Romans 8

Romans 8:1-39 Introduction Man is a “triune” being. He is composed of three parts (1 Thessalonians 5:23) - spirit, body, soul. Romans 8:1-39 deals with these three and their relationship to the Holy Spirit.

[NOTE: “Spirit” (with a capital “S”) refers to the Holy Spirit, and “spirit” (with a small “s”) refers to the human spirit. The Greek text does not tell us which is to be used. Sometimes the word is made to refer to the Holy Spirit when it should not (v. 26) and it is made to refer to the human spirit when the Holy Spirit is intended (v. 4).]

Vocabulary Verses 1 - 27 Spirit = Holy Spirit, third person of Godhead flesh = physical body, carnal, sinful, lustful carnal = fleshly, lustful, sinful spirit = emotions, mind, human feelings, spiritual law = rules, regulations, principles of conduct or operation

Verses 28 - 39 predestinate = to state a foreknowledge foreknow = to have knowledge in advance of an event purpose = God’s plans, intentions called = invite, urge, plead justified = made just, brought up to minimum standards glorified = made perfect, up to the level of Jesus

Questions of Philosophy

1. What is man? soul? body? spirit?
2. What is death?
3. Does anything stay alive through death? what?
4. Can we ever stop loving God?
5. Can God ever stop loving us?

Romans 8:1-10

1 Now - present tense no condemnation - conditional walk- multiple choice a] after Spirit b] after flesh

2 Two laws - Spirit of life, Sin and death

3 The law - (of sin and death) weak in the flesh God responded by sending His Son - sinful flesh Not: Jesus was a sinner. But: Jesus was a human, could have sinned

4 The law - (of Spirit of life) righteous, follow Spirit

5 The fleshly - mind things of the flesh The spiritual - mind the things of the Spirit

6 Carnal mind = death Spiritual mind = life and peace

7 Carnal mind = Enmity Not subject to God Can not be subject

8 Flesh - can not please God Cannot - A. Impossible B. Don’t desire to C. Not in their nature

9 Christians - Not in the flesh But in the Spirit Spirit - dwells in us No dwelling Spirit? = Not a Christian!

10 Christ in you? Yes! Dead in flesh because of sin Alive in Spirt because of righteousness

Romans 8:11

11 Same Spirit - Raised Christ from the dead Will raise us from the dead Dwells in Christ and in us.

Romans 8:12

12 Debtors - not to the flesh, Owe flesh nothing. Don’t live after the fleshly nature.

Romans 8:13

13 Play - “What If …? Live after flesh Die Mortify deeds of the body Live

Romans 8:14-17

14 Spirit - Leads us “guard, guide and direct” Makes us sons of God

15 What do you have? Spirit of bondage Fear Spirit of adoption “Abba, Father”

16 Two spirits A. The Spirit = Holy Spirit B. Our spirit = human spirit Witness = A. Eye B. Expert C. have knowledge With each other - not TO, but WITH Children of God

17 Children are heirs OF God Joint-heirs WITH Christ Heirs of all things - Good and Bad Sufferings Glory

Romans 8:18

18 Compare This present time Will be Sufferings Glory

Romans 8:19-23

19 Expectation - What do you expect? Creature - humanity, people of the earth, creation Wait - patience is waiting

20 All creation - animals and man Frustrated - not by our choice By the will of God - in hope

21 Creation - will be delivered from bondage Corruption - death and the decay that follows Liberty - in Christ, freedom - not bondage

22 The whole creation - of living things Groans - moan, wail, gripe, holler Travails - sharp, severe pain Until now - still going on

23 Christians also - same as rest of the world Groan inside - waiting for the adoption Have we been adopted yet?

Romans 8:24-25

24 Hope = Desire AND Expectation Desire only = Wish Expectation only = Dread Ends - in sight, Don’t hope for what you have.

25 Two requirements:

1. Hope for what is not seen yet.
2. Wait patiently for it.

Romans 8:26-27

26 The human spirit - has a role in our life In pain - we do not WHAT to pray for or HOW to pray Our spirit - takes our groans - intercedes for us

NOTE: This is NOT the Holy Spirit because: This spirit cannot express it self in words. Holy Spirit can do this. 2 Timothy 4:1 NOTE: Who is groaning? Fleshly self Who is interceeding? Our spirit How does it do it? v. 27

