Romans 8:1-4 – Not Condemned
In
chapter 7 Paul explained justification and sanctification and that we have a
sinful nature. Then he gives us the most
important truthful words in the Bible. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus.” – Rom. 8:1. Because of Jesus who took the punishment for
our sins when He died on the cross, we are now free from the wrath of God that
we deserve. We were all condemned by God
for our sins, but Jesus declared us righteous and through our faith and belief
in Him. We are not and never will be
condemned. Thank you Jesus!
The
purpose of this chapter in Romans is to assure believers. All condemnation of Christians is forever
finished! There may be times when we don’t
feel the peace of God, but we do have that peace. It’s not about feelings. God is your Father no matter your past. This is done by God’s power alone. We are His children and there is future glory
waiting for us.
Principle: There is no condemnation for believers in
Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:5-11 – Not the Same
Paul
tells us there are two kinds of people.
There are those who live according to the sinful nature and those who
live according to the Spirit. Let’s look
at the characteristics of each.
Those
who live by their sinful nature:
Set
their minds on their desires
Their
mind is death
Their
mind is hostile toward God
They do
not belong to Christ
Do not
submit to God’s law nor can they do so
Cannot
please God
Those
who live by the Spirit:
Set
their minds on what the Spirit desires
They
have life and peace
They
are not controlled by sinful nature, but the Spirit
The Spirit
of God lives in them
They
belong to Christ
Their
body is dead to sin, yet Spirit is alive because of righteousness
They
will be raised to life with a mortal body as Christ was raised
To
which group do you belong?
Where
are you not living according to the Spirit?
Where
in your life are you still controlled by sinful desires?
What in
your life displeases God?
Principle: God gives believers new desires
Romans 8:12-17 – Not Alone
Paul
tells us Christians have an obligation, because we are joined to Jesus through
the Holy Spirit. Jesus delivered us from
God’s wrath. We are obligated to be
obedient. As a Christian we enjoy many
privileges. He has given us a new nature
and a new identity. We are empowered by
His Spirit who now lives in us. Through
the Holy Spirit living in us we are guided and directed to walk Christ-like. We are adopted into God’s family. We are heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ. He is our Father and we belong
to Him forever. We share in His glory as
we share in His suffering. We are
predestined to be conformed to His likeness.
Nothing can separate us from God and His love.
We have
additional benefits from being a child of God.
Matthew 6:7-8 tells us that
God knows what we need before we ask. Hebrews 12:7-11 tells us He disciplines
us like a Father and through our discipline righteousness and peace are
produced. 1 John 3:1-3 tells us of His great love for us and when he appears
we will be like Him. With this hope we
are purified just as He is pure.
Principle: Christians have an obligation to live by the
Spirit, because they are sons of God.
How are
you living as an obedient adopted child of God?
How
will you thank Him for His great love?
Romans 8:18-22 – Creation Groans
Paul
tells us our sufferings don’t compare to the future glory that God will reveal
to us. Even creation waits in eager
expectation and is subjected to frustration as it waits for liberation from
decay.
Paul
suffered and the Lord Himself suffered so why do we think we should be
exempt? We all suffer in this life. We suffer through death of loved one,
divorce, disease and sickness. We suffer
when our family and friends disappoint us.
It’s part of living in this fallen world. As bad as our pain and sufferings are, the
glory that awaits us is immeasurable. Our
suffering will be short compared to our eternal sharing in the glory of our
God.
What is
this glory that will be revealed to us?
Glory means honor or distinction, great praise, a state of splendor and
absolute happiness, gratification or contentment, splendor and bliss of heaven. Believers
will receive honor and reward for good works done for Jesus. They will experience God’s glory. They will have renewed bodies like
Jesus. They will experience eternal joyous
worship and service to God. They will
experience a deeper intimacy with God and be in His unlimited presence.
Creation
refers to the earth including the animals and nature not humans. The world is not what God created it to be so
it waits as we wait for God to rid it from evil and decay. It is experiencing birth pangs. We see this in earthquakes, floods, storms,
tornadoes, and hurricanes just to name a few.
All violence and death in the animal kingdom are the result of the curse
resulting from man’s sin. One day the
world will be renewed and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.
Creation
is God’s world. He made it, but it is not
what He created it to be. The world has
value because God created it and He values it.
