video on sermon current tab

MOTIVATE

What’s your favorite verse in the Bible? (6 people)
For many, Romans 8:1 or 8:28 is their favorite verse. Today we want to explore 4 life lessons from Gr8 Romans 8.

EXAMINE       Romans 8 Not Alone

Romans Reload

• Chapters 1-7
  The most fundamental problem with the world is not corrupted government, pathetic politicians, an inflated economy, expensive healthcare, suspected climate change, or even a greedy entertainment culture. Instead, the biggest problem is the one staring at us in the mirror. The first several chapters of Romans remind us that the human heart is idolatrous, suppressive of truth, selfish, covetous, cruel and ruthless, foolish, and faithless.
  And while humans can be very religious, they can be very misguided and mistaken. Our faith is not about what we do for God but what He has done for us. We do not have a general belief in God but a specific faith in Jesus Christ. God’s grace is free to us but costly to Jesus; therefore we must not willingly sin thinking God’s grace will forgive us. Our faith will never be absolute perfection, but our posture toward Jesus must reflect that He’s not just our Savior for our sin but the Lord of our life. This paragraph is a summary of 5 previous messages…
• Ch 8
  John Piper called Romans the greatest Bible book, with Romans 8 the greatest chapter leading to the greatest joy.[1] It’s one to consider meditating on and memorizing.
  This chapter could have about 7 messages, but we’re only teaching 1 today.
• Chs 9-11 deal with difficult topics of divine election/predestination, which we’ll touch briefly on today, and we’ll return at a future time.
• We’ll look at 2 more sessions: Ch 12 on spiritual growth with our actions & Ch. 14-16 on being a family on mission.

Life with the Spirit frees you from sin.

¹There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ²For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³For 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, ⁴in 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. ⁵For 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. ⁶For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹You, 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. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹If 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. ¹²So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³For 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. ¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵For 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!” ¹⁶The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and 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.

This chapter begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation from God. The first verse summarizes all that Paul has expressed thus far. If your posture is turning away from sin and treasuring Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you are a Christian and God’s child filled with the Holy Spirit. And for the Christian, you will never pay the penalty of your sin – no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God’s actions toward you will never be to pay you back for something you have done wrong. God will orchestrate circumstances to bring you back – and sometimes that will be corrective discipline from the consequences of your choices. But, because of Jesus, God operates toward you with compassion not condemnation.

God’s actions toward you will never be to pay you back for something you have done wrong. God will orchestrate circumstances to bring you back – and sometimes that will be corrective discipline from the consequences of your choices. But, because of Jesus, God operates toward you with compassion not condemnation.

In vv.2-4, Paul explains the believer operates with the life of the Holy Spirit (freedom) rather than life under the law. By faith in Christ, the requirement of the law is positionally fulfilled in the believer, though the believer is still progressively growing in righteousness and learning to reject sin. According to vv.5-14, their aim is to “set their mind” and “train their flesh” to feed on the Spirit. The evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in one’s life is they are devoted to Jesus and are defeating sin. Moses’ law was proper but without the power; Sin’s law has the power without being proper; but the Spirit is both proper and power – right and might.^[2]

The other way that life in the Spirit frees believers from sin is understanding their family. In v.12 Paul addresses the church as brothers/sisters, then vv.15-17, Paul explains that believers have received the the Spirit of adoption, with God as our “Abba! Father!” And the Spirit bears witness that we are children of God. In other words, the church is God’s means for the confidence to fight sin and experience freedom. In other letters, Paul writes, “keep in step with the Spirit… if anyone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness… bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 5:25-6:2). 

Life in the Spirit is vital to Christianity; and life apart from the Holy Spirit severs you from life and Christ.

Illus: Imagine you’re trying to grow an apple tree. Like any tree, you must keep the branches pruned or its growth will become stunted. If you decided to remove an entire branch of apples and then plant it in the ground, the fruit and branch would die because it was disconnected from the tree roots. But you ignored that advice, and year after year you went to the store to purchase apples, and then took string to tie them around the arms of the branch. Friend, you still would not have an apple tree but only the appearance of one.

Likewise, this is how it is with faith in Christ. If you loosely participate in church apart from the Christ root of faith and the relational roots of a church family, you have the appearance of a Christian, but the fruit is evidence otherwise.

• Recall and write your salvation testimony (cf Rev 12:11). Share it with a friend and pastor. If you have difficulty with this, this might be evidence to evaluate your faith.[3]  

Life with the Spirit fortifies you in suffering.

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³And 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. ²⁴For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

What makes this chapter special is that it doesn’t skip the realities of life. Paul explains the Christian life includes suffering. The path to salvation includes suffering. And like Jesus, suffering is rewarded with redemptive joy and eternal glory. The struggles we face on earth are preparing us for an unfading glory that outweighs all our trials (cf. 2 Cor 4:17).