QUOTES: “The “Spirit” of this passage that makes intercession with groans that cannot be uttered is the human spirit. The context of the two verses indicates clearly that the groaning is done by the spirit of the one who is praying. The word ‘ groanings’ indicates ‘ yearning’ - - our own spirit groans with yearning which we cannot utter, which we cannot make vocal, or put into words: For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” The entire context is based on the initial statement: “For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” The ‘ infirmity’ mentioned is the inability of the mind to put into works our yearnings and our own spirit ‘ helpeth our infirmities’ by making intercession through the groaning, and Christ who searches the heart knows the mind of the one who is praying - - who know the yearnings and the desires which the spirit of the supplicant is unable to express - - he (Christ, our mediator) bears the intercession of our own spirit to God “because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” There is but one divine Intercessor, one Mediator - - Jesus Christ, not the Holy Spirit.” A Review of the New Versions, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., pages 416-417 “Now if we exercise this patience in our corporeal sufferings, the spirit helps us sustain these bodily infirmities; for we do not know when oppressed with bodily pains and infirmities, what we should pray for as suitable to our condition. I, Paul, when groaning under these infirmities, have repeatedly prayed to be delivered from some trials, but the Lord did not deliver me as I expected, or as I prayed, but in a way which I did not expect. I say, then, the spirit itself speaks for us to God; it intercedes for our deliverance by groans which cannot be expressed in words. For although our spirit groans under these bodily afflictions and infirmities, and cannot give utterance to its own desires; yet when patiently bearing these trials, its groans have a meaning which is understood.” Millennial Harbinger, Alexander Campbell, Vol. 1, page 111

27 Our spirit - Searches our heart (soul) Knows the mind (intellect) Makes intercession (see also v. 34) According to the will of God

Romans 8:28

28 V ERY I P ASSAGE

We know - understand, have the information All things - not some, but ALL Work together - two bad things can work together Salt = Sodium and Chloride Water = Hydrogen and Oxygen For Good - REAL ISSUE: WHAT IS GOOD? Not: what I like, brings me pleasure But: what glorifies God, pleases God TEST: Is a raise (promotion) good? Is fishing good? Is a heart attack good? Is cancer good? To them - Love God Called by His purpose

Romans 8:29

29 Foreknowledge - to know before - in reference to people Predestinate - to know before - in reference to events A. Before foundation of world Ephesians 1:4-6 B. Two kinds - 1] Personal 2] Class or group Firstborn - two kinds A. The first in order of arrival B. First in importance and prominance Isaac was the “firstborn” of Abraham

Romans 8:30

30 Called - How? Were you called? Preachers called? Justified - pronounce as righteous, aquittal Glorified - brought up to standard of Jesus

Romans 8:31

31 God and a Christian = a majority Who could be against us?

Romans 8:32

32 Think how much God loves us. Will he not also take care of us? give us things?

Romans 8:33-34

33 Who dares to: A. Blame God for our problems? B. Charge God with neglect? abandonment? Job charged not God foolishly. Neither should we.

34 Would you blame Christ? A. He DIED for you. B. He was raised from the dead. C. He is sitting on the throne of heaven. D. He makes intercession for us. NOTE: Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) = message carrier Intecessor = plead our case, on our side

Romans 8:35

35 Get the question down first. NOT: Will God abandon us? stop loving us? BUT: Will we abandon the love God offers us? HERE IS A LIST OF REASONS THAT ONE MIGHT DECIDE TO STOP LOVING GOD! Tribulation = a pressure, a pressing, anything that burdens the spirit Distress = a necessity imposed by external circumstances, lack of material things Persecution = put to flight, drive away, to be pursued Famine = hunger, a lack of food supply Nakedness = lack of sufficient clothing Peril = a risk, a danger, jeopardy Sword = short sword, dagger, violence, Greek “machaira” = machete, jungle knife

See Romans 8:38

Romans 8:36

36 Here is a statement from Scripture. Do you believe it? “We are killed all day long.” “We are like sheep headed for the slaughter.”

Romans 8:37

37 In all of the things listed above: “WE ARE MORE THAN " All a conqueror can do is take over. Through Christ we control, own, judge, create, destroy, manage, tear down, re-build WHY? Not on our own. But, because JESUS LOVES ME.

Romans 8:38-39

38 Here are some more things to add to the list of v. 35 Death = spearation of the soul from the body Life = Greek “Zoe” and “Bios” (Zoe used here.) Bios = alive vs. dead. Biologically alive Zoe = lifestyle, manner of life Life includes all the best that God has to offer us. Angels = a messenger, one delivering a message Principalities = area or territory under rule Powers = of things or people with power or might Things present = to stand in, to be present Things to come = what is to happen is certain, sure

39 Height = barrier, obstacle to overcome Depth = contrast with above, water barriers Any other creature = any created thing I love God. Nothing else matters. Nothing can change my relationship to God (except my own decision) to stop loving God.