Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (9.4)

The Epistle to the Romans

Romans 8:14-23 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Sonship & Sufferings

v.14 We are led by the Holy Spirit (not carried by Him), in the same way that God led the Israelites through the wilderness. In other words, God's children are partners in the process of sanctification, not passengers. Before our salvation, we were led by lusts, worldly fashions, and reason.

v.15 The unsaved man is in bondage to the fear of condemnation. A Christian fears the consequence of sin and subsequent loss of fellowship with God, but does not fear condemnation.  

The Holy Spirit directly assures us in our hearts that we are God's sons (ie, we have received the spirit of adoption). Therefore, we call God "Abba" (literally: papa, which is a term of familiarity for one's father).  A Christian has holy familiarity as he approaches God. Therefore, his prayer should be like a conversation between a son and his father. To practitioners of other religions, prayer is a formal ritual to a faraway “god.” Therefore, they are amazed that we address our God as “Papa” and talk to Him as to a loving father.

v.16 In Greek, the word "spirit" is "pneuma" which means “breath” and is therefore neuter in gender, therefore the personal pronoun must agree with it, hence the phrase the Spirit itself rather than “himself.” The Holy Spirit testifies directly to us (ie, beareth witness with our spirit) that we are the children of God. In other words, the main reason a Christian knows that he is a child of God is that he is assured by the Holy Spirit in his heart that he is God’s child. He knows that he is God’s child because he knows!

v.17 "If” is better translated "because". To be an heir of God is to own all that God owns! We are also joint-heirs with Christ (ie, what Jesus owns, we own!). Therefore, we are the richest people in the world! Understanding of this truth is the key to generous, sacrificial giving – since we know that we are rich, we are able to give. We can be sure that we are heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer. This is not a condition of salvation, but is an effect and evidence of salvation. A saved man will suffer persecution from Satan and from the world.

The ultimate purpose of salvation is that we may be glorified. Salvation is not merely a deliverance from hell, but a restoration of man's lost glory (which he lost in the Garden of Eden). Justification, is the beginning, sanctification is the preparation, and glorification is the aim of salvation. Most Christians think that salvation is merely justification – so they lead unsanctified lives.

v.l8 To reckon is to come to a conclusion after careful reasoning. The Christian's conclusion is that the sufferings of this present time (life) are not worthy to be compared with the glory. Though we are already heirs, in this present life this truth is not yet fully revealed to us but it shall be revealed in the life to come. We are not mere spectators of this yet-to-be-revealed glory, but the glory will be revealed in us. In other words, in heaven not only will our surroundings be greatly improved but we too will be greatly improved.

v.19 The creature (ie, the irrational creation around us – of animals and trees) was cursed when man sinned (GEN 3:17-19). This curse upon man’s surroundings was a major part of man's punishment – causing disease and death of animals and plants. Figuratively speaking, the cursed earth is looking forward to the day that we Christians will be glorified (ie, waiteth for the manifestation of the sons) because the world will also be restored to its former glory on that day – and there will be no more disease and death.

v.20 The creature was made subject to vanity (ie, futility, uselessness, frustration - because of the curse of disease and death upon everything.) All of life is one frustrating cycle of life and death and life and death, etc. Though Adam sinned willingly (voluntarily), the creature did not sin (ie, not willingly) but was an unwilling victim of Adam’s sin. The curse upon the earth was by reason of him (ie, God) who hath subjected it.  Thankfully, this subjection is in hope, because when God cursed the earth for Adam’s sin, He also gave Adam the “plan” of salvation (GEN 3:15)

v.21 Everything in this world decays according to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which is here called the bondage of corruption. In other words, in this world anything that is left to itself eventually decays and falls apart. (This Law alone is sufficient to disprove the theory of evolution.) However, one day the creature will be delivered into the glorious liberty of the children of God, ie, the liberty to grow and develop into fullness of glory.

v.22 The whole creation is pictured here as a woman in labour pains (ie, groaneth and travaileth in pain). Each spring-time is full of promise of new life (“new birth”), only to be followed by disease and death.

v.23 Not only does the creation groan in frustration at the vain cycles of birth, decay and death, but Christians also which have the first fruits of the Spirit (ie, foretaste of the joy and glory to come) also groan in frustration at their weak bodies as they "fight a losing battle" against sickness, and aging, Thankfully, they can wait expectantly for the redemption of their body, and the obtaining of a new body at Jesus' Second Coming.