Life Group - Romans 8:5-39

Welcome to Life Group. We invite you to join

us in this verse -by -verse study through the

Word of God. Romans chapter 8 is one of the richest

Romans 8 · chapter mention

and most Spirit -filled chapters in all the Bible.

Some people even call it the mountaintop of the

New Testament. It teaches us that the Christian

life cannot be lived by human effort, but only

by the power of the Holy Spirit. It begins with

no condemnation. continues with no defeat, and

ends with no separation. Let's pick up in Romans

Romans 8:5

8, verse 5. Those who live according to the flesh

have their minds set on what the flesh desires.

But those who live in accordance with the Spirit

have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

The mind governed by the flesh is death. But

the mind governed by the spirit is life and peace.

In these verses, Paul gives us an easy way for

us to determine if we walk in the spirit or walk

in the flesh. We just have to realize what we

are thinking about. See, the mind is a strategic

battleground where the flesh and spirit fight.

When we are constantly setting our minds on the

things of the flesh, that means that we're carnally

minded. We're inviting death into our lives.

But when we set our minds on the things of God,

we are walking in the Spirit. And this brings

us life and peace. Let's pick up with verse 7.

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to

God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can

it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh

cannot please God. See, a mind focused on what

can be seen, tasted, heard, smelled, and felt

will always oppose God. A mind controlled by

the physical senses cannot receive or understand

spiritual things. Trying to live the Christian

life from our own ability is living a fleshly

or soulish life. We must deny our natural way

of thinking and be led by the Spirit of God in

order to walk pleasing to God. Verse 9. You,

however, are not in the realm of the flesh. but

are in the realm of the Spirit. If indeed the

Spirit of God lives in you, and if anyone does

not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong

to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even

though your body is subject to death because

of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.

You see, because the Holy Spirit is given to

each believer when they are born again, Every

Christian has within themselves a principle higher

and more powerful than the flesh. Many continue

to live spiritually under John the Baptist's

ministry of repentance. And those people live

under the struggle that we looked at in Romans

7. But in Christ, we have changed realms. We

have moved from the flesh to the spirit. Verse

11. And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus

from the dead is living in you, he who raised

Christ from the dead will also give life to your

mortal bodies because of the spirit who lives

in you. Many miss out on living the Christian

life. Living the Christian life in the constant

fullness of the spirit, because they're not constantly

being filled with the Holy Spirit, as Paul commanded

in Ephesians 5, 18. They're not experiencing

what Jesus said when he described rivers of living

water flowing from the believer. When Jesus described

that in John 7, verses 37 through 39. Here's

John 7:37–39

what we need to understand. The quickening power

of the Holy Spirit is for this life, as well

as the ultimate victory when our physical bodies

will be resurrected. Verse 12. Therefore, brothers

and sisters, we have an obligation, but it is

not to the flesh to live according to it. For

if you live according to the flesh, you will

die. But if you live by the Spirit, you put to

death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

In these verses, we understand that the flesh

in rebellion against God actually gave us nothing

good. So we have no obligation to oblige or pamper

it. Our debt is to the Lord, not to the flesh.

And Paul constantly reminds us that living after

the flesh ends in death. What do I mean by that?

Well, it allows the effects of sin into our lives.

We need to remember this because we often feel

that our flesh can offer us life. Actually, we

must force our flesh to submit to the Spirit

by the power of the Spirit. See, we choose between

defeat and victory according to what our minds

are continually focused on. We're not only saved

through the work of the Spirit when He moves

us from being immersed in sin to being immersed

in Christ, we must also live and walk in the

Spirit, if we want to grow spiritually, and if

we want to enjoy the benefits of the kingdom

of God. Verse 14. For those who are led by the

Spirit of God are the children of God. This verse

teaches that it's only fitting that the sons

of God should be led by the Spirit of God. Paul

didn't say here, as many as go to church, these

are the sons of God. He didn't say as many read

their Bibles. He didn't say as many as are patriotic

Americans or as many as take communion are the

sons of God. No, he says in this text that the

test for sonship is whether or not a person is

led by the Holy Spirit. It's important to realize,

though, that there are varying degrees of being

led by the Holy Spirit and that no believers

are following the leading of the Spirit 100%.

Only Jesus did that. If an absolute standard

was implied to this verse, no one would qualify

to be a son of God. So that's not what it's saying.

