Welcome to Life Group. We invite you to join
us in this verse -by -verse study through the
Word of God. Romans chapter 8 is one of the richest
and most Spirit -filled chapters in all the Bible.
Some people even call it the mountaintop of the
New Testament. It teaches us that the Christian
life cannot be lived by human effort, but only
by the power of the Holy Spirit. It begins with
no condemnation. continues with no defeat, and
ends with no separation. Let's pick up in Romans
8, verse 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.
The mind governed by the flesh is death. But
the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace.
In these verses, Paul gives us an easy way for
us to determine if we walk in the spirit or walk
in the flesh. We just have to realize what we
are thinking about. See, the mind is a strategic
battleground where the flesh and spirit fight.
When we are constantly setting our minds on the
things of the flesh, that means that we're carnally
minded. We're inviting death into our lives.
But when we set our minds on the things of God,
we are walking in the Spirit. And this brings
us life and peace. Let's pick up with verse 7.
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to
God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can
it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh
cannot please God. See, a mind focused on what
can be seen, tasted, heard, smelled, and felt
will always oppose God. A mind controlled by
the physical senses cannot receive or understand
spiritual things. Trying to live the Christian
life from our own ability is living a fleshly
or soulish life. We must deny our natural way
of thinking and be led by the Spirit of God in
order to walk pleasing to God. Verse 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. 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.
You see, because the Holy Spirit is given to
each believer when they are born again, Every
Christian has within themselves a principle higher
and more powerful than the flesh. Many continue
to live spiritually under John the Baptist's
ministry of repentance. And those people live
under the struggle that we looked at in Romans
7. But in Christ, we have changed realms. We
have moved from the flesh to the spirit. Verse
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 the spirit who lives
in you. Many miss out on living the Christian
life. Living the Christian life in the constant
fullness of the spirit, because they're not constantly
being filled with the Holy Spirit, as Paul commanded
in Ephesians 5, 18. They're not experiencing
what Jesus said when he described rivers of living
water flowing from the believer. When Jesus described
that in John 7, verses 37 through 39. Here's
what we need to understand. The quickening power
of the Holy Spirit is for this life, as well
as the ultimate victory when our physical bodies
will be resurrected. Verse 12. Therefore, brothers
and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is
not to the flesh to live according to it. For
if you live according to the flesh, you will
die. But if you live by the Spirit, you put to
death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
In these verses, we understand that the flesh
in rebellion against God actually gave us nothing
good. So we have no obligation to oblige or pamper
it. Our debt is to the Lord, not to the flesh.
And Paul constantly reminds us that living after
the flesh ends in death. What do I mean by that?
Well, it allows the effects of sin into our lives.
We need to remember this because we often feel
that our flesh can offer us life. Actually, we
must force our flesh to submit to the Spirit
by the power of the Spirit. See, we choose between
defeat and victory according to what our minds
are continually focused on. We're not only saved
through the work of the Spirit when He moves
us from being immersed in sin to being immersed
in Christ, we must also live and walk in the
Spirit, if we want to grow spiritually, and if
we want to enjoy the benefits of the kingdom
of God. Verse 14. For those who are led by the
Spirit of God are the children of God. This verse
teaches that it's only fitting that the sons
of God should be led by the Spirit of God. Paul
didn't say here, as many as go to church, these
are the sons of God. He didn't say as many read
their Bibles. He didn't say as many as are patriotic
Americans or as many as take communion are the
sons of God. No, he says in this text that the
test for sonship is whether or not a person is
led by the Holy Spirit. It's important to realize,
though, that there are varying degrees of being
led by the Holy Spirit and that no believers
are following the leading of the Spirit 100%.
Only Jesus did that. If an absolute standard
was implied to this verse, no one would qualify
to be a son of God. So that's not what it's saying.
