Romans 8:1-11

There is therefore now no condemnation to

those who are in Christ Jesus,

Welcome!

Would you open your Bibles to...

Rom. 7:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Rom. 7:23 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.

Rom. 7:24 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?

Rom. 7:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

Pray

Intro

√ After reading Romans 7 you may be wondering:

Must the Christian spend his whole life on earth FRUSTRATED by ongoing defeats to the sin nature within us!?

Is there no power provided so that I can gain VICTORY over sin?

Ö The ANSWERS

1. NO!

2. YES!

Ex. Paul describes the ministry of the Holy Spirit who lives inside every believer.

He is the source of DIVINE POWER to SANCTIFY US and…

He is the SECRET WEAPON to give us SPIRITUAL VICTORY in our daily life!

Ap. I'm not strong enough to obey God by my own power. If the Christian faith is nothing more than RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE or PRINCIPLES for living well…

…I'd have given up a long time ago!

But, what makes Christianity DIFFERENT than all of man's religions is that God the Holy Spirit comes to live within every believer!

I Cor. 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

I Cor. 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

I Cor. 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

I Cor. 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of power,

I Cor. 2:5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

√ Do You know His power? Take notes--

Paul tells us how!

Rom. 8:1 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.

Before Paul tells us about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life…

…he begins by reminding us that there is no CONDEMNATION for the Christian!

Why is that important in our discussion of SANCTIFICATION?

Because it reminds us that no matter how badly we fail in the process, we will never experience God's punishment.

Ö "Condemnation" = katakrima (lit. "punishment")

Paul assures us that NO PUNISHMENT awaits the person who trusts in Jesus as their savior!

John 5:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Ex. Jesus is a sphere of safety for all who believe.

City of Refuge

That knowledge gives me courage/strength to keep trying!

Ap. Condemnation vs. Conviction

Condemnation drives us FROM Christ

VS.

Conviction drives us TO Christ

Ex. Coach who yells/berates/tears down a player

VS.

Coach who comes along the side of his player and encourages one to a greater performance

Discern the voice--Satan does a great job masking his condemning whisper as your own inner voice.

The KEY to Victory! (vs. 2)

Rom. 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

√ "The Spirit of Life" Paul is referring to the Holy Spirit, not the spirit of the NEW NATURE.

Note that it is the Holy Spirit who sets us free from the law of sin and death.

Law of sin and death is that "law which Paul spoke of in Romans 7:21.

Rom. 7:21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

Only the Holy Spirit can defeat that law which still wars for control of our life.

Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 8

Chapter 7 "I" 32 times!

Chapter 8 "Spirit" 21 times!

Ap. Paul knew what it was like to try and obey God with his own power (Chapter 7)--could never fix his inner man where sin still lived.

Paul found the FREEDOM he always desired and never experienced under the Laws in the PERSON of the Holy Spirit who cam to live inside him.

How did God do it? (vs. 3-4)

Rom. 8:3 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,

Rom. 8:4 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.

√ In verses 1 and 2 Paul states the FACT of our freedom from punishment…

….now he tells us HOW God did it

Not by the Law-for we were too weak in our flesh to obey God.

Rather, God did it by sending His Son in the "likeness" of sinful flesh.

While Jesus was SIN-LESS, He took upon Himself the punishment (condemnation" of God for all of our sins.

Therefore, I am free from the condemnation I deserve BECAUSE Jesus has been condemned in my place.

Ö Note the absolute necessity of the Cross. Without the Cross, there is no salvation. For it was at the Cross that God CONDEMNED your sin and mine!

Ap. "We preach Christ crucified--the power of God unto Salvation.

So…

We are DELIVERED from the power of sin (judgment and death) by the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

But, we experience the power to LIVE in victory over sin in our daily life by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

Ex. We ENTER the Path of Life through the Cross, but we walk the Path by the POWER of the Holy Spirit!

(vs. 5-8)

Rom. 8:5 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.

Rom. 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Rom. 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Rom. 8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

√ You may be thinking….

"This is great, but HOW do I actually live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh?"

The Key if found in Verse 5…

"SET"

Paul tells us that the life lived according to the FLESH or the SPIRIT is determined by what you set your mind on.

"SET" = "to keep on thinking about" or

"to make it your goal"

This is not a new concept Chapter 6 recognize, reckon, yield, serve.

Ex. Sailing-you SET your course, take hold of the rudder and make your way toward that destination you SET out for.

Yet, there will be contrary winds, punishing waves and strong currents which will work to push you off course.

But as long as the destination is SET you'll make it.

Ap. The same is true of our lives, the person who SETS their life…

"to keep on thinking about"

or

"to make it your goal"

…to live for the FLESH, then that's where you'll end up.

If on the other hand you SET your life…

"to keep on thinking about"

or

"to make it your goal"

…to lie for the SPIRIT, then that's where you'll end up.

The question- Do You BELIEVE the Lord's promise?

WHY?

Verse 6 & 7

The "carnal" mind

is DEATH (verse 6)

at WAR with God (verse 7)

cannot obey God (verse 7)

cannot PLEASE God (verse 8)

The SPIRITUALLY minded

Is LