These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Victory over Sin:
- Romans 6 – the CHOICE – do not continue in SIN
- Romans 7 – the BATTLE – we still struggle with SIN
- Romans 8 – the VICTORY – we overcome SIN by the power of the SPIRIT!
- Our Position…
- There is a WAR inside of EVERY one of us – between our FLESH and our SPIRIT…
- We KNOW what we should do – and our SPIRIT wants to do the right thing…
- Yet too often we make the WRONG choice – we FALL into SIN…
- Our FAILURE comes because we looked within for an ANSWER [to ourselves]
- But the moment we see WE are NOT the solution – and instead look to Christ Jesus…
- There is NOW [νῦν] therefore [ἄρα] – NO [οὐδέν] CONDEMNATION
- Because what the LAW could NOT do because of our WEAKNESS [in the flesh]
- Jesus showed us He can do – He came in the FLESH – yet lived a PERFECT life…
- Showing us we need to walk by the power of the SPIRIT and NOT the flesh!
- Our Focus…
- One way to tell if we are in the FLESH of SPIRIT is by looking at what our MINDSET…
- If we are in the SPIRIT – we will be thinking about the things of the SPIRIT…
- And the RESULT will be that we have LIFE and PEACE…
- But the FLESH is NOT able to do what is right – and CANNOT please God…
- Yet we do NOT have to live by the FLESH – because we have the SPIRIT of God within us…
- And the same POWER that raised Jesus from the dead – can give us a VICTORIOUS life!
- 1st – Our Debt… vs. 12-13
- 1st – Not to the Flesh… vs. 12-13
- Therefore brethren we are debtors – not to the flesh – to live according to the flesh.
- For if you live according to the flesh you will die!
- Therefore [Ἄρα οὖν] – a very strong connecting phrase – drawing a conclusion…
- Brethren [believers] – in light of our POSITION and our FOCUS…
- We are [present] DEBTORS [ὀφειλέτης] – the question is WHOM we owe a DEBT to…
- Certainly NOT to our FLESH – it has done NOTHING for us…
- IF [indicative] we live [present] according to the FLESH – we are destined to [infinitive] DIE!
- We understand the feeling of being OBLIGATED to someone who HELPS us…
- We can feel like we owe them – we are in DEBT to them for what they did…
- If we go so someone and ask to borrow some MONEY…
- And they agree – but then in the end – they do NOT give us anything…
- Their promise does NOT equate to actually being of any HELP!
- The FLESH can make LOTS of promises to us…
- But in the end it will ALWAYS fail to deliver – it ONLY brings DEATH…
- Therefore we are under NO obligation to the FLESH – we owe it NOTHING!
- 2nd – To the Spirit… vs. 13
- But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live!
- But IF [indicative] we instead continually [present] put to death the works of the BODY…
- The contrast is intentional – do NOT live by the FLESH – which bring DEATH…
- Instead put to DEATH the works of the FLESH – by the SPIRIT – and LIVE…
- Because our DEBT is to God – to NOT live [present] in the FLESH [σάρκα]
- We are OBLIGATED to the SPIRIT – because only then do have VICTORY…
- We have a new IDENTITY – we are now living by the SPIRIT!
- If we have a BROWN out – and there is NO power…
- We can keep trying to turn on a light switch – but it will NOT work…
- But if we have a GENERATOR that has already PROVEN reliable…
- We connect to the power source we KNOW can provide LIGHT!
- Our FLESH has already proven that it CANNOT give us victory over SIN…
- Yet the SPIRIT of the God who raised Jesus from the DEAD now lives within us – Romans 8:11
- So why would we continue depending on the FLESH that continually FAILS…
- God has given us His SPIRIT – the source of LIFE and POWER…
- Therefore we owe the FLESH NOTHING – our lives now belong to GOD…
- ONLY through dependence upon the SPIRIT can we live the GODLY life He desires!
- I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price – therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit.”
- 1st – Not to the Flesh… vs. 12-13
- 2nd – Our Identity… vs. 14-17
- 1st – New Definition… vs. 14
- Led by the Spirit…
- For as many as are led by the Spirit of God!
- As we live a life dependent on [in debt] to the SPIRIT…
- We are continually [present] LED [passive] by the SPIRIT of God!
