Dread of comprehensive final exams probably haunts the dreams of many of you! Knowing that every detail you had covered week after week must be somehow recovered with accuracy in one exam, gives you the shivers! Some of those tests were for classes outside your major, areas that you may never encounter again. Yet you had to know the details as though it mattered for the rest of your life. You labored just to get through the final and then put aside the contents of what you had studied.
We join this morning to try to comprehensively view Romans 8 but unlike the final exams, we do not dread nor get over its contents. We review because we will see again and again opportunities to draw from the deep well of this chapter and make application in our lives.
Romans eight declares truth to live by until we reach the realm of the “not yet.” It is not that this chapter covers everything we need to know about Christian living but it does offer a comprehensive look at critical areas, especially the believer’s assurance. How do we utilize Romans eight in daily Christian living? Let’s take a sweeping tour this morning into this incomparable text.
As we noted several months back when we began our study in Romans eight, it does not stand on its own feet. This chapter is vitally connected to other portions of the book of Romans. If we try to snatch a verse here or there without keeping in mind its contextual setting, we may grossly misapply it. For instance, some will borrow a portion of 8:28, stating, “You know, God works all things together for good.” They maintain a false confidence in their crisis since they do not consider for whom and why Paul makes that statement. Context explains it.
What is meant by context? Let me simplify it like this. A word relates to the verse where it is found. A verse must be understood by the paragraph where it is located. A paragraph connects with other paragraphs to make up a section or perhaps a chapter, which must be considered to grasp the meaning of the paragraph. A chapter or section relates to the entire book, its theme, purpose, questions it answers, theology, and historical setting. A biblical book is part of the larger body of Holy Scripture so that it must be interpreted in light of the whole Bible. Toss a rock into a smooth lake. Rings begin to ripple outward from the point of impact, extending to the wider body of the lake. The point of your study may be that spot where the rock entered but it does not stand alone, it ripples outward to show that wherever you drop a rock, you are connected to the rest of the lake. Such is the case with Romans 8. So what is Romans eight’s context?
The theme of Romans eight connects with the theme of the whole book, the gospel is God’s power for salvation—God’s righteousness—to all that believe (1:16-17). Paul argues that all men are in sin and all are under the penalty of condemnation by the law. Though the law requires total submission, men remain at variance with it, choosing to follow the inclinations of the heart rather than the revelation of the moral character pleasing to God. Not hearers but doers of the law are justified before God (2:13). But due to the problem of indwelling sin, “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight.” Instead, “through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” (3:20). God does not remove His law to save the elect. His law stands—demanding fulfillment if one is to enter the holy presence of the Eternal God. Yet none of us is capable of fulfilling the law’s demands. Grace enters the scene as God sends His Son to fulfill the law’s demands on our behalf, so that He might be just in declaring sinners justified “through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (3:21-26). Paul returns to this foundation throughout chapter 8 (1-4, 10-11, 23, 30, 32-37).
Chapter 5 explains the effects of condemnation removed, as believers now have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” No less than eight times, Paul uses the preposition “through” to unite the believer to Jesus and His redemptive work. He has peace through Christ (1), he is saved from God’s wrath through Christ (9), he is reconciled to God through Christ (10 & 11), he reigns in life through Christ (17), he is justified through Christ (18), he is made righteous through Christ (19), and consequently, grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Christ (21).
By God’s grace, the sinner is united to Jesus Christ so that His death satisfies the law’s demands for the one believing; His resurrection brings the believer to new life as one reconciled to God. Romans 8 picks up this same emphasis, showing that apart from Christ, a person is “hostile toward God,” with no inclination toward submitting to the law’s demands (8:7). Though formerly alienated, now he belongs to Christ (8:9). The Apostle repetitively uses the phrase “in Christ Jesus,” “in Him,” and “in the Spirit” to express the intensity of relationship that belongs to those whom Christ has redeemed.
By sharing in Christ’s death and resurrection, believers “walk in newness of life” (6:4-7). Paul describes some of the aspects of this new life as a new obligation, putting to death the deeds of the body, and being led by the Spirit (8:12-14). Believers resist the reign of sin, presenting the members of their body as instruments of righteousness to God (6:12-16); and so Romans 8 continues as they go on setting their minds “on the things of the Spirit” and “putting to death the deeds of the body” by the Spirit (8:5, 13). Believers live as slaves of righteousness (6:17-23) even as Paul affirms that they belong to Christ who by the Spirit works in believers to make them, “alive because of righteousness” (8:9-10). Believers depend on the grace of God in Christ for sanctification (7:4-6) even as Paul concludes the certainty of sanctification by God’s definite work in predestining us to conformity to the image of His Son (8:29). Believers recognize the ongoing battle with “sin in the flesh” (7:7-25), and the certainty that God works all things together for the believer’s good and that he overwhelmingly conquers through the love of the crucified, conquering Son (8:28, 37).
Context connects us with the rest of the book of Romans, showing that Romans 8 amplifies much of what Paul has already set forth.
