January 17, 2014
HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH! OH, THAT WE WOULD NEVER FORGET!
Romans 8:1-25
Chris O'Neal
Central Truth
Life is full of trials and storms, fellow Journey travelers. Take courage, though! The One who promises is faithful. What He declares, He will accomplish as we trust and obey. The victory is in His Word!
Key Verse | Romans 8:15–16
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. (Romans 8:15-16)
Romans 8:1-25
Life in the Spirit
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 1 8:1 Some manuscripts add who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit) 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you 2 8:2 Some manuscripts me 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, 3 8:3 Or and as a sin offering 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 4 8:11 Some manuscripts lack Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Heirs with Christ
12 So then, brothers, 5 8:12 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29 we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons 6 8:14 See discussion on sons in the Preface of God. 15 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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 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.
Future Glory
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 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. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Dive Deeper | Romans 8:1-25
In 2012, I journeyed through the largest storm of my short life. What began with a heart murmur and an ER visit dragged on for several months of unrelated pain that yielded no medical diagnosis. "You're perfectly healthy," they said. My ribs throbbed, my stomach quaked with any bite of food, and my head ached relentlessly. It felt like a hurricane had hit me out of nowhere.
Friends rallied in prayer (Proverbs 17:17). One friend's voice resounded most affectionately. My dad is prone to do wrong, just like all of us, but one thing he instilled in all three of his children is his belief in the matchless grace of Christ Jesus to provide in any and all circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Romans 8 is gospel bread for the wearied soul! Paul the Apostle opens with the most beautiful message any wretched convict could ever receive in verses 1-2. You are not condemned . . . you are freed because of Christ. That's scandalous! Verse 3b continues: "By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh." God pays His unblemished, perfectly obedient Son my due wages (Romans 6:23), so I might instead become His child. His grace is surely sufficient!
During my storm, Romans 8:14-15 were especially sweet. Worry and doubt evaporated at the warm presence of the life-giving Father. Psalm 84:11 (NASB) says, "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
Paul references the Holy Spirit sixteen times in this wonderful passage, shifting the focus from our weaknesses to the Lord's tenderness and might. My greatest hope is that amidst the storm, fellow Journey traveler, you would unburden yourself from the "why" and linger in the presence of the "One" who first loved you -- Jesus! Then, we might all say like Paul: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
Discussion Questions
1. Does fear/doubt exist in your life? What's the real reason behind that? Discuss this with friends who know you well!
2. Do you still feel like a slave to sin even though Romans 8:2 says Christ has set you free? What hinders you?
3. Who is in a storm right now that needs your consistent encouragement? Call that person today and be a good listener first.
4. Louie Giglio gave a talk in his Passion Talk Series called "Hope: When Life Hurts Most," which I found abundantly encouraging. If you are in Dallas, I would love to loan you the DVD!