Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (9.3)

The Epistle to the Romans

Romans 8:1-13 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Deliverance from Bondage

v.l A Christian will not face condemnation because Jesus Christ suffered in his place at the Cross. However, not every one who claims to be a Christian is truly a Christian. The proof of genuine Christianity is a sanctified life (ie, one who walks not after the flesh, but after the Spirit).

When a Christian is saved (justified), he will be sanctified. In other words, imputation of righteousness is should be followed by impartation of righteousness. In other words, a convert first has Christ’s righteousness put into his account (ie, imputation), then has Christ’s righteousness put into his character (ie, impartation of Christ’s righteousness).

v.2 If we are in Christ, then we have the Holy Spirit who gives us life (both spiritual life, and eternal life). This is so certain that Paul calls it the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. A law is something that is sure (eg. the law of gravity).

If we believe that we are saved by our obedience to the Law, we will continue in sin and be condemned to death. This scenario is so sure that it is also called a law – the law of sin and death. When we trusted in Christ as our Saviour, we were free from the law of sin and death.

v.3 There is nothing wrong with the Law, but sinful men are morally too weak (ie, weak through the flesh) to obey it.

Though Christ had a sinless nature (LUK 1:35 "that holy thing", 1PE 2:22), yet He had the infirmities of sinful men (eg. a body that aged). In this sense, he was in the likeness of sinful flesh.

Jesus came as a sacrifice for sin. The result of His sacrifice, condemned sin in the flesh, ie, defeated sin in us.

v.4 The righteousness of the law can only really be fulfilled in us who are controlled by the Holy Spirit, not those who live according to their own desires or those who think that they can with their own strength overcome sin (ie, who walk after the flesh).

v.5 People without the Holy Spirit set their minds (ie, do mind) on the things of the flesh (ie, worldly, temporal things). “Things of the flesh” can also include religion, church affairs, ministries, charitable works etc. - if the motives for doing these works are worldly motives, and not spiritual ones. For example, some people serve in church ministries to get man’s praises. People who have the Holy Spirit desire spiritual, eternal things.

v.6 The mind of the flesh, in which the lost man abides, is death.  Further, to be spiritually minded is life and peace does not refer to a state into which the believer came; but refers to the mind of the Spirit being life and peace.  In neither phrase does God speak of people, but of the flesh and of the Spirit.  If you are according to Spirit, having been born of God, there is indwelling you a mighty One, the Comforter, whose whole mind, disposition, and manner of being and ruling within you, is life and peace.  This life is the life of the Risen Christ, which the Spirit, as “the Spirit of grace,” supplies (HEB 10:29; GAL 3:5): and this “peace” is that of Christ as spoken of in Isaiah:  “of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.”

v.7 The man without the Holy Spirit (ie, the carnal mind) is "naturally" rebellious, ie, enmity against God and His Law (and against most other laws too) - because he is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

v.8 Therefore, an unsaved man cannot be sanctified because his rebellious nature cannot be subject to the law of God.

v.9 If the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, then we are in the Spirit (and we will set our mind on spiritual things). Anyone who claims to be a Christian but has no concern for spiritual things, is not a Christian (ie, he is none of his).

v.10 These two opposing natures (ie, the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness) in the Christian have already been explained in ROM 7:15-24.

v.11 Just as God raised up Christ from the dead in a new glorified body, the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us will also give life (ie, quicken) our bodies as spiritually-alive bodies – which are responsive to spiritual things. An unsaved man is spiritually dead (EPH 2:1). Therefore, an unsaved man has no desire to read the Bible or understanding of it unless he is wooed by the Spirit in search of peace.

v.12 When we realise how wonderfully we are saved, whom we belong to, and what our hope is, we are debtors to lead lives that please God, and not live after the flesh. One of the most important aids to sanctification is our realisation of our privileged position in the family of Christ. Don't forget that we are active partners in sanctification (ROM 6:11).

v.13 Sanctification (victory over sin as provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit) is the best proof of salvation. Therefore, if we do mortify (ie, kill) the deeds of the body, then obviously we are saved - and shall live eternally.