These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Romans 8:1-11
- 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!
- Seeing the War…
- Having given us the CHOICE – slave to SIN or a slave to the LORD – Romans 6:16
- And having shown us that the LAW cannot HELP us win the WAR against sin – Romans 7:14
- It ONLY has the power to reveal how SINFUL we are [sold to sin]
- Wanting to RELATE to us and our struggles – Paul shared his own BATTLE…
- He did NOT understand why he KNEW the right things to do – and he WANTED to – but he did NOT…
- That is when he realized – there was NOTHING good in his FLESH…
- The DESIRE to live Godly was there – but the question was HOW to do it [not through the flesh]!
- Losing the Battle…
- Paul found as a RULE – evil was always present within him…
- Because his SPIRIT [inner man] was excited to keep the LAW of God…
- But there was another LAW in his body [members] that took him CAPTIVE…
- His FLESH was at war with his SPIRIT – in a battle to control his MIND – Galatians 5:17
- To which he said – WRETCHED [worn down] man that I am – WHO will save me…
- The answer was to stop looking within – and instead look UP and see Jesus!
- 1st – Our Position… vs. 1–4
- 1st – Not Condemned… vs. 1
- In Christ…
- There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus!
- 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 [wrong WHO]
- 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…
- CONDEMNATION [κατάκριμα] – to bring JUDGEMENT [κρίνω] down [κατά] upon someone!
- Jesus is NOT surprised when we make MISTAKES [He knows everything]
- When He was in the garden of Gethsemane – He told Peter about the denial [three times]
- But He also added – He knew Peter would RETURN to the Lord – Luke 22:32
- God had seen the FAILURE – but also that Peter would see the SOLUTION!
- We are NOT condemned when we are in Christ Jesus…
- CONVICTION is good – the work of the Spirit telling us to REPENT – John 16:8
- But too often we FOCUS on our failures – dwell on our mistakes…
- We are disappointed and frustrated – that we CANNOT keep ourselves from SIN…
- But when we are FOCUSED on our MISTAKES – we are NOT looking to Jesus…
- We CONDEMN ourselves – even though God does NOT judge us [κατάκριμα]
- We need to get our eyes off ourselves – and put them back onto the Lord!
- I John 3:20 – “For if our heart condemns us God is greater than our heart.”
- In the Spirit…
- Who do not walk according to the flesh – but according to the Spirit!
- This second phrase is NOT found in every Bible translation [from the Textus Receptus]
- Some argue it was added later [not original] – by taking it from the statement in – Romans 8:4
- Yet it fits the context – making it VALID as a DEFINITION of those who are NOT judged…
- Those NOT in Christ – have lives that are DEFINED by walking [present] in the FLESH…
- But [ἀλλά] those in Christ – are DEFINED by walking [present] in the SPIRIT…
- They are the ones who will NOT be JUDGED [κατάκριμα] by the LORD!
- No CONDEMNATION – does NOT mean we are free to continue in our SIN…
- The point is that we should see we CANNOT live a GODLY life in our own strength [flesh]
- And therefore should examine our lives – to verify that we are DEFINED by the SPIRIT!
- 2nd – Set free… vs. 2-3
- Life and death… vs. 2
- For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death!
- There are TWO laws that are at WAR within us – Romans 7:22-23
- LAW [νόμος] – not referring to RULES – but rather POWERS [governing principals]
- The POWER of the Holy SPIRIT – that gives us ETERNAL life…
- And the POWER of our SIN nature [singular] – that ultimately leads to our DEATH…
- But the POWER of the SPIRIT has set us FREE from the POWER of SIN!
- Weak flesh… vs. 3
- For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh!
- For [γάρ] the LAW of Moses did NOT [ἀ] have the POWER [δυνατός] to make us RIGHTEOUS…
- Not that the LAW lacked ANYTHING – it was PERFECT – Romans 7:12
- The problem is it was always [imperfect] too WEAK as a result of [διά] our FLESH!
- How many times do we have to make the PROMISE to ourselves…
- We will NEVER drink again – NEVER look again – NEVER say that again…
- Only to do it all over AGAIN – because our FLESH is WEAK…
- The problem is NOT with the RULE – it is our ability to KEEP the RULE!
- Powerful God… vs. 3
- God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh!
- Therefore God did what the LAW of Moses could NEVER do…
- He sent His only SON [Jesus] – in a body like ours [ὁμοίωμα] – but without SIN!