But what does it mean for the Christian to be
led by the Holy Spirit? Well, we must acknowledge
him. We must consult him. We need to ask him
questions, right? And we need to expect to hear
from him, expect to receive answers. Acknowledging
and being led by the Holy Spirit would mean obeying
those instructions, right? Obeying what he says
and also relying on him day by day and yielding
to his will and to his way. submitting ourselves
to him. Verse 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 spirit himself testifies
with our spirit that we are God's children. These
verses teach us that living as a child of God
means an intimate, joyful relationship with God,
not like the bondage and fear demonstrated by
the law. A child of God can have a relationship
with God so close that they may cry out, Abba,
Father, meaning Daddy. You could say it's like
our English equivalent of like Daddy, God. It's
easy. for us to think of Jesus relating to the
Father with this joyful confidence, but we may
think we couldn't have that kind of relationship
with God. But in Christ, we have this privilege.
We can relate to the Father just like Jesus does.
Paul says that those who are God's children,
born again by the Spirit of God, know their status.
They know this because the Holy Spirit testifies
this to their spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals
this to them. So this means that for the Christian,
we don't have to wonder if we are really Christians
or not. By the witness of the spirit, we can
know we are. Verse 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.
This teaches us that, well, it's important to
realize that in the Roman world of the first
century AD, an adopted son was a son deliberately
chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his
name and inherit his estate. He was no different
than a naturally born son. He didn't consider
him like, oh, well, this is my adopted son and
this is my born son. No, it's like they were
considered the same. Under Roman adoption, the
life and standing of the adopted child changed
completely. The adopted son would lose all rights
in his old family, but he gained all new rights
in his new family. The old life of the adopted
son was completely wiped out. All debts were
canceled. Nothing from his past counted against
him anymore. This is a great picture in what
Paul is trying to communicate to us of us being
in Christ. This is us in Christ. Because we are
in Christ, we have the privilege of relating
to the Father as Jesus does. Therefore, we are
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Being
a child of God also means having an inheritance.
In Luke 18, 18, the rich young ruler asked Jesus,
what must I do to inherit? But the rich young
ruler missed the point because inheritance is
not a matter of doing. It is a matter of being,
of being in the right family in Christ. Verse
18, I consider that our present sufferings are
not worth comparing with the glory that will
be revealed in us. What does this mean? It's
such a powerful statement, right? Think of some
of the terrible things people have suffered in
this life. Wars, slavery, sickness, hatred, tragedies.
And Paul is saying that nothing compares to the
wonderful things God has planned for us. This
is not lessening the suffering or those bad things.
It's really placing our future prize so highly
above all tragedy that there is no comparison.
The glory that God has prepared for us is infinitely
greater than all the pain sin has inflicted.
Right now, we have all the awesome glory of God
inside our born -again spirits. In Ephesians
1, 17 -18, Paul prays this and explains this
further, that the Lord would grant us a spirit
of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of
Him, so that we could see the glory of His inheritance
already in us. As we grow spiritually, we will
see more and more of His glory in us, and more
of His glory will be revealed through us. Verse
19, 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. We know that the whole creation has been
groaning as in the pains of childbirth right
up to this present time. Not only so, but we
ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption
to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. These
verses make it clear. That all creation is eagerly
and intensely anticipating the day when the glory
of God that is already deposited within God's
children will be revealed. That day will not
completely arrive until the second coming of
Christ. But it is logical to think that creation
rejoices to some degree every time a believer
manifests God's glory in the earth. is an indication
of the existence or presence of something previously
unrevealed. All of creation is waiting for us
to manifest what is already in us. We have a
taste of greater glory to come. We are waiting
for our adoption. Although we are already adopted,
Romans 8 .15, There is also a sense in which
we wait for the consummation of our adoption,
which will happen at the redemption of our body.
God does not ignore our physical bodies in his
plan of redemption. His plan for our bodies is
resurrection. Verse 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? But if
we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait
for it patiently. This verse tells us that the
fulfillment of our redemption is something still
in the future, yet we hope for it in faith and
patience, trusting that God is faithful to his
word. and that the promised glory will be a reality.
Verse 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. 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. This verse tells us that
when we are weak and don't know exactly how we
should pray, God himself, through the Holy Spirit,
helps by making intercession for us. The idea
is communicated. Beyond our ability to express,
the deep groanings within us can't be articulated
apart from the interceding work of the Holy Spirit.
