ROMANS 8 BREAKING THE SHACKLES THAT TIES YOU TO THIS BODY OF DEATH.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,4 so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,7 because 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,8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
"Wretched" we understand, but what is the "body of death" from which he wants to be rescued? A most gruesome picture is that presented by the Roman poet Virgil (70–19 B.C.), with which his audience in Rome might well have been familiar (noted by Bruce, p. 147). In Book Eight of the Æneid, Virgil's epic poem that chronicles the wanderings of Aeneas after the fall of Troy, the horrific cruelty of the Etruscan king Mezentius is told. To punish and torture his living captives, Mezentius tied them face to face with decomposing corpses of those killed in battle, leaving them bound together until the living captive died. Virgil's poetic presentation does little to soften the horror of such a fate:
The living and the dead at his command Were coupled, face to face, and hand to hand,
Till, chok'd with stench, in loath'd embraces tied, The ling'ring wretches pin'd away and died.
—Virgil's Æneid, Book Eight
Now, to understand Romans 8, one must grasp Romans 7. Romans 8:1 contains the word "therefore." When you see the word therefore you have to ask what it is there for! Always, the word therefore refers back to something which preceded it.
In Romans 7 Paul speaks of the STRUGGLE one has with sin.
In Romans 8 he discusses the SUCCESS one can have over sin.
In Romans 7 Paul addresses the AGONY of the flesh.
In Romans 8 he addresses the VICTORY in the Spirit.
In Romans 7 Paul presents the TROUBLE in dealing with oneself.
In Romans 8 Paul presents the TRIUMPH one can have in oneself!
What a contrast. In these two chapters Paul goes from confusion (Why do I do the things I do, and why do I not do better?) to speaking of being a super-conqueror.
The nearer to Christ we live the more light we have to see Him and also in His light to see ourselves. The experience of the godly echoes the longing of Rutherford, 'Sin, sin, sin, this body of sin and corruption embittereth and poisoneth all our enjoyments. Oh that I were home where I shall sin no more'. The knowledge of sin is an important factor in the spiritual life; it keeps us humble and near the Saviour: 'I find it hard to be a Christian', says Rutherford. Travelling to heaven is a great struggle. 'There is no little thrusting and pushing to get in at heaven's gates'. Rutherford did not agree with so many nowadays who think that all their striving and wrestling is over at conversion. The New Testament speaks of watching, giving heed, running the race, striving and agonising, pressing forward, reaching forth and crying to God in relation to God's saints after conversion.
Jonathon Edwards: "When I look into my heart, and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss infinitely deeper than hell." "Often, since I lived in this town, I have had very affecting views of my own sinfulness and vileness; very frequently to such a degree as to hold me in a kind of loud weeping, sometimes for a considerable time together; so that I have often been forced to shut myself up. I have had a vastly greater sense of my own wickedness, and the badness of my heart, than ever I had before my conversion. It has often appeared to me, that if God should mark iniquity against me, I should appear the very worst of all mankind; of all that have been, since the beginning of the world to this time; and that I should have by far the lowest place in hell. When others, that have come to talk with me about their soul concerns, have expressed the sense they have had of their own wickedness, by saying that it seemed to them, that they were as bad as the devil himself; I thought their expressions seemed exceeding faint and feeble, to represent my wickedness.
My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me … like an infinite deluge, or mountain over my head. I know not how to express better, what my sins appear to me to be, than by heaping infinite upon infinite, and multiplying infinite by infinite. When I look into my heart, and take a view of my wickedness, it looks like an abyss infinitely deeper than hell. And it appears to me, that were it not for free grace, exalted and raised up to the infinite height of all the fullness and glory of the great Jehovah, and the arm of his power and grace stretched forth in all the majesty of his power, and in all the glory of his sovereignty, I should appear sunk down in my sins below hell itself; far beyond the sight of every thing, but the eye of sovereign grace, that can pierce even down to such a depth.
Augustus Toplady, December 31, 1767 Upon a review of the past year, I desire to confess that my unfaithfulness has been exceeding great; my sins still greater; God's mercies greater than both…My short-comings and my mid-doings, my unbelief and want of love, would sink me into the lowest hell, was not Jesus my righteousness and my Redeemer.
R M McCheyne A BELIEVER is to be known not only by his peace and joy, but by his warfare and distress…His peace is peculiar: it flows from Christ; it is heavenly, it is holy peace. His warfare is as peculiar: it is deep-seated, agonizing, and ceases not till death.
'Tis a point I long to know, Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord or no? Am I his, or am I not?
But the good news is you are unshackled!
What Paul presents in chapter 8 is a picture of spiritual freedom. You might ask, "Freedom from what? What does spiritual freedom mean?"
WE ARE UNSHACKLED FROM THE PENALTY OF OUR SIN: NO CONDEMNATION: PARDON! 8:1
Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
The child of God is free from the condemnation of failing to keep the Law of God. Every person knows that he or she fails to keep the Law - even if it is a weak, human level of morality which has been established by and for oneself. We can't even keep our own weak, feeble laws, much less keep the high, holy stand of God's Law. But, when we come to Christ, we are freed from all Law. We are not freed because of anything we do or did, but because of what Jesus did for us.
To be sure, those without Christ are already condemned. Look at John 3:18 ...
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
The case cannot be any plainer than that found in John 3:18. If we believe in Him, we are not condemned. If we believe not, we are already condemned. How wonderful is the freedom of the soul that rests entirely on the finished work of Christ on the cross for us.
Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
WE ARE UNSHACKLED FROM THE POWER OF OUR SINFUL NATURE IN CHRIST: A NEW POSITION! 8:2-4
He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free.
Romans 6 In Christ Jesus. In Union with Him!
