As previously stated
the Book of Romans is filled with good news/bad news scenarios. Romans chapter
8 is considered the high water mark of the letter and to those who are Christ’s
there is wonderful news embedded within this section. It begins with one of the
greatest statements of the Gospel there is. It is the opening line of a
narrative that teaches us that there is freedom in the Gospel and we will see
four freedoms we have in Christ in this chapter. The first freedom is freedom
from judgment.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Wow! What a wonderful statement. But it is vital to take
hold of two points here. First of all the word no is huge. It means there is NO
condemnation, none. Why is this so important? I offer two reasons. First of all
if there was even a hint of condemnation in us then we could not have a
restored relationship with God. This obviously has eternal consequences. On an
earthly level no condemnation gives us freedom from guilt and shame in this
life. Far too many Christians do not lay hold of this truth. The sins of your
past are gone, forever banished into the depths of the ocean. And as it says
there is no condemnation. But often Christians think this cannot mean their
sin; it was too heinous. Not so, there is now no condemnation.
The second point though is also very important. As the
verse says in the second half, you must be in Christ Jesus. This means you must
be born again. The Book of Romans is clear in many places, as is the rest of
the Bible that we are saved by faith in Christ. This is what it means to be “in
Christ Jesus.”
Paul explains how this freedom operates.
Romans 8:2-4
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
An important principle needs to be grasped before we go
on. While clearly salvation is a free gift of God and comes from Him, there are
still conditions of salvation that require things of us. Maybe a simple analogy
needs to be given. If the local car dealership gave you a free car that car
does you no good unless you drive it. Some of the conditions of being able to
make use of the free car would be things like having a drivers license, getting
insurance, and even actually getting in the vehicle and starting it. Paul gives us a lesson in this in the next
section.
Romans 8:2-4
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
We have to walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh.
Otherwise we remain enslaved to our sin. Paul reminds us that the law can no
longer claim us, it can’t condemn us, and it cannot control us, not when we
walk in the spirit.
Next we can see that we are free from defeat. Our
failings come through our flesh. But we are free from the defeat of the flesh
when we are Christians.
Romans 8:12-13
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
And more good news; God has not left us to ourselves to
put to death the deeds of the flesh. He has given us the Spirit of adoption
into His family.
Romans 8:14-17
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Thirdly we have freedom from discouragement. Paul tells
us that because of sin the entire creation groans. And so do we. But once again
it is the Holy Spirit who gives us this freedom. Yes we groan because this
world is fallen and broken. Pain, suffering, and sorrows are real things in our
world. Yet we have a sure hope.
Romans 8:23-25
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
But check this out.
Romans 8:26-27
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Even
when we are in such dire straits that we don’t even know what to pray we can
trust that the Holy Spirit is praying for us. And then comes another of the
greatest scriptures of all.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Believe this simple truth and suddenly all of life
changes. God has this. He is working it all out together for good. All of it.
The final freedom we have is the freedom from fear. And
why can be free of fear? Because God is sovereign and He is in control. And God
is for us.
Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This is a quick summation of what Paul has just told us
in that reading. God is for us, Christ
died for us, God has justified us, Christ intercedes for us, and God loves us.
Because God is the one behind all this we can declare
this bold statement. We are more than conquerors. That my friends is very good
news.
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