In other words, don’t lose sight of the big picture in Romans 8—that wonderful picture of the believer’s assurance in Christ. Paul looks from multiple angles at assurance and the certainty that those whom Christ redeems will never lose their salvation. He certainly does not give license to those who merely make professions of faith and yet think that their unfruitful lives are Christian. The opening verses insist on the indwelling Spirit and resurrection life as evidence of true faith in Christ. What does the landscape of Romans 8 tell us?
Paul starts with both a legal and relational declaration: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” No condemnation means “no penal servitude,” as F.F. Bruce translated it. The believer no longer lives under the weight of trying to meet the law’s demands for righteousness. He no longer tries to use works of righteousness to appease God’s wrath. He’s no longer condemned! Through God “sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (3-4). The legal requirements calling for our condemnation were met in Christ.
It is also at this point that we see the relational emphasis: the believer is “in Christ Jesus.” He repeats that same kind of language throughout the chapter, reminding us that we are not just delivered from condemnation as though we were put outside the prison walls and left on our own. We’ve been brought into the family! We live in the sphere of relationship to Christ. As Paul explained, “You have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father”” (15). The Apostle was so excited about this that he returned again to the first person plural pronoun, “we.” We belong to Christ; the Father has adopted us into the family; we are now “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.” The Spirit bears witness “with our spirit that we are children of God” (16-17).
God never tires of family! He has purposed to bring those whom He foreknew before the world’s foundation to glory. It is so certain in the purpose of God that the Apostle uses a past tense, “He also glorified,” rather than the expected future tense (30). Though glory lies ahead, it has already begun with our being conformed to the image of God’s Son (29). It continues until the creation itself is “set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” Though we only have the first fruits of the Spirit in this life, we anticipate the total harvest of redemption! We wait “eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body” (21-23).
Why does Paul emphasize the declaration of our deliverance from penal servitude, the family relationship, and both present and future glory? He does it to encourage our perseverance. We see this especially in the conclusion drawn in verse 12. After explaining that Christ dwells in the believer by the Spirit, who is pumping life into our mortal bodies, he writes, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Assurance motivates us to put to death sinful attitudes and deeds. It promotes perseverance.
Aren’t you glad that Paul did not put a footnote at the beginning of this chapter to say that it is only for the spiritual elite? We observe no hierarchy, no second-class citizens in the kingdom, and no distinctions among Christians whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free. He describes us as the no-longer-condemned, those who are in Christ, those who “indeed the Spirit of God dwells,” those whose minds are set on the things of the Spirit, and those foreknown-predestined-called-justified-glorified by God. What he says in these verses belongs to every Christian. Do no say that you have no treasure! Do not say that you are not rich! Read in Romans 8 what is yours and know that you have treasure far greater than the Forbes’ Billionaire list!
Did you notice that there are no imperatives—commands—in this chapter? Instead it is full of indicatives and participles, explaining what belongs to every believer. His intention is to make perfectly clear what it means to be in Jesus Christ. We sometime whine about what we don’t have as Christians. We complain that we don’t have the passion of John Piper or the memory of Andy Davis or the articulation of Al Mohler or the evangelistic clarity of Mark Dever or the boldness of John MacArthur. But my brothers and sisters, you have much more! You are in Jesus Christ! All that belongs to the Redeemer belongs to you!
The broad picture is found in a landscape shot of this chapter but we also need to single out details. We must not lose sight that the entire chapter focuses on the believer’s assurance of relationship to Christ. The Apostle builds layer upon layer in amplifying the certainty and means of assurance. At the heart of it are the layers in verses 12-17.
The flesh no longer has claim on you. You are now obliged to walk after the Spirit. Before Christ, that was impossible—but no longer. The Spirit dwells in you. Think of it—God the Spirit has taken up residence in you (9, 11). Consequently, the focus of your attention has moved from minding the things of the flesh to thinking about the things of the Spirit (5). Your perspective has changed; so have your interests. I did not understand the theology of this as a young Christian but I distinctly remember that the things that vied for my attention and love for so long changed. More and more, my mind gravitated toward God’s Word, obedience, serving Christ, loving the brethren, giving attention to eternal issues, thinking from a Christ-centered worldview. I did not learn to do this by reading a book. The Holy Spirit put this new obligation in me. He verified that what transacted one summer evening in 1969 was no passing fancy but a new set of desires, a new way of thinking, and a new God—the true and living God—to serve.
I use the older term “mortification” because it capsules what verse 13 declares: “by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body.” One way that you know for certain that you are indwelled by the Spirit is that He presses you to die to sin. He does not leave you playing carelessly with sin. He urges you to take action. He makes you uncomfortable with your sinful habits and interests. He grieves when you continue in the habit of sin. He builds urgency in you to take action, to put the sin to death, to discipline yourself against the sin, and to replace it with holy practices.
