The word that starts this section is ‘Therefore’ so probably we need to be reminded what Paul had just said in
Romans 7:21-25.
21 So I find this law at work: although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Some have said that Paul is too legalistic, and yes he has just mentioned the word ‘law’ seven times – but only so he can explain what it’s ‘there for’.
Read Romans 8:1
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Sorry, we must stop there a minute.
However much we may struggle with some of Paul’s statements, here is an unshakeable certainty we can hang on to: there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And as we read through this chapter there will be more similar certainties!
Also, in this section we will often come across the phrase ‘the flesh’.
The NIV has this note: ‘In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit’.
Some have said that there are three powers that fight against the Spirit – ‘the world, the flesh, and the devil’ but they all have the same root. And as Jesus said ‘Whoever is not with me is against me’ (Matthew 12:30)
Read Romans 8:2-3
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do
We’ll have to interrupt here as well – what are laws intended to do?
They are designed to stop us sinning.
Do they work? Are they 100% effective?
Sadly, no – they are not just weak, they are actually powerless. And here Paul is speaking of the whole Jewish legal system
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh
This refers back to Genesis 5:1-3. We might have assumed that when Jesus was born, he would have been made ‘in the image of God ‘, like the first Adam; but in order to purchase our salvation, he had to be just like us – made ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh ‘. Yet unlike everyone else, he never sinned and he kept God’s law completely.
3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.
Before dealing with our sinful nature, Jesus had to deal with the inevitable results of our sins. And not only past sins, but present and future too, and there was only one way he could do that. He offered himself as our substitute and became a sin offering, taking on himself all our sins, and dying on our behalf.
‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’ (2 Corinthians 5:21)
3 . . .And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
What do you make of that phrase ‘condemned sin in the flesh’?
Instead of us being condemned, (v1) now sin itself is condemned. It is as if sin has been taken to court, found guilty, and the punishment is death – and as a result is stripped of any rights or claims it once had over us.
Read Romans 8:4
4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Because of sin’s hold on us we were incapable of meeting the requirement of total righteousness demanded by the law. ‘But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. ’ (Romans 3:21-22)
Read Romans 8:5-8
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
When we became a Christian, most of that was God working in us. Firstly he initiated our call ‘those he predestined*, he also called’ (Romans 8:30).
When we responded to his call, trusting Christ for salvation, we were Justified ‘those he called, he also justified’ (Romans 8:30).
But in 1 Corinthians 6:11 we read ‘you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified’
So perhaps we need to look at the difference between Justification and Sanctification.
Justification occurs at the moment we are converted. God declares us righteous because of the righteousness of Jesus – and that is given to us freely by him.
But from then on the process of our sanctification begins (effectively becoming ‘saint-like’). It is the process of God working in our lives to make us more like Jesus. It is a process, and will continue throughout our lives.
Some have argued that at the moment of our Justification, we were then sinless and so were sanctified. Maybe, but it wouldn’t last. True, our intention may have been to live a sinless life from then on, but we still have our nature to contend with and we soon fail.
It is similar to the change that happens when we get married. Before then we are single and do what we want; but after, as we begin to share intimately with our partner, and in love will want to do our best for them, we find it will mean us having to make some changes.
Read Romans 8:9
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
I find the word ‘realm’ to be a bit awkward – But it carries the thought that before we became Christians we were ruled by the flesh, but now we are ruled by the Spirit. Therefore we might think that it follows that we should now automatically live a sinless life, but our own experience tells us that we have not got there yet – remember Paul (Romans 7:15-19)?
So sanctification is something we continually aim for: ‘work out your salvation with fear and trembling’ (Philippians 2:12) with the help of the Spirit living in us.
Sin, or ‘the flesh’ still thinks we are its slaves and will continue to tempt, even almost force us to do wrong. In response the Spirit of God will never force us, but will constantly show us the right way, and encourage us to walk in it with him.
Read Romans 8:10-12
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
It is a fact that because of the fall our bodies will die, but now we have been ‘born again’ our living bodies also are made more alive by the Spirit living in us – but Paul continues:
Read Romans 8:12-13
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
We are obliged to live! An odd thought, but the way we now live reflects the change that has taken place. We are now free from the influence of sin so we are free to follow the Spirit’s lead. In so doing, we will find that our obligation is to actually make our bodies available to God in his service – and that, as he will explain in a moment, may be costly.
Read Romans 8:14-15
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba Father.’
The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted heir in Roman culture. Not only have we been redeemed from our life of slavery, but we are now legally full children of God our father. Does that mean that in some way he considers us to be like Jesus, his firstborn?
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1)
Read Romans 8:16-17
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
We might say ‘I don’t like the suffering bit’. But Jesus said in John 15:18-19
18 ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
And because of that it is more likely than not that we will have to suffer persecution in one form or another.
If Jesus, God’s firstborn, had to suffer in this world, then it is only to be expected that God’s adopted children will too. But Paul continues –
Read Romans 8:18
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
I love that phrase: ‘not worth comparing’. It’s like comparing a grain of sand with a mountain. It’s worth remembering ‘Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the human heart imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ (1 Corinthians 2:9 NCB)
Read Romans 8:18-21 (I’ve taken the verse numbers off because they are confusing)
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
Creation itself also has to suffer because of sin (Genesis 3:17-18) but it too will be reborn ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.’ (Revelation 21:1 )
Read Romans 8:22-25
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
I’m not sure I’m that patient! But Peter puts me right:
‘with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)
Read Romans 8:26-27
26 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 through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Sometimes we forget that the Spirit is living in us and we try to struggle on by ourselves. Perhaps we should practice involving him in our prayer life – or is it possible for us to actually join him as he intercedes for us?
Read Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
‘in all things’ – When times are hard, and when times are great, God is constantly at work – specifically for the good of each of us who love him. But as we bask in that truth, we are reminded that the other side of the coin is that we have been called individually for his specific purpose. He has work for us to do too!
Read Romans 8:29-30
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined* to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Thinking of who was calling, perhaps rather than ‘call’, it was more of a ‘summons’!
Does that mean that God overrules our free will? Whatever you think, I’m so glad he called me!
Read Romans 8:31-32
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 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?
Remember we are ‘heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ’ v17.
Read Romans 8:33-34
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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.
If we were thrilled that the Spirit is interceding for us (v27) – more than that now we hear that Christ himself is interceding for us. And if that is not enough – Read Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What a wonderful conclusion to this chapter!
* Predestination is a topic we will look at in the next study.
