of trying to live the Christian life in self-effort and trying harder – in one’s own strength. Everyone can relate to the struggle, and to the desperate humble cry of Romans 7:24 where Paul cries out “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” In other words, who will enable me to overcome my flesh live for God?Paul then declares the answer, as he looks up, and outside of himself in v. 25, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! ” Salvation is through Jesus Christ God’s own Son and our Savior! He is the one who gives us the victory. And now, in Chapter 8 Paul will go on to explain how this victory comes in the believer’s life. It’s through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The remedy for walking according to the flesh, the remedy for this struggle with sin is walking according to the Holy Spirit.
“Without Christ’s work on the cross there would be no salvation, and without the present and consistent operation of the Holy Spirit, there would be no application of that salvation to us, indeed no revelation of it to us” wrote William Newell in commentary on Romans.
In chapters 1-7 of his letter, where he explained the doctrine of justification, and pressed the necessity of sanctification, Paul mentioned the Holy Spirit only twice, but in this chapter, 20 times! He leaves no doubt in the mind of his readers that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Helper and Comforter, who helps us live in the freedom and fulness of the Christian life. And here is a point I want to make today, despite our many weaknesses, with the Spirit’s help, we can live holy lives. This is why we titled our study “Life in the Holy Spirit.”May He help us now, as we look into the first 4 verses of Romans 8.
Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, as we begin our study today, we ask that Your Holy Spirit will help us understand these teachings and how to apply them in our lives. May You help us live in the freedom and fullness of the Christian life. Bless now the reading of your word and make it plain to us here today. In Jesus’ name
*Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus*. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ( the two laws mentioned here are two principles 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. (here Paul refers to the Mosaic law) By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled inus, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (ESV)
There are two things in these verses, that I don’t want us to miss. First, our blessed position in Christ, v. 1 , where there is no condemnation. Second, our blessed liberation (freedom) in the Spirit in vv. 2-4. Our blessed position, and our blessed liberation.
Vs. 1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
The word “therefore” tells us that Paul is summing up what he has written in his letter up to this point. He has explained man’s lost condition, about what being “Justified” and saved by grace through faith in Christ is all about. This is the heart and soul of the gospel.
The Bible tells us the good news of salvation from sin, but it also is a book that presents the bad news of condemnation and judgement because of sin. Every human being in history (since the Fall) has been born with a sin nature, and all are descendants of Adam and Eve. Paul in his letter has already made the point that that humanity is trapped in sin. But there is the good news.
John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ”
The point here is that mankind is under condemnation, but God’s love came down in Christ to save us. In Him and through faith in Him there is no condemnation.
The word “ condemnation” is katakrima in the Greek. No condemnation means to be free from debt or penalty, condemnation and punishment. Paul uses this judicial legal term to explain that in Christ we are acquitted of guilt and the judicial sentence has been lifted. The wordnoused here “carries the idea of complete cessation.” In Christ, God will not condemn us. Christ cannot be condemned.
Romans 8:33-34 (JB Phillips Translation) “Who would dare to accuse us, whom God has chosen? The judge himself has declared us free from sin. Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us!”
Our blessed position is in Christ, and there is therefore no condemnation in Him.
One of the common problems many Christians have, is that they get saved, and because they’re not perfect, and they struggle and stumble or fall, as they are learning to walk with Christ, they think that they’ve lost their salvation or think God is angry with them or mad at them.
I struggled with this as a new Christian. I gave my life to Christ and was born again, and I somehow thought that meant I wouldn’t ever sin again…. I struggled to feel secure in Christ and related to Romans 7 and would try harder and it was an emotionally up and down time! But part of the problem was that my eyes were upon myself and “my walk”. I had to learn to refocus myself continually upon the grace of God, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in my life, and upon God promises which are yes and amen.
Paul doesn’t say there is no sin - no mistakes, no failure in our lives… we’ve all experienced consequences of sin, poor choices, disappointment in ourselves and others. When we disobey God, we feel convicted which is to lead us to repentance. Conviction of sin is from the Holy Spirit, but condemnation was dealt with at the Cross. Condemnation makes you feel hopeless before God, but conviction makes you feel hopeful – it shows you your sin, and the way forward which is to come to God and confess sin and be forgiven. Conviction leads to life and to walking towards Jesus, and towards obedience. You may struggle with obedience to Christ in some area, but the way forward is to walk with God in the power of the Holy Spirit, towards God not away from Him. He will help you.
It is important also to realize that deliverance from condemnation doesn’t mean deliverance from divine discipline, for “ those whom the Lord loves, he disciplines.” (Hebrews 12:6).
Nor does it say that we aren’t accountable to Him. Paul wrote in Gal 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”
We are learning to walk in the Spirit who is sanctifying us, which is a lifelong process of growth. God is patient with us as He does this work.
I spoke with a young single mom in the café about her daughter learning to walk… yes, she stumbles and falls a lot, but she is progressing and wants to get it right, and her mom is encouraging her – not condemning her for not succeeding yet.
We won’t be perfect in this life, But we can be assured of no condemning judgement ahead. At times our own thoughts condemn us, or Satan adds condemning thoughts to discourage us. But I give you this truth, 1 John 3:20 “ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
The qualifier for no condemnation, in verse 1 is what? That we must be in Christ. This is our blessed position. I am in Christ by faith, and He is in me by His Spirit. So, the most important question to ask ourselves today is, am I in Christ ? Have I put my faith and trust in His finished work on the cross and am I trusting in Him for my salvation. If so this verse is true for you. “Christ is the sphere of safety for all who are in Him by faith”
In 2 Cor 5:17 Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (note: the phrase in Christ) he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” In Christ “ There is therefore now no condemnation.