But what does it mean for the Christian to be

led by the Holy Spirit? Well, we must acknowledge

him. We must consult him. We need to ask him

questions, right? And we need to expect to hear

from him, expect to receive answers. Acknowledging

and being led by the Holy Spirit would mean obeying

those instructions, right? Obeying what he says

and also relying on him day by day and yielding

to his will and to his way. submitting ourselves

to him. Verse 15. The spirit you received does

not make you slaves so that you live in fear

again. Rather, the spirit you received brought

about your adoption to sonship. And by him we

cry, Abba, Father. The spirit himself testifies

with our spirit that we are God's children. These

verses teach us that living as a child of God

means an intimate, joyful relationship with God,

not like the bondage and fear demonstrated by

the law. A child of God can have a relationship

with God so close that they may cry out, Abba,

Father, meaning Daddy. You could say it's like

our English equivalent of like Daddy, God. It's

easy. for us to think of Jesus relating to the

Father with this joyful confidence, but we may

think we couldn't have that kind of relationship

with God. But in Christ, we have this privilege.

We can relate to the Father just like Jesus does.

Paul says that those who are God's children,

born again by the Spirit of God, know their status.

They know this because the Holy Spirit testifies

this to their spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals

this to them. So this means that for the Christian,

we don't have to wonder if we are really Christians

or not. By the witness of the spirit, we can

know we are. Verse 17. Now, if we are children,

then we are heirs, heirs of God and co -heirs

with Christ. If indeed we share in his sufferings,

in order that we may also share in his glory.

This teaches us that, well, it's important to

realize that in the Roman world of the first

century AD, an adopted son was a son deliberately

chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his

name and inherit his estate. He was no different

than a naturally born son. He didn't consider

him like, oh, well, this is my adopted son and

this is my born son. No, it's like they were

considered the same. Under Roman adoption, the

life and standing of the adopted child changed

completely. The adopted son would lose all rights

in his old family, but he gained all new rights

in his new family. The old life of the adopted

son was completely wiped out. All debts were

canceled. Nothing from his past counted against

him anymore. This is a great picture in what

Paul is trying to communicate to us of us being

in Christ. This is us in Christ. Because we are

in Christ, we have the privilege of relating

to the Father as Jesus does. Therefore, we are

heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Being

a child of God also means having an inheritance.

In Luke 18, 18, the rich young ruler asked Jesus,

what must I do to inherit? But the rich young

ruler missed the point because inheritance is

not a matter of doing. It is a matter of being,

of being in the right family in Christ. Verse

18, I consider that our present sufferings are

not worth comparing with the glory that will

be revealed in us. What does this mean? It's

such a powerful statement, right? Think of some

of the terrible things people have suffered in

this life. Wars, slavery, sickness, hatred, tragedies.

And Paul is saying that nothing compares to the

wonderful things God has planned for us. This

is not lessening the suffering or those bad things.

It's really placing our future prize so highly

above all tragedy that there is no comparison.

The glory that God has prepared for us is infinitely

greater than all the pain sin has inflicted.

Right now, we have all the awesome glory of God

inside our born -again spirits. In Ephesians

1, 17 -18, Paul prays this and explains this

further, that the Lord would grant us a spirit

of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of

Him, so that we could see the glory of His inheritance

already in us. As we grow spiritually, we will

see more and more of His glory in us, and more

of His glory will be revealed through us. Verse

19, For the creation waits in eager expectation

for the children of God to be revealed. For the

creation was subjected to frustration, not by

its own choice, but by the will of the one who

subjected it in hope, that the creation itself

will be liberated from its bondage to decay and

brought into the freedom and glory of the children

of God. We know that the whole creation has been

groaning as in the pains of childbirth right

up to this present time. Not only so, but we

ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit,

groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption

to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. These

verses make it clear. That all creation is eagerly

and intensely anticipating the day when the glory

of God that is already deposited within God's

children will be revealed. That day will not

completely arrive until the second coming of

Christ. But it is logical to think that creation

rejoices to some degree every time a believer

manifests God's glory in the earth. is an indication

of the existence or presence of something previously

unrevealed. All of creation is waiting for us

to manifest what is already in us. We have a

taste of greater glory to come. We are waiting

for our adoption. Although we are already adopted,

Romans 8 .15, There is also a sense in which

we wait for the consummation of our adoption,

which will happen at the redemption of our body.

God does not ignore our physical bodies in his

plan of redemption. His plan for our bodies is

resurrection. Verse 24, For in this hope we were

saved. but hope that is seen is no hope at all.

Who hopes for what they already have? But if

we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait

for it patiently. This verse tells us that the

fulfillment of our redemption is something still

in the future, yet we hope for it in faith and

patience, trusting that God is faithful to his

word. and that the promised glory will be a reality.

