Romans 8

Earlene Davis

The theme of this book of Romans is the GOSPEL, which means GOOD NEWS.  The good news is called “The Gospel of God (Ch. 1:1) – it is the Gospel of His Son, Christ or the Anointed (1:9,16). The Trinity (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) are vitally involved in the Gospel - the teaching of the person and work of Christ on the cross.

 Telling sinners that Christ died for them, is only a little part of the Gospel. As believers we are responsible before God to know His Word. Bibles are very assessable, also God has given the Holy Spirit to guide us into all the truth (Jn. 14:26). Many teach renovating the old nature, which is absolutely unscriptural. 

God’s Word informs us of the end of the “old man,” dead in Christ, and we arose with Him in a new life, the New Creation life. We can reign in life by one Christ Jesus, as we yield to the new life and count the old life dead (Ch. 6). We also learned we are dead to the Law through Christ’s death (Ch. 7) and joined to Another, the Risen Christ. 

Paul experienced no power to obey the law, sin just brought him into condemnation, because the law made sin to abound. Paul came to the end of his legal efforts and despaired of ever keeping the law (7:24) Then he got a glimpse of what the gospel really  meant (V. 25). He saw Jesus Christ not only saved him from past sins, but from the ever present sin. He ceased struggling to obey the law, and was assured that God was able to work in him as he trusted and yielded. 

Ch. 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” The phrase “who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit” is not in the original Greek text. It was added by the translators in error. It is in its proper place at the end of V. 4 where the believers manner of walk is described. Putting it in V. 1 would make our safety in Christ dependant on our walk and not upon the Spirit of God. All in Christ are safe from condemnation and it is plainly taught throughout the epistles. Our security does not depend on our walk, it is our position, “in Christ.” 

V. 2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” The Holy Spirit was only mentioned once in the previous chapters, but now in Chapter 8 we learn God’s way of delivering us from indwelling sin. The Holy Spirit by His presence and power that sin is overcome. Ch. 6 taught us to reckon ourselves dead and to yield to God and sin shall not have dominion. The Holy Spirit was not named as the power of such victory. But Ch. 8 gives the process of this wonderful deliverance. It is the mighty Holy Spirit who actually frees us from sin’s power, because of Christ’s intercession in our behalf.

I love Romans 8, it is full of the truth of our eternal security. The weary, troubled souls find rest and hope. The chapter begins with “no condemnation” for those in Christ and the chapter ends with “no separation” from Him.

Vs. 1 & 2 does not refer to the guilt of sin, for that was dealt with on the cross. It refers to the power of sin, which must be put down in us by the Spirit of Life. The Holy Spirit’s work in us is called a law because His operation in us is constant as much as sin has been in its operation. The law of the Spirit is stronger than the law of sin in our members. Sin in us will be immediately put down on the single condition of FAITH. If our will is rebellious, we are not able to believe and the Holy Spirit cannot do what He could and would do.

God’s way of deliverance from sin’s power is not by  our struggling, but by the working of the Holy  Spirit in the power of the life of Christ, as we believe. We don’t want sin to rule in us, for sin has no right to rule whatsoever. To know this and believe, is to enter absolute victory over our former master, that practical righteousness may be our experience. 

God conceived this wonderful plan of salvation for  man. He sent His “Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” On Calvary sin was judged forever (Vs. 3 & 4). We are made to reign over our former taskmaster in the power of the Spirit (what the law was unable to make us do). If we let the Holy Spirit control us (walking as he leads) we will be doing God’s will. 

We are not keeping anything. The Holy Spirit is the keeper. He is walking in us as we yield our members to Him. If we simply walk in Him we are assured we “shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” The Holy Spirit has undertaken the whole matter, but we must surrender to Him. Then the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, not by us.

In the following verses, Paul gives 2 elements that are entirely separate and distinct (the flesh and the spirit) (Vs. 5 & 6). They do not mix, they are opposite. We are living either minding the flesh or minding the spirit. They are easily recognized (V. 7). We learn God’s attitude toward the flesh (V. 8).

The truth of the 2 natures in the believer is so important to know and understand. Everything is dependant on our faith. By faith we believe we have passed out of the  place of darkness and into the kingdom of life and light. We reckon we are in Christ and he in us.

 Vs. 9 & 10, “In the spirit” refers to our new standing in a New Head, into Christ the spiritual man. The Spirit of Christ tells of our new nature that results from our new birth in Christ, the Last Adam. We were once dead spiritually, but we are alive because Christ’s life dwells in us. There is complete identification with Christ in our spirit, though as to our body we are not yet alive. Our spirit is quickened by the Holy Spirit (that is life and this life can never be touched with death because of righteousness). Death has no power over the New Creation life. When the body dies, our spirit and soul goes to heaven. 

Death claims the body of the believer and the unbeliever, but the believer’s body will be raised after going back to dust. Just as God breathed life into man by the Spirit, even so the believer’s body will be raised from the dust by the Spirit. (V. 11).

I Thess. 4 tells us, “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who sleep in Jesus will God bring forth (the body). “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and the dead in Christ shall rise. I Jn. 3, it doeth not appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like Him (having a glorified body like our Lord). By faith we believe what God has said.

Vs. 12-13, We are debtors, but not to the flesh, we owe the flesh nothing. We are in the Spirit realm and the mighty Spirit of God will rule as we yield to God. All depends on our attitude to Him – life or death, referring to our body. The spiritual part of the believer is as eternal as God Himself; though as to his fellowship with God, we can die prematerial. We owe it to God to surrender our bodies to Him and we will enjoy a life of victory in Christ (Ch. 12:1).

Concerning the Spirit of God dwelling in us - it is important to compare scripture with scripture. When we are born of God by receiving Jesus, that new life takes place by the Spirit of God (Jn. 3:5-8). Just like we read, Mary conceived of the Holy Ghost – Mt. 1:20 & Lk. 1:35. When we are saved, we are in a new realm of the spirit (Col. 1:13). Jesus said, the Spirit of Truth dwelleth with you and shall be in you” – Jn. 14:17. The Father giveth the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him (Lk. 11:13). We read in Eph. 1:13, “After that we believe, we were sealed or anointed with the Holy Spirit of promise and Eph. 4:30, “sealed unto the day of redemption.”

To be continued