The entire creation was designed for glory but due to sin has developed groans. Creation is subjected to futility, which is the same word the author of Ecclesiastes uses to describe life as vanity, or a fleeting vapor.^[4]

• Land/soil is generally not naturally productive.
• Water can be undrinkable in many parts of the world. Drinking water in 3^rd world countries can create significant digestive and life issues! Yet, water was meant to be refreshing as the rivers in Eden and continued in the New Earth.
• Air is contaminated with smog pollution instead of breathing freshly.
• Disasters surge regularly.
• Death strikes every day.

And not only creation, but we ourselves groan inwardly and wait eagerly for redemption of our bodies. Redemption is our hope, even though we don’t see it (v.24). Biblical hope endures because we are confident of God’s faithfulness to past promises, so we wait with patience for God to complete our hope.

• Like a movie you really enjoy and waiting for the sequel; or a tv series for the next season’s episodes, knowing a long wait means quality production content.
• Like a farmer offering the firstfruits of the land, trusting God to produce an abundant harvest.
• Or, like the virgin or single person patiently but looking to be married, knowing their wait will be worth not giving their body to others.
• Or more, when a loved one departs, we wait for a reunion in heaven, while still doing what we can to make our own life count on earth with loved ones.

Biblical hope endures because we are confident of God’s faithfulness to past promises, so we wait with patience for God to complete our hope.

These are examples of trials or tribulations, and how God strengthens our faith through suffering.

Recently, I read a book about a couple whose marriage endured the ultimate suffering – the death of a child.[5] In time, the couple reflected upon the death of their son saying,

“God didn’t take our son from us; God called him to something.” Our son is in heaven… because of his faith in Jesus, and therefore our suffering is not worth the eternal weight of glory… Further, “We don’t have to deal with [potential] difficult in-law family issues… [or a dozen other adulthood struggles…] Instead, I get to imagine the glorious things our son is doing in heaven right now, fulfilling God’s purpose in the heavenly realm… The Lord is sovereign; He is good and has a perfect plan.”

The grieving parents continued, “We’ve been told, ‘You have strong faith.’ That’s not true. We have a desperate faith. But this desperate faith has grown and matured. You have to make a choice. We could crawl into our closet where no light can get in, or we can choose to stand… We’re the epitome of Paul’s mystery that all things work together for good.”

• Some of you have or are enduring a significant loss and amount of suffering. You’re trying to numb the pain by busying yourself with activity, withdrawing from others, and even distracting yourself with so many things – even good things, to deceive yourself that you don’t have time to grow in your faith; and that your suffering is not part of God’s plan, or was a mistake, and He’s abandoning you. / But, through God’s word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit, you realize that suffering is a blessing in disguise.
• Laura Story says, “What if God’s blessings come through raindrops? What if God’s healing comes through tears? What if the thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know God is near? What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life, is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy; and what if trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are God’s mercies in disguise?”[6]

• Talk about your struggle or suffering with a friend or pastor. Discuss how you’re dealing with it and allowing your faith to deepen through it. Instead of focusing on the question, “Why me?” ask “Who else?” Use a miserable experience for ministry to others (2 Cor 1).

Life with the Spirit forms you to God’s purpose.

²⁶Likewise 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. ²⁷And 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. ²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Paul explains that the presence of the Holy Spirit is active in our faith. Many people in our world today identify as “spiritual but not religious.” They’re deconstructing their faith, thinking the Bible is an ancient document with corrupted writings, and no longer relevant. So, they are interested in purpose and supernatural power, but they don’t believe they have need for Jesus. BUT, Christianity has always been a religion of divine design and spiritual presence. Romans 8 shows us the Holy Spirit is the key ingredient to Christianity and human life. “So if you’ve walked away from Christianity because you think of yourself as a spiritual person and therefore you are looking for something beyond sterile ritualism or moral bloviating you experienced at a church, I have good news: Paul describes essential Christianity as a relational union with God by His Spirit.”[7] But take note Jesus told His disciples that you cannot discover life purpose or experience spiritual power apart trusting in Him (Jn 16:7; Ac 1:8).

You cannot discover life purpose or experience spiritual power apart trusting in Jesus.

Further, Paul explains God is working all things together for good for those who love God/Jesus (8:28). The Spirit intercedes for us not when we’re pridefully not praying, but when we don’t know what to pray as we ought. In other words, this person is praying, is seeking God, is attempting to honor God with their life mindset and actions. It is then that the Spirit comes alongside to work with and through that person of faith. But the person who is not living by faith, the Spirit’s role is not encouragement but conviction – to bring to them the reality of their sin, the damage of their disobedience, and their desperate need to depend upon the Lord rather than self. The Spirit searches heart and mind to pray and live as we should.