- Philippians 2:6-7 – “Being in the form of God [He] did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but made Himself of no reputation… and [came] in the likeness [ὁμοίωμα] of men.”
- Jesus did what NO other person has ever been able to do…
- God became a MAN – so He could live a PERFECT life…
- He fulfilled all 613 LAWS of Moses – never breaking one LAW even once – Matthew 5:17
- And by doing so He showed us He has the POWER to overcome SIN!
- The definition of insanity – is doing the same thing and expecting different results…
- Since we always FAIL in our attempt to be GODLY – why do we keep TRYING the same thing…
- We are NOT going to overcome SIN in our own POWER…
- Why not rather look to the one how has proven He has the POWER to make us RIGHTEOUS!
- 3rd – Righteous… vs. 3-4
- Fulfilled… vs. 3-4
- On account of sin He condemned sin in the flesh.
- That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us!
- How does God give us the POWER to live RIGHTEOUS…
- God through His SON – sent down [κατά] His JUDGEMENT [κρίνω]
- He offered Jesus on the CROSS as payment for our SIN…
- So that the RIGHTEOUS of the LAW of Moses might [subjunctive] be FULFILLED [passive]!
- II Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Christ who never sinned – to be the offering for our sin – so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
- This is what separates RELATIONSHIP from RELIGION…
- RELIGION is a set of RULES that people follow to try and be ACCEPTED by God…
- But all RELIGION will always FAIL – because they are dependent on US!
- In contrast life in the SPIRIT is NOT about what we have to do…
- It is about what Jesus and His POWER can do though us…
- It is living a TRANSFORMED life – A RIGHTEOUS life – through Jesus Christ!
- Not the Flesh… vs. 4
- Who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit!
- How do we LIVE this RIGHTEOUS life…
- It is NOT keeping the LAW – following RULES – or belonging to a RELIGION…
- It comes down to WHO we are looking to make us RIGHTEOUS…
- As we NO longer continually [present] walk according to the FLESH…
- But [ἀλλά] are instead now walking [present] in the SPIRIT!
- This is NOT talking about our SALVATION…
- This is talking about SANCTIFICATION – the power to live a RIGHTEOUS life…
- It is NOT something that we do – it is something the SPIRIT does [passive] in us…
- A life that is NO longer defined by the FAILURE – but by the POWER of God!
- 1st – Not Condemned… vs. 1
- 2nd – Our Focus… vs. 5-11
- 1st – The Mindset… vs. 5
- The Flesh… vs. 5
- For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh!
- How do we KNOW if we are walking in the FLESH or SPIRIT…
- One way to tell is by looking at what our MINDSET is…
- Those who are [present] in the FLESH – THINK [φρονέω] about the FLESH [σαρκὸς]!
- Where do we spend the most of our time thinking about…
- Are we worried about MONEY – or seeking after THINGS to make us happy…
- If we live our lives constantly trying to figure things out on our own – we are in the FLESH!
- The Spirit… vs. 5
- But those who live according to the Spirit – the things of the Spirit!
- Those who are in the SPIRIT – think [present] about the SPIRIT!
- Are we mediating on the LORD – knowing He lacks for nothing…
- Are we focused on the WORD – because it has all the answers…
- Those who live their lives constantly thinking about the LORD – are in the SPIRIT!
- This is NOT instructions on what we need to DO…
- This is clarification on where we ARE – in the FLESH of the SPIRIT…
- Where our FOCUS is – what we always THINKING about – reveals our MINDSET!
- 2nd – The Results… vs. 6-8
- Life and death…v s. 6
- For to be carnally minded is death – but to be spiritually minded is life and peace!
- What we FOCUS on – THINK about – also can be seen in our LIVES…
- Those who are defined by a CARNAL [σαρκὸς] mind – are DEAD [separated from God]
- But those who are defined by the SPIRIT [πνεύματος] – are ALIVE [connected to God]
- And that life can been SEEN because they have PEACE [εἰρήνη]!
- Those who are in the FLESH – have NO peace…
- Because they are DEAD [spiritually] – they have NO power to live Godly…
- But those who are in the SPIRIT – they have PEACE [εἰρήνη]
- Because no matter what our circumstances – we have Jesus!
- Ephesians 2:14 – “For [Jesus] Himself is our peace [εἰρήνη].”
- Opposed to God… vs. 7
- Because the carnal mind is enmity against God.