- Because ALL of us are FOLLOWING [passive] someone – the question is WHO…
- Most FOLLOW the world – that is where they find their IDENTITY…
- Posting on Social Media – hoping to find ACCEPTANCE by their peers…
- Finding excuses for their FAILURES – rather than seeking true FREEDOM…
- The BLIND leading the BLIND – never sure of where to go…
- But when we live in the SPIRIT – we find He is the one who is DIRECTING us…
- No longer LOST – no longer FAILING – we have a new DEFINITION!
- Children of God…
- These are sons of God!
- Those who are LED [passive] by the SPIRIT of God…
- Are [present] now DEFINED as the CHILDREN of God!
- The Pharisees thought they were obeying the commands of God…
- But all they did – they were doing according to their FLESH…
- Therefore all their WORK did not bring them closer to God…
- Instead their confidence in the FLESH kept them from the LORD…
- And when Jesus confronted them – He told them who their FATHER was!
- John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do.”
- We can ONLY belong of one of TWO Fathers – I John 3:10
- We either belong to this WORLD [live by the flesh] – or to God [live by the Spirit]
- We do NOT want to follow this WORLD – be blinded by satan – II Corinthians 4:4
- Instead LIVE in the SPIRIT – being continually LED by Him…
- Showing that we BELONG to the LORD – we are His CHILDREN!
- 2nd – New Beginning… vs. 15-16
- Bondage…
- For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear!
- Because we did NOT receive a spirit of that made us fearful [φόβος] SAVES [δουλεία]
- God is NOT demanding that we live a Godly life – whip in hand when we make a mistake!
- An EMPLOYEE [δουλεία] is always under pressure to perform…
- If they do NOT do their JOB – then they might very well be fired!
- Too many Christians live their life like they are an EMPLOYEE…
- They see the RULES of the Bible as their INSTRUCTIONS to follow…
- And they in FEAR of what the BOSS might do if they FAIL to keep them…
- As if God is an ANGRY master ready to PUNISH them!
- Adopted…
- But you received the Spirit of adoption!
- We have NOT received a spirit of BONDAGE [employee]
- BUT [ἀλλά] – strong contrast rejecting one idea [slave] and replacing it with another [son]
- We received [aorist] the Spirit that says we have been ADOPTED as children…
- ADOPTION [υἱοθεσία] 5x in NT – literally to APPOINT [τίθημι] as a SON [υἱός]
- In Roman culture – adoption was a very common practice [three consequences]
- FIRST – the ADOPTED child lost all ties to their former family [new definition]
- SECOND – the past of the ADOPTED child was forgotten [new beginning]
- THIRD – the ADOPTED child became an heir of his new Father [new inheritance]
- We were NOT born as children of GOD – we were the children of WRATH – Ephesians 2:3
- But by the GRACE of God – through the work of the SPIRIT of God…
- We were ADOPTED out of this world – and into the family of God…
- When a child is BORN into a family – a father did NOT have a choice…
- But when a child is ADOPTED – it means the Father chose that child…
- Meaning God chose us – knowing EVERY flaw and foolish thing we would ever do…
- He WANTED to make us His child – give us a NEW beginning!
- Ephesians 1:4-5 – “He chose us… having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will.”
- Abba Father…
- By whom we cry out – Abba Father!
- CHILDREN do NOT fear failure like EMPLOYEES do…
- CHILDREN have the RIGHT to cry out [present] to their ABBA…
- ABBA – Aramaic word for FATHER [3x in NT] – also Galatians 4:6 – Mark 14:36
- God is our LOVING father – who is there to help us live RIGHTEOUSLY…
- And when we FALL [not if] – we get to CRY out to our PAPA for help!
- When we were in Israel – we were walking in the Jewish quarter…
- A little Jewish boy was running to his dad – crying out ABBA – ABBA…
- And his dad immediately came over and picked him up in his loving arms!
- Whatever mistakes – sins we committed before are forgotten – Hebrews 10:17
- As far as God is concerned we have no past – all our sins are gone in Jesus…
- And when we struggle we get to CRY out ABBA [Papa]
- Our PAPA in Heaven is always there for us – every time we cry out to Him…
- He will ALWAYS make the time to be there for us – be there to help us!
- Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- The Witness… vs. 16
- The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God!
- The PROOF of who we belong to is a BIG deal…
- We have agencies [PSA] and certificates [birth] dedicated to this purpose…
- How can we be certain that we are indeed now the CHILDREN of God…
- It is the SPIRIT of God – that bears WITNESS [συμμαρτυρέω] with our SPIRIT!
- Ephesians 1:13-14 – “You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance.”
- When I proposed to Jen – I gave her a fancy ring as a WITNESS…
- It was a way of CONFIRMING I would spend my life with her – just as I PROMISED!
- There is no PSA where we can check for PROOF of our Heavenly adoption…
- How do we KNOW that we are INDEED the children of God…
- The answer is God has put His HOLY Spirit inside of us as a GUARANTEE…
- The VICTORY we have over sin – the TRANSFORMED life we have through the SPIRIT…
- If far more powerful EVIDENCE of our new IDENTITY than any paper could ever be!
- 3rd – New Inheritance… vs. 17
- Joint heirs…
- If children then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ!
- IF we are the CHILDREN then we are HEIRS…
- HEIRS [κληρονόμος] 15x in NT – to have an INHERITANCE [lot]
- As CHILDREN of God – our inheritance comes from God…
- What is the INHERITANCE God gives to us – we share in the one He gave to Jesus…
- Because we are JOIN heirs [συγκληρονόμος] with Jesus Christ!
- What has God promised Jesus will INHERIT…
- The NATIONS and the WHOLE earth – Psalm 2:8
- God appointed His SON as HEIR [κληρονόμος] to all things – Hebrews 1:2
- God promised to give Him the THRONE of David – Luke 1:32
- This is where we need to SLOW down and ask very carefully…
- What does it MEAN then that Jesus shares His INHERITANCE with us…
- It means that we will RULE over the earth with Christ – II Timohty 2:12
- And that God will give us EVERYTHING [His kingdom] – Luke 12:32
- To the extent we will even sit beside Him on His throne – Revelation 3:21
- This is the INHERITANCE of those who are the CHILDREN of God!
- Suffering…
- If indeed we suffer with Him!
- SINCE [indicative] – we SUFFER [present] with Jesus…
- This gives us the ASSURANCE of what comes before the INHERITANCE…
- We are going to go through HARD times while we are still in the FLESH…
- How do we KNOW that – because that is what Jesus went through…
- Jesus was able to ENDURE the cross – His SUFFERING…
- Because of the JOY set before Him – He was looking to the INHERITANCE!
- Hebrew 12:2 – “Who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross – despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God!”
- It was the PLAN of God for Jesus to DIE for the sins of all men…
- But Jesus did NOT desire to SUFFER – He did NOT want to go to the cross…
- And He could have walked away at any point – spared His life – avoided death…
- Yet Jesus prayed – NOT My will but Yours be done – Luke 22:42
- Jesus ENDURED knowing what came AFTER the cross!
- How do we ENDURE the SUFFERING set before us in life [take up our cross] – Luke 9:23
- We do what Jesus did – we look to the REWARD – we look to the INHERITANCE…
- Yes we are going to SUFFER in this life – we are going to BATTLE with our FLESH…
- But we have a NEW identity – we are NOT defined by our FAILURES…
- We have the SPIRIT of God living within us – giving is HOPE!
- Glory…
- That we may also be glorified together!
- That even though we SUFFER – even though we are at WAR…
- We hope one day to be [subjunctive] GLORIFIED [aorist] with Jesus…
- Our GLORY will come [future] at the END – when we go to be with the LORD!
- Our BATTLE with the FLESH is not one that lasts a DAY…
- We are going to struggle with it until the DAY when we see the Lord…
- And there are going to be GOOD days and BAD days…
- The GOOD days will come when we are LED by the SPIRIT of God…
- The BAD days will come when we fall back on our FLESH…
- But even in those BAD days it does NOT change our IDENTITY…
- We are still the CHILDREN of God – and can cry out ABBA…
- And the LORD will pick us up – dust us off – as we come back to the SPIRIT…
- Knowing that ONE day – we all of this will be WORTH it…
- As we INHERIT together with Jesus – EVERYTHING!
- 1st – New Definition… vs. 14