“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Holy Spirit leadership follows along a clear path. He always leads us to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14). He always leads us to and in the truth of Holy Scripture (John 14:17). He always leads us in the way of understanding and applying Scripture (John 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:6-10). And He always leads us to more and more dependence on the Father through the sufficiency of Christ applied by the Spirit (Rom. 8:15).
“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which you cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” Paul is not just talking about the believer’s position as an adopted child but insists that through the regenerating work of the Spirit, the Christian received a spirit of adoption that gives him the inward, intense, and personal consciousness that God is his Father, and as his Father, he now has the privilege of approaching Him as His child.
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” Here is yet another layer of assurance: the inward, affirming work of the Holy Spirit. Sometime as we worship or read the Scripture or listen to the exposition of Scripture or sing a hymn or meditate on God’s grace, the Holy Spirit overwhelms us with the consciousness that we belong to God through Christ. At other times, we may not be engaged in any particular spiritual discipline, but because we have need of His witness, the Spirit comes to us with such a warmth and consciousness of His presence that we know, “I am His, and He is mine.”
Details in Romans 8 help feed our souls and give encouragement to persevere in obedient faithfulness. So notice the details. We’ve only swept across a few at this point but go back, read, meditate, underline, and ponder anew the wonder of relationship to Jesus Christ.
Don’t just read it but apply the themes of this chapter. Whether in times of doubt or suffering or loss or trials or temptation or weakness, go to this chapter with its context in mind. Plunge into its depths to find solace, healing, peace, and strength. While we can probably identify many applications, I want to zero in on four that stand out in my own meditation.
I’ve worded that intentionally. When Paul opens the chapter with the declaration of “no condemnation,” it immediately takes us to the law. The reason we sense condemnation or penal servitude is due to our failure to obtain righteousness by the law. As Jesus Christ bore the penalty of the law—to satisfy its legal requirements, and as He imputed His righteousness to us—to meet its demands for obedience, He does not toss out the law. Becoming a Christian does not mean that I have nothing else to do with the law since Jesus satisfied its demands on my behalf. Instead, my relationship to the law has changed. It no longer condemns me. It is no longer a master demanding that I measure up. Rather it is now a delight to me because I see in it the revelation of the moral character of God. The Spirit has written the law on my heart, and consequently, enables me to fulfill it in practice. I do not obey the law in order to achieve righteousness. I cannot achieve more than I already have in Christ! But I’m still living in this world and need the regular guidance of the law in my struggle with sin. God’s law is the perfect standard guiding my obedience. So, to “live according to the Spirit” does not put us outside the law but gives us power to obey the law.
Notice the contrast in vv. 6-8 between those who set their minds on the flesh and those who set their minds on the Spirit. Paul describes what is missing in the mind set on the flesh so that by implication, he is showing what is present in those who mind the things of the Spirit. “The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” So what does that imply for the one who minds the things of the Spirit? He is subject to the law of God. He is able to submit to God’s law. While the law’s requirement is fulfilled in us through Christ (v. 4), now the believer is finally capable of obeying the law—not to achieve righteousness but to practice it. That is why he has peace: the law’s penal requirement is satisfied, the law’s moral requirement is satisfied, and now, as the believer obeys the law by the power of the Spirit, the practical righteousness of the law is fulfilled. “God’s commands have now become God’s enablings” [F.F. Bruce in Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, 303-304].
Romans eight shows the marvelous unity in the Godhead. Each member of the Trinity exercises His particular responsibilities. (1) The Father causes all things to work together for good for the elect. He also foreknows, predestines, calls, justifies, and glorifies. He delivered over His Son for our redemption. (2) The Son sets us free from the law of sin and death. Through Him, God freely gives us all things. He frees us from condemnation by His death, resurrection, exaltation, and intercession. His love for us conquers every foe that assails us. (3) The Spirit applies what the Son accomplished at the cross. He indwells us, enables us to submit to the law, aids us in putting to death the deeds of the body, leads us as God’s children, makes us conscious of sonship, testifies of our relationship to God, and helps us in our weakness.
Hope is not the same as wishful thinking. Hope waits on the unveiling of a certainty. Creation anxiously waits for the redemption of our bodies. It lives in hope—and so do we. Hope is the eye for what we do not presently see, the ears for the heavenly sounds we do not presently hear, the taste for the future marriage supper of the Lamb, and the touch of things unseen (18-25).
Can we ask for more than the last paragraph of Romans 8? No foe can level a charge that can stick when God has justified us. No accusation of Satan can condemn us since Jesus died and rose from the dead for us. No tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword can sever us from Christ’s love. Even facing death and persecution, we still overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us with redemptive love. So, “If God is for us, who is against us?” “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Are you convinced of such conquering, assuring love?
Pay attention to the context of Romans 8.
Keep the landscape of Romans 8 in mind as you meditate and apply it.
Notice the details, especially those regarding assurance, as you work through Romans 8.
Live in the outcomes of the Trinitarian work in salvation by applying Romans 8 day after day.
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