• God works for good those actively loving Him.
• God works for growth those passively believing.
• God works for groans and discipline those who are disobedient. Here there is a distinction between condemnation and conviction.

Paul explains our circumstances do not change God’s promise and completion of salvation.

²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

• Foreknowledge explains God’s ability to see into the future. Some believe this means that God could see into the future of those who would believe in Him. However, this would contrast everything Paul has said about humanity “not seeking God; no one who does good,” and negating the next term.
• Predestined humbles us with the reality that salvation is a work of God from start to finish. He initiates and sustains us; the only work we add to salvation is our sin. Specifically, Paul says we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Who can argue with that?
  *Honestly, I have no intention to argue this theological doctrine that the church has sought to understand for 2K+ years. I’ll let you search the scriptures and discern for yourself.[8] Personally, I could argue both sides of this debate, but the key is three-fold
  
  1) If you allow this doctrine to lessen your responsibility to share faith with others, then you have misunderstood the Scriptures.
  
  2) While it’s ok to discuss and even debate this doctrine, if you become divisive toward others on this issue, then this is not the place for you and you will be confronted. There is room on God’s church for people with some differing perspectives on this doctrine.
  
  3) Don’t say, “This doctrine doesn’t matter, and we can’t understand it.” This view is also potentially divisive bc it minimizes Scripture and trivializes all other doctrines. So, study and be able to communicate your view based upon Scripture. Learn from each other… but uphold the gospel to keep primary issues closed-handed and secondary issues open-handed.

• Called: God’s invitation for you to respond in faith (cf Rom 10:14-17)
• Justified: God’s declaration of pardon for sin (forgiveness) and peace with humanity (reconciliation). 
• Glorified: God removing all trace of sin and replacing our natural body for a resurrected immortal body.

The key is that God is forming us to His purpose.
If faith is stagnant – you’re not learning doctrine; you’re not studying more Scripture; you’re not appreciating new praise songs; you’re not sharing the gospel with others; you’re not persevering to pray through your own trials and the troubles of others… then you need biblical first-aid and a spiritual defibrillator. You need help! 

• Use today’s worship response time to truly ask the Lord to search your heart (Ps 139:23-24).

Life with the Spirit focuses you to saving faith.

³¹What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He 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? ³³Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who 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. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor 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 last section is beautiful and enough to make us speechless… but, it’s an occupational hazard to try!

Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We know there is plenty to oppose us in life. Paul lists several items attempting to extinguish the fire of our faith and the light of the Lord:

• Tribulation seems relentless.
• Distress is daily.
• Persecution awaits every follower of Jesus.
• Natural disasters are unpredictable and uncontrollable.
• Dangers and fears rear their ugly head at times.
• Spiritual oppression and indwelling sin linger in this life.
• Death is indisputable for each of us.

But Paul references the fact that God did not spare His own Son to redeem us. Therefore, with the price paid, it would make no sense for God to refuse delivery on what He had already promised and purchased.

Illus:^[9] Imagine a car dealership called and said your name had been entered in a drawing and you are the winner of a magnificent new car! All you had to do was travel to the dealership and pickup the car at 1pm. So, you arrive shortly before 1pm to a celebratory crowd gathered around a presentation platform. After a few remarks, several photographs, and loud applause, the manager places the keys in your hands. You get in the car but it doesn’t have any gasoline. So, you ask the dealer if they can fuel the car so you can drive it. No car dealer on earth would respond, “No, we gave you the car but you can’t drive it away and you’ll have to go get your own gasoline.”

In a greater way, God has given us His Son and He promises to fuel us and save us by the power of His Holy Spirit. God will withhold nothing to provide and protect His children, and bring them to Himself.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

• Write and share your testimony.
• Allow your suffering to tell a story for ministry in the life of others.
• Align your life and faith to God’s purpose.
• Jesus is a chain-breaker and a burden lifter. Come out of sadness. Come brokenhearted.
  Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.

---

[1] https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/greatest-book-greatest-chapter-greatest-joy

^[2] Adapted from Leon Morris, PNTC, Romans 8:2. P.301.

[3] For a guide, see https://www.spbcmd.com/connect/my-park-story

^[4] Leon Morris, The Epistle to the Romans, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988).

[5] Gary Thomas, Making Your Marriage A Fortress, pp.235, ff.

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessings_(Laura_Story_song) 

[7] J.D. Greear, Essential Christianity, p.152.

[8] Consider: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/predestination-divine-decree/

^[9] Adapted from Charles R. Swindoll, Romans, vol. 6, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2016), 193–194.