This help from the Holy Spirit may include praying
with the spiritual gift of tongues. 1 Corinthians
14 .2, verses 14 and 15. But it is certainly
not limited. to praying in an unknown tongue.
The Holy Spirit's help and intercession is perfect
because He searches the hearts of those whom
He helps, and He is able to guide our prayers
according to the will of God. Verse 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. What does this verse
tell us? I believe it tells us that God takes
the things and situations of this fallen world
that come actually to steal from us, destroy
us, and kill us, and he takes those things and
brings about positive results and glorious testimonies
of his work and faithfulness. Verse 29, for those
God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed
into the image of his son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And
those he predestined, he also called. Those he
called, he also justified. Those he justified,
he also glorified. This verse has been interpreted
many ways, but I believe it's saying in God's
omniscience, he knows who will turn to him for
salvation. I see it as he foreknows, not that
he predetermines. However, he does predetermine
that those who come to him in faith will be transformed
and conformed. To look like and live like Jesus.
Our participation in this eternal plan is essential.
This is a process that God does with our cooperation.
It goes on to say that he calls us. We become
the called out ones. That's what the word church
means. It's the called out ones. So he calls
us. He justifies us. He clothes us in his righteousness.
We are made right with God. And he also glorifies
us. He puts his glory in us and we can experience
his glory. Verse 31. What then shall we say in
response to these things? If God is for us, who
can be against us? He who did not spare his own
son. If all we had were the first few chapters
of the book of Romans, some might believe that
God was against us. Now that Paul has shown us
the lengths of what God went to, to save us and
to equip us for victory over sin and death, we
can joyfully celebrate that God is for us. God
is for us. And since God is for us, what does
it matter if others are against us? One person
plus God makes an unconquerable majority. Since
the Father already gave us his ultimate gift,
how could we think that he wouldn't give us smaller
gifts? All of his promises and blessings are
really secondary to salvation. Verse 33. Who
will bring any charge against those whom God
has chosen? It is God who justifies. 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. This means that there can never be more
charges brought against us. Since we have been
declared not guilty by the highest judge, who
could bring any additional charge? We are also
free from all condemnation. Since Jesus is our
advocate, the lawyer handling our case in the
highest court, promoting our benefit, then who
could condemn us? Verse 35. Our persecution,
our famine, our nakedness, our danger, our sword.
Here Paul is saying that no matter what circumstances
we face, none of the sufferings of this fallen
world can separate us from the love of God. Verse
36, as it is written, for your sake we face death
all day long. We are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. This
means that through Christ, in Christ, we are
always victorious. We are victors and not victims.
We are more than conquerors. What does more than
conquerors mean? How can we create a picture
of that? Think of a boxer who trains for years
to have his once -in -a -lifetime shot at a heavyweight
title. The prize for winning is $25 million.
And guess what? He wins the fight. He's the conqueror,
right? He's the one who won the battle. But he
goes home and he hands his wife that $25 million
check. Now, we can consider her... more than
a conqueror, right? That's a good picture or
an illustration of what it means to be more than
a conqueror. You see, Jesus stepped down out
of heaven. He conquered death, hell, and the
grave. He took the keys of authority on this
earth that Adam surrendered back from Satan.
He is the conqueror. And then at salvation, He
gives us access to all the blessings, promises,
rights, and privileges and victories He won.
This makes us more than conquerors. So we are
more than conquerors because we have victory
and all the spoils of war, but did not do all
the fighting. Jesus fought and won the battle
for us. All we have to do is receive the benefits
by faith. That's what it means to be more than
a conqueror. Verse 38. 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 in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It's wonderful that Paul was persuaded of this.
I'm happy for him. But you and I must be persuaded
of this too, in order to really benefit from
it. Nothing we face should be interpreted that
Jesus has stopped loving us. He never will. Thank
you for joining us for Life Group. Allow God's
Word to build your faith and transform your life.