We are to respect it and value it, but we must not worship it. We are to praise and worship God and thank
Him as its Creator.
Principle: Our suffering will be short compared to our
eternal sharing in the glory of our God.
Romans 8:23-25 – Christians Groan
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time. Not only
so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as
we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” – Rom. 8:22-23.
We are also
feeling birth pangs and are yearning for the time when we will be in heaven
with our Lord and when our grief and pain will be removed and our bodies will
be made perfect. Paul compares our
groaning with that of child birth. Child birth is
filled with hope. The pain is real, but will end and is full of hope.
The
longer we wait the more we are encouraged in our trials because of the hope of
future glory. Our hope is sure and
certain, not wishful thinking. We can be
confident about God’s plans for the future.
God will do what He has promised so we eagerly and patiently wait.
For
what are you hoping and waiting?
Romans 8:26-27 – The Holy Spirit Groans
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but
the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” – Rom 8:26.
Often
times we don’t know what or how to pray.
As soon as we get tired in waiting, the Holy Spirit is right alongside
helping us along. Maybe we are
overwhelmed with circumstances and want to pray, but just don’t have the right
words. God
searches our hearts and knows our minds.
He has given us help. He has given us the Holy Spirit who groans to
the Father on our behalf and prays for us according to God's will.
Why do
we need to pray? We pray because we are
weak and need God's help, but prayer can be hard work and a struggle. Look at those in the Bible and see those who
prayed like Moses, Elijah, David or the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus prayed often and depended on His Father
for all things. He is a model for us to
pray at all times and for all things.
Our weakness should cause us to go to God in prayer.
Prayer
is not easy. The Christian life is not
easy. We know we should pray and we want
to pray, but sometimes the words just don’t come easy. We need to remember who we’re talking to. We’re talking to the Creator of the
universe. We need to praise Him, confess
to Him, and thank Him.
Principle: Remembering the Spirit’s intercession
comforts suffering believers.
How
does knowing the Spirit prays for you encourage you to pray?
Romans 8:28-30 – The Golden Chain
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
live him, who have been called according to his purpose.” - Rom 8:28. This is one of the most familiar verses in
the Bible. He is not talking to
everyone. He is talking to
Christians. He is saying that no sinful
person can change God’s purpose or plan for the life of a Christian. The good he’s talking about is to be conformed
to the likeness of Jesus. He is saying
as long as you love God, He will work everything together for good for you.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called;
those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” – Rom. 8:29-30. These 5 truths have been referred to as the
“Golden Chain of Five Links”. These are
truths that have been forged in heaven – foreknowledge, predestination,
calling, justification, and glorification.
Foreknowledge
–
God knew before we were born who would belong to Him.
Predestination – God determined
a person’s destiny beforehand, a destiny to be conformed like Jesus. He marked a glorious future for those who
love Him.
Called – God
summoned believers to come to Him.
Justified
–
God declares us not guilty because of Jesus’ work on the cross.
Glorified – God
makes us just like Jesus – He sees us as glorified.
Paul
doesn’t say we feel or we hope. He says
we know. We know God is working all
things together for our good because He has an eternal purpose for us that
includes salvation. He has predestined
us to be conformed to be like His Son.
Principle: God is sovereign and in control of a
believer’s life from start to finish.
How
might God be working for your ultimate good?
Romans 8:31-39 – Salvation Secured
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave
him up for us all – how will he not also along with him, graciously give us all
things? Who will bring any charge
against those who God has chosen? It is
God who justifies. Who is he that
condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more
than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us. Who shall separate
us from the love of Christ? Shall
trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” – Rom. 8:31-35.
Paul
asked these questions in reference to these 5 wonderful truths we see in verses
28-30. The reason that all things work
together for good is that our salvation is from the Lord. He originated it before the foundation of the
world and will complete it at His second coming. We are secure. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.
What do
you say to these questions?
What is
your testimony?
How
does the assurance of the love of God strengthen you?
Paul
testifies, “For I am convinced that neither death nor
life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any
powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is Christ Jesus our Lord.” –
Rom. 8:38-39.
Are you
absolutely convinced of God’s great love for you?
Principle: God’s great love for us is demonstrated in
Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us on the cross.
Next time
we will study Romans 9. Have a blessed day and thanks for visiting my
site. Hope to see you here again. -- I
encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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