Class: The Holy Spirit in Romans 8

 

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The Holy Spirit in Romans 8

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • February 7, In the year of our Lord, 2016

  1. Romans 8.1–4 – The Holy Spirit Sets Us Free
    1. 8.1 – There is no condemnation in Christ,

      1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (Rom 8.1).

      1. Consider the condemnation outside of Christ:
        1. That was Paul’s topic from 1.1–7.25.
        2. Paul covered:
          1. God’s wrath (1.18),
          2. God giving man up (1.24, 26, 28),
          3. God’s judgment (2.2–3, 5, 16; 3.19),
          4. wrath, indignation, tribulation and anguish (2.8–9),
          5. death (5.12–19; 6.16, 21; 7.5, 9–11, 24).
      2. In Christ, God removes all these things.
    2. 8.2 – Condemnation does not exist because of the Spirit of life,

      2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8.2).

      1. The Spirit has law.
        1. We do not direct our spirituality by subjectivism, but
        2. by the Spirit’s law.
          1. We obtain freedom
          2. by obedience to the Spirit’s law – Rom 6.17–18; John 8.31–32.
      2. The Spirit provides life in Christ – John 7.38–39.
      3. The Spirit sets a person free from bondage of sin and death.
        1. Rom 6
        2. Heb 2.14–15
    3. 8.3–4 – Therefore, God fulfills His ultimate purpose in us in the Spirit,

      3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 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 (Rom 8.3–4).
  2. Romans 8.5–8 – The Mind of 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, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8.5–8).

    1. Walking after the flesh means to mind the things of the flesh.
      1. The mind of the flesh hates God.
      2. Why? It does not subject itself to the law of God.
    2. Walking after the Spirit means to mind the things of the Spirit.
      1. The mind of the Spirit loves God.
      2. The mind of the Spirit subjects itself to the Law of God.
  3. Romans 8.9–11 – In the Spirit and the Spirit in Us
    1. 8.9 – In the Spirit means,

      9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (Rom 8.9).

      1. Minding the things of the Spirit,
      2. The Spirit dwells in us,
      3. Subjecting oneself to the law of God.
    2. 8.10 – The result of the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ,

      10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (Rom 8.10).

      1. The body is dead because of sin.
        1. Physical death and other ailments exist because of sin,
        2. whether our own or someone else’s.
          1. Why then walk after the sins of the flesh?
          2. Do we not increase death and its cousins?
      2. The Spirit is life because of righteousness.
        1. What good the human spirit obtains or achieves, such as life,
        2. exists because of righteousness.
          1. Initially the righteousness is from God (Rom 3.21–22), but
          2. in conjunction with God’s declaration of righteousness
          3. we begin to live righteously (Acts 10.34–35).
    3. 8.11 – The Hope of the Resurrection

      11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Rom 8.11).

      1. Knowing then
      2. that we have the Spirit and
      3. that we walk after the Spirit
      4. we have the hope of the resurrection.
  4. Romans 8.12–15 – We Are Indebted to the Spirit
    1. 8.12–13 – We are obligated to live after the Spirit,

      12 Therefore, brethren, 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 (Rom 8.12–13).

      1. Why are we obligated to the Spirit?
        1. He dwells in us.
        2. He has set us free from sin.
        3. He helps put to death the deeds of the body.
          1. As we mind the things of the Spirit,
          2. subjecting ourselves to the law of God,
            1. the Spirit creates a new way of thinking and
            2. so we crowd out fleshly concerns.
      2. Subsequently, we live.
        1. We possess eternal life.
        2. We truly live even now,
          1. by forsaking the transitory things of this life and
          2. concentrating upon the things that matter.
    2. 8.14–15 – We are indebted to live by the Spirit as sons of God,

      14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Rom 8.14–15).

      1. The Spirit leads us, and
        1. by subjection to the law of God,
        2. we mind the things of the Spirit.
      2. We cannot claim sonship
        1. unless we follow the Spirit,
        2. paying close attention to the things of the Spirit.
      3. Therefore, by the Spirit we cry, “Abba, Father.”
  5. Romans 8.16–17 – The Witness of the Spirit

    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 joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together (Rom 8.16–17).

    1. Paul did not say the Spirit witnesses to our spirit, but
      1. the Spirit through us (Gal 4.6),
      2. along with our own spirit, (Rom 8.15),
        1. both cry, “Abba, Father.”
        2. We both (our spirit and the Holy Spirit) testify together
          1. before the throne of God
          2. that we are children of God.
            1. Calling God, “Father, ” is partial to sonship, but
            2. the Spirit must agree that we are sons, for then
              1. He will cry, “Father,” for us to God.
              2. He will agree when we conform to His law and concerns,
                1. putting to death the flesh and
                2. living righteously.
      3. Carefully minding the things of the Spirit and
        1. doing His word
        2. we may know we are children of God.
    2. Sonship holds the promise of glorification with Jesus,
      1. provided we willing suffer with Him.
  6. Romans 8.18–25 – By the First–Fruits of the Spirit We Groan

    18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits 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 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance (Rom 8.18–25).

    1. The first–fruits of the Spirit:
      1. We have the Spirit as the first installment
      2. of a greater harvest coming: 
        1. an entrance into heaven and
        2. all the blessings associated with heaven.
    2. Naturally, we groan,
      1. waiting for the redemption of our bodies,
      2. waiting for the next thing the Spirit has for us.
        1. Living by the Spirit,
        2. our minds are turned toward heaven,
          1. especially knowing of the decay of the flesh.
  7. Romans 8.26–27 – The Spirit Helps Our Infirmity

    26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Rom 8.26–27).

    1. The Spirit helps our infirmity,
      1. knowing that our prayers are insufficient and
      2. so He makes unutterable groanings,
        1. (for human ears)
        2. in intercessions to God.
          1. We cannot hear what the Spirit says to God, but
          2. Paul assured us that the Spirit does this work.
    2. The Spirit can search our hearts,
      1. knowing of our spiritual concerns
      2. He can present the prayer to God properly:
        1. He helps our insufficiency by presenting the deep requests of our hearts.
        2. He helps our insufficiency by presenting the requests according to God’s will.
          1. That they be in harmony with His written word.
          2. That they be presented in a way consistent with His holiness.
  8. Romans 8.28–39 – “What Then Shall We Say To These Things?”

    28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

    “For Your sake we are killed all day long;
    We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

    37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 8.28–39).

    1. If we do not have condemnation,
      1. if we have life and freedom,
      2. if righteousness is fulfilled in us,
      3. if we have peace by subjection to God’s law and by pleasing Him,
      4. if we shall be resurrected,
      5. if we put to death the deeds of the body,
      6. if we are sons of God,
      7. if we have help in our prayers, and
      8. if all these things are accomplished through the Spirit of God,
        1. who or what could possibly
        2. be against us?
    2. Truly, all things shall work out for our good!