Verse 26, In the same way, the Spirit helps us

in our weakness. We do not know what we ought

to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes

for us through wordless groans. And he who searches

our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit. Because

the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance

with the will of God. This verse tells us that

when we are weak and don't know exactly how we

should pray, God himself, through the Holy Spirit,

helps by making intercession for us. The idea

is communicated. Beyond our ability to express,

the deep groanings within us can't be articulated

apart from the interceding work of the Holy Spirit.

This help from the Holy Spirit may include praying

with the spiritual gift of tongues. 1 Corinthians

14 .2, verses 14 and 15. But it is certainly

not limited. to praying in an unknown tongue.

The Holy Spirit's help and intercession is perfect

because He searches the hearts of those whom

He helps, and He is able to guide our prayers

according to the will of God. Verse 28, And we

know that in all things God works for the good

of those who love Him, who have been called,

according to his purpose. What does this verse

tell us? I believe it tells us that God takes

the things and situations of this fallen world

that come actually to steal from us, destroy

us, and kill us, and he takes those things and

brings about positive results and glorious testimonies

of his work and faithfulness. Verse 29, for those

God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed

into the image of his son, that he might be the

firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And

those he predestined, he also called. Those he

called, he also justified. Those he justified,

he also glorified. This verse has been interpreted

many ways, but I believe it's saying in God's

omniscience, he knows who will turn to him for

salvation. I see it as he foreknows, not that

he predetermines. However, he does predetermine

that those who come to him in faith will be transformed

and conformed. To look like and live like Jesus.

Our participation in this eternal plan is essential.

This is a process that God does with our cooperation.

It goes on to say that he calls us. We become

the called out ones. That's what the word church

means. It's the called out ones. So he calls

us. He justifies us. He clothes us in his righteousness.

We are made right with God. And he also glorifies

us. He puts his glory in us and we can experience

his glory. Verse 31. What then shall we say in

response to these things? If God is for us, who

can be against us? He who did not spare his own

son. If all we had were the first few chapters

of the book of Romans, some might believe that

God was against us. Now that Paul has shown us

the lengths of what God went to, to save us and

to equip us for victory over sin and death, we

can joyfully celebrate that God is for us. God

is for us. And since God is for us, what does

it matter if others are against us? One person

plus God makes an unconquerable majority. Since

the Father already gave us his ultimate gift,

how could we think that he wouldn't give us smaller

gifts? All of his promises and blessings are

really secondary to salvation. Verse 33. Who

will bring any charge against those whom God

has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who, then,

is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus

who died. More than that, who was raised to life,

is at the right hand of God and is also interceding

for us. This means that there can never be more

charges brought against us. Since we have been

declared not guilty by the highest judge, who

could bring any additional charge? We are also

free from all condemnation. Since Jesus is our

advocate, the lawyer handling our case in the

highest court, promoting our benefit, then who

could condemn us? Verse 35. Our persecution,

our famine, our nakedness, our danger, our sword.

Here Paul is saying that no matter what circumstances

we face, none of the sufferings of this fallen

world can separate us from the love of God. Verse

36, as it is written, for your sake we face death

all day long. We are considered as sheep to be

slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more

than conquerors through him who loved us. This

means that through Christ, in Christ, we are

always victorious. We are victors and not victims.

We are more than conquerors. What does more than

conquerors mean? How can we create a picture

of that? Think of a boxer who trains for years

to have his once -in -a -lifetime shot at a heavyweight

title. The prize for winning is $25 million.

And guess what? He wins the fight. He's the conqueror,

right? He's the one who won the battle. But he

goes home and he hands his wife that $25 million

check. Now, we can consider her... more than

a conqueror, right? That's a good picture or

an illustration of what it means to be more than

a conqueror. You see, Jesus stepped down out

of heaven. He conquered death, hell, and the

grave. He took the keys of authority on this

earth that Adam surrendered back from Satan.

He is the conqueror. And then at salvation, He

gives us access to all the blessings, promises,

rights, and privileges and victories He won.

This makes us more than conquerors. So we are

more than conquerors because we have victory

and all the spoils of war, but did not do all

the fighting. Jesus fought and won the battle

for us. All we have to do is receive the benefits

by faith. That's what it means to be more than

a conqueror. Verse 38. For I am convinced that

neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in

all creation, will be able to separate us from

the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It's wonderful that Paul was persuaded of this.

I'm happy for him. But you and I must be persuaded

of this too, in order to really benefit from

it. Nothing we face should be interpreted that

Jesus has stopped loving us. He never will. Thank

you for joining us for Life Group. Allow God's

Word to build your faith and transform your life.