In vs 1-17 Paul is admonishing the Romans to live as the heirs of God they are—if they are filled with the Spirit. Why? Vs 5 (NIV) Those who live according to the sinful nature, have their minds set on what nature desires. The Amplified refers to the things 'which gratify the flesh'. If this is so, vs 8 – they in the flesh cannot please God. Based on what Paul has already told them in Rom 6:23 – 'the wages of sin is death', he is repeating again in vs 6 (KJV) -- to be carnally minded is death and vs 13 – if ye live after the flesh ye shall die, to implore them of the consequences. What a horrible thought! Not being able to please God and certain death.
The bright side however, does shine as Paul opens with the assurance of (vs 1) – no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus because: vs 3 – God's power unbelievably super-cedes the law's powerless attempts through flesh's sinful nature. Thank God for the blood!
Before he continued on, I wonder if Paul, if physically able, got up and shouted thinking about the words he was about to share regarding our future glory? You can hear the excitement in the words following:
Vs 18-27:
Surely Paul was thinking about his account in 2 Corinthians 11 when he detailed the suffering he had endured and declared – vs 18 (KJV) I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. We weren't made for this world men, and if we are a child of God, that's our hope! We are saved by hope, one we cannot see, yet if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently – the redemption of our body. How can we not be excited about this just as Paul was then, knowing it's ever closer to the coming of the Lord today!
Vs 26-27 remind us of how finite our prayers can be because when we don't know what to pray – the Spirit intercedes with (NAS) groanings too deep for words. He who searches our hearts knows what we should be praying because He knows the mind of the Spirit. Even when we don't have the words, we should let the Spirit speak through us in prayer, (KJV) because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Be encouraged that the Spirit is praying for you!
Aren't you glad you love God and are called according to His purpose? We like to quote vs 28 often, but we need to remember it doesn't tell us all the things in our lives will be good, but rather because of our hope of adoption, everything is working together to get us ready for that adoption day. That's better than good!
Vs 29-39:
I believe this section begins as Peter put it in 2 Peter 3:9 – the Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, when speaking of God foreknowing and predestinating us. He provided this by His death and resurrection for our justification. God called us, justified us, and we shall be glorified. When Pastor McLaughlin mentions every young person needs someone totally crazy about them, young and not as young, here is your comfort— vs 39 (NIV) Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing and no one in this world! We are going to be persecuted men, but we ARE more than conquerors through him that loved us!
Men, let's take vs 31 – If God be for us, who can be against us?, and as REAL men, share this life in the Spirit today.
Tim Jacobs
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Romans 8 is the climax of the entire epistle. It outlines how sinful man is able to overcome his base nature and live in a manner that is pleasing to God and gives him glory.
The Holy Ghost is the means by which we are to accomplish this. He fully explains how:
1. Jesus has condemned sin in the flesh so that we are no longer under its power. He did this through the life he lived on earth and his sacrifice on Calvary. This doesnt mean we won't sin but that it will not have control over our lives. The Holy Ghost permits us to fulfill the spirit of the law through the Spirit of God working within us.
2. Our minds are now not controlled by our fleshly wants and desires but by the mind of Christ. Paul contrasts the mind of sinful man with the new mind of the regenerated man by showing the different attributes of each. The Spirit led man is full of life and peace whereas the sinful man's mind is set on selfish ambitions and rebellion against the will of our Lord.
3. Our bodies are quickened (made alive) together with Jesus as well. This means we not only do we have God's mind, we are also led by the Spirit of God. We live and act on these thoughts in a manner that pleases him. We dress modestly. The communication out of our mouth changes. We avoid worldly pleasures. We pray and study God's word more.
4. He also confirms our sonship with the Spirit crying "Abba father". We know this to be the confirmation of the baptism of the Spirit of God in us by the oral confirmation of his presence. Thereafter, we start to develop a desire to be reunited with our Father who made us heirs to his glory, and the transformation of our mortal bodies into immortal bodies that moth and rust will not corrupt. This causes a gradual focus on heavenly minded things and a progressive reduction in interest in the things of this world.
5. Lastly, God directs our lives in a manner that we eventually become conformed to the image of his Son. This process is continual and leads to our justification. It is the ultimate expression of Jesus' loves for us - his very deep involvement in each of our lives.
Paul sums up the chapter with the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God. With God living in us, controlling our minds, our lives, and our desires, our entire lives are submerged in the love of God which give us the peace and power to reflect our God in everything we do.
Paul Pixley