The old you and all your sins have passed away, and all things are new. God made us new the day we believed in Him and He is still changing me today.
*some of the translations at the end of vs 8:1, add “ who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit” – but this phrase is not found here in vs 1 in the more ancient and accurate Greek manuscripts that have been found since the King James translation was made. It is believed a copyist added it later. Some translations use an asterisk * or note saying, “omitted from the oldest texts “.
CH Spurgeon “The oldest copies are without it, the versions do not sustain it, and the fathers who quoted abundance of Scripture do not quote this sentence.”
Our freedom from condemnation does not depend upon “our walk”, it depends on our blessed position and our standing in Christ.
Point II. When you become a Christian, you not only are given a blessed position, in Christ, but also a blessed liberation. God has set us free in Christ.
Verse 2 “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Notice the little word “for” in vs 2-3.As Paul writes, he uses this word to make each point, so if you follow this word, “for” you follow the logic of Paul’s message. He uses this word 150 times in Romans, as he makes his points, and 17 times Ch. 8.
Notice this phrase again, in Christ, or in Christ Jesus . Jesus died for us so that His Spirit could live in us and set us free. He is the power in us that gives liberation.
John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
TheHoly Spiritdelivers us from the principle lawof sin and death.It is He who brings us power to live the new life in Christ. See the contrast, the law of sin brings death, while the Holy Spirit with greater power, sets us free and brings us life.
JB Phillips “For the new spiritual principle of life “in” Christ lifts me out of the old vicious circle of sin and death.” (Romans 7).
Catherine Marshall, in The Helper” wrote, “He (the Holy Spirit) helps us to overcome sin (Romans 8:2). Hold a Bible up on the palm of your hand and it'll be subject to two forces: the force of gravity wanting to pull it down and the force of your hand holding it up. Remove your hand and the Bible would fall. The law of sin and death is like gravity, wanting to pull us down, but the law of the Spirit of life, like our hand, can hold us up and set us free from all that would drag us down or chain us.”
In Christ we have a blessed liberation in the Spirit. Paul next explains next how this freedom was achieved.
“ For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Five important things stand out:
1. God did what the law could not do (v. 3) . God took the initiative stepped in to save us! He made it possible for us to live a holy life by sending His Son so we could be made alive and live according to His Spirit. We can’t live the Christian life by laws or by legalism.
John Bunyan wrote a poem: “Do this and live!’ the law commands, - But gives me neither feet nor hands. But sweeter sounds the Gospel brings, - It bids me fly and gives me wings!”
Paul has already in his letter made it clear that the law is just, holy and good and it can do many things. It can guide us, teach us, and it points us to Jesus. But what the law cannot do is give energy to our weak sinful fleshto do the right thing. The law gives us God’s righteous standards. It forbids and commands, but it can’t give us the power to live a life that pleases God. The failure of the law is because we are weak - the weakness of human nature.
2.(3b)God made it possible by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.God’s plan was not to save us through keeping the law, but through His son, apart from the law. Paul wrote in chapter 3,
Romans 3:21-22 “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”
Jesus took on humanity, and God’s plan was to deal with the problem of human sin at the cross. While Christ was taking upon himself the sins of men, God condemned sin. Jesus bore the condemnation, and we, by faith, are given His righteousness.
3.God purposed to defeat sin once for all. “on account of sin: He(God) condemned sin in the flesh”. Note: He condemned sin, not you. This is the same root word we saw earlier for condemnation, katakrinem.Sin was condemned through Christ’s death on the cross, so that in Him, we are free from sin’s penalty, sin’s power and, one day, from the very presence of sin altogether when Christ returns to rule and reign on earth.
1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
He is our “advocate”. How blessed we are to be placed beyond the reach of condemnation and instead have His intercession!
Are you familiar with the hymn, “It is Well With My Soul” (third verse) “ My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
Gal. 3:13-14 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so thatwe might receivethe promised Spiritthrough faith.
4. God did this v. 4a,“in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Jesus death on the cross fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law. God has done this for us. Because we are in Christ, and His Spirit is in us, the law is fulfilled in us, (note: in us - not by us.) We give Jesus our sin and He covers us in His righteousness.
5.v. 4bIt is fulfilled in us , who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."
God saves us to make us His holy (set apart) people. We no longer have to live by the demands of our sinful nature, our flesh, but we learn to yield to the promptings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads to life and fullness and freedom.
We’ve been born again, and the Spirit of God is living in us leading us to live holy lives and to do what is right in the sight of God. Holy living is salvation’s goal and Holy living is the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote:
Galatians 5:16-18 “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whateveryou want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
The pattern of our new life in Christ, is to be according to the Spirit , not according to the flesh,(our sinful nature). Never rely on your flesh to overcome itself, pray daily for the filling of the Holy Spirit to lead you, and help you keep in step with Jesus and live for Him. Next week we will continue with vs 5-8, and Bev will teach us more on this…
As we close out today’s study, and go to prayer time, if youare a woman who struggles with thoughts of condemnation, and defeat, I want to encourage you today. Romans 8 declares that God does not condemn you and will not reject you. He loves you and is for you. You are at the right Bible Study! God doesn’t see you in your sin, He sees you in His Son! We need to let the truth renew our minds and let go the condemning thoughts we have been feeding on. Feed on the grace and truth of the gospel. Tell yourself, “God said it, I believe it, that settles it!” Amen.