- For it is not subject to the law of God – nor indeed can be!
- The reason why the CARNAL mind leads to DEATH…
- Is because [διότι] it by nature it is HOSTILE [ἔχθρα] towards God…
- For it does NOT [present – passive] submit [ὑποτάσσω] to the Law of God [νόμῳ τοῦ θεοῦ]
- It does [present] NOT even have the POWER [δύναμαι] to SUBMIT!
- This is where we need to STOP – and LISTEN…
- People look to themselves to try and live a GODLY life…
- But in and of ourselves – we by our NATURE [flesh] – are HOSTILE towards God…
- Because our FLESH will NOT [passive] submit to the commands of God…
- It is NOT a matter of DESIRE – it is a matter of ABILITY!
- Not pleasing… vs. 8
- So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God!
- So then [δέ] those who are in the FLESH [σάρξ]
- Do NOT have the POWER [δύναμαι] to please God [by doing the things in the Law]!
- When Peter – James – and John went with Jesus in the Gethsemane…
- He commanded [imperative] them to WATCH and PRAY with Him…
- But as hard as they tried – instead they fell ASLEEP!
- Matthew 26:41 – “The spirit indeed is willing – but the flesh is weak.”
- I know people who put on Bible teachings to help them sleep…
- It is amazing how fast our FLESH wants to ignore the WORD of God…
- Which is why anyone trusting in themselves – CANNOT live a life pleasing to God!
- 3rd – Not alone… vs. 9-11
- Spirit of God… vs. 9
- But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit – if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.
- Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ – he is not His!
- Having laid out the contrast of our FOCUS – what we THINK about…
- Paul assures us we are [present] NOT in the FLESH – [ἀλλά] we are [present] in the Spirit…
- If indeed [indicative] – the SPIRIT of God lives [present] within us…
- If anyone does NOT have [present] the SPIRIT of Christ – they do NOT belong to Him!
- The word SPIRIT [πνεῦμα] is used three times here…
- Our SPIRIT [dative] – speaking of our reborn spirit that has the POWER to live for God…
- SPIRIT of God – speaking of the Holy Spirit – the third person of the Godhead…
- SPIRIT of Christ – also the Holy Spirit – because Christ is also God!
- I Corinthians 6:19 – “Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.”
- We might ask – do we have the HOLY Spirit within us…
- Either we have the HOLY Spirit living is us – or we are NOT saved…
- It is NOT possible to have faith in Christ – and NOT have the SPIRIT of Christ…
- Therefore we all have the ABILITY to live GODLY…
- Because we have ACCESS to the POWER of the SPIRIT who lives within us!
- Eternal life… vs. 10
- And if Christ is in you the body is dead because of sin.
- But the Spirit is life because of righteousness!
- IF Christ is in us [assumed true] – although our BODY [flesh] will die because of SIN…
- Yet our SPIRIT will LIVE – because we have been made RIGHTEOUS by God!
- Nicodemus came to speak with Jesus at night looking for HOPE – John 3
- But Nicodemus was looking for a PHYSICAL answer to a SPIRITUAL problem…
- Jesus told him to be BORN again – an amazing description of solution!
- When we received Jesus by faith – we were BORN again – I Peter 1:3
- NOT physically – these bodies are going to DIE…
- But we are BORN again spiritually – and will live FOREVER with Jesus…
- Because when we are born TWICE – we will only die ONCE!
- Victorious life… vs. 11
- But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.
- He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies.
- Through His Spirit who dwells in you!
- IF [assumed true] the SPIRIT of God – who raised up Jesus from the DEAD…
- DWELLS [present] in us – He will also give LIFE [indicative] to our frail [θνητός] bodies…
- Through the POWER of His SPIRIT – that lives [present] in us!
- We all live on our CELL phones – give us directions – instructions – communication…
- Yet they can do us NOT good if they run out of BATTERY…
- But if we try and plug them into something that has NO power [tree – dirt]
- They are NOT going to be able to do what we need them to!
- We are trying to live a GODLY life – know where to go – what to do – talk to God…
- But too often we are plugging into the WRONG power source…
- Why not plug into the same POWER that brought Jesus back from the DEAD…
- The same POWER that was able to overcome SIN…
- That is the POWER God has put inside of us – the POWER of His SPIRIT…
- So that we can have the CONFIDENCE – there is NO condemnation!
- 1st – The Mindset… vs. 5