Rom 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
Martin Luther, the Great Reformer wrote in his commentary on Romans…
It is impossible for a man to be a Christian without having Christ, and if he has Christ, he has at the same time all that is in Christ. What gives peace to the conscience is that by faith our sins are no more ours, but Christ's, upon whom God hath laid them all; And that, on the other hand, all Christ's righteousness is ours, to whom God hath given it. Christ lays His hand upon us, and we are healed. ( MacArthur, Romans 1-8, p.402)
You see, my friend when you are "In Christ" God's judgment and condemnation can not fall on you, because it has already fallen on Him, on your behalf.
In a Bushfire, there seemed to be no way of escape, or no way to outrun the flames being driven by the dry gusty winds. When all seemed hopeless, someone started a fire in the dry grass beneath his feet. The fire quickly spread until it had burned a huge circle and left a scorched earth beneath. They quickly moved into the burned out circle and when the great bush fire reached them they were safe. You see, fire cannot burn where fire has already burned. So it is with the person who is "In Christ." 2,000 years ago he bore the scorching flames of God's wrath for our sin in His own body. And when you are in Christ Jesus, you are safe from the flames of God's judgment. Because the flames of His judgment cannot burn what they have already burned.
In Christ there is no condemnation from God, because all of God's condemnation has already fallen on Him when He bore our sin in His own body on the cross.
Do you want to be safe from the sure fires of God's judgment, then you better be positioned where those fires have already burned. You better be positioned in Christ Jesus.
When you are "in Christ" you cannot be condemned by God, or by the Law because God has already judged all our sin in Christ. If He were to judge us again God would be unjust to do so.
Say it with me: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
When we are placed "in Christ" we become brand new creatures. And everything that we have possessed in way of sin and corruption becomes Christ's, while everything He possesses in way of purity and righteousness becomes ours…
Often people will complain that genetics and upbringing prevent them from serving God. Actually, in Christ we are freed from all former means and all former ways. If only the individual will grasp the idea of the freeing power of the Holy Spirit over all past experiences, knowledge, failures and former participations. Truly accepting what God has given frees you and makes you new in Christ.
A little boy was adopted into a wealthy family. They bathed him. They fed him. Then they took him up to his room and told him to get ready for bed. A short time later his new parents tip-toed into his room and found him lying on the floor. They woke him up and asked why he was on the floor. He said, "I didn't think I was supposed to get up on your bed." Tears came to the eyes of those parents. They lifted him and pulled back the clean covers and placed him the most pristine bed and under the most luxurious sheets he had ever known. Then they said, "Dear son, "this is YOUR bed from now on!.
Child of God, you are under no obligation to the old life – not the words, the deeds, the impulses or thoughts of your former life. Get off the floor and into all that God has given you.
WE ARE UNSHACKLED FROM THE PRISON OF OUR SIN WALKING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT: A NEW POWER!
Long my imprisoned Spirit lay long bound in Sin and nature's night,
Thine eye diffused a quickeneing ray, I woke the dungeon flamed with light,
My chains fell off my heart was free I rose went forth and followed Thee!
The Spirit of God Empowers Us
Verses 4 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. (ESV)
Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The law of sin and death: Not bound to the law to save.
Not bound to the law that provokes sin.
Not bound to the law as a principle that is self-defeating.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE WALING ACCORDING TO THE FLESH OR ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT?
The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in you.
This is not a mere outward fulfilling of the ten commandments, but rather a love for the Lord Jesus and a love for other people. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 10)
"Regeneration, in other words, changed the whole person by changing the love at the heart of the person's being."― Jonathan Edwards
Your mind will be submitted to God and His Law. Vs 7
"True saints are inexpressibly pleased and delighted with ... the things of God." Hypocrites, by contrast, revel in themselves. "The hypocrite has his mind pleased and delighted, in the first place, with his own privilege, and the happiness which he supposes he has attained, or shall obtain." Jonathan Edwards
Where is your mind set?
An old illustration is used of two dogs fighting inside a man. Which one wins? The one I feed the most.
Do you desire to feed on God's Word?
By the Spirit You will put to death the deeds of the body.(13)
You will be led by the Spirit (14)
You will be confident in God's Fatherly love (15)
You will have an inward witness of the Holy Spirit. (16)
Romans 8:1-12 The Holy Spirit and our Sinfulness
Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.3 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,4 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.5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV)
WE ARE UNSHACKLED FROM THE PENALTY OF OUR SIN: NO CONDEMNATION: PARDON! 8:1
WE ARE UNSHACKLED FROM THE POWER OF OUR SINFUL NATURE IN CHRIST: A NEW POSITION! 8:2-4
He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free.
WE ARE UNSHACKLED FROM THE PRISON OF OUR SIN
WALKING ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT: A NEW POWER!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay Long bound in sin and nature's night,
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke the dungeon flamed with light, My chains fell off my heart was free I rose went forth and followed Thee!
4. 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.
Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU ARE WALING ACCORDING TO THE FLESH OR ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT?
- The righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in you. vs 4
"Regeneration, in other words, changed the whole person by changing the love at the heart of the person's being."― Jonathan Edwards
- Your mind will be submitted to God and His Law. Vs 7
"True saints are inexpressibly pleased and delighted with ... the things of God." Hypocrites, by contrast, revel in themselves. "The hypocrite has his mind pleased and delighted, in the first place, with his own privilege, and the happiness which he supposes he has attained, or shall obtain." Jonathan Edwards
Next Sunday:
c. By the Spirit You will put to death the deeds of the body.(13)
d. You will be led by the Spirit (14)
e. You will be confident in God's Fatherly love (15)
f. You will have an inward witness of the Holy Spirit. (16)
QUESTIONS:
Do you have a full assurance of salvation and upon what do you base it?
What does it mean for you to be in Christ?
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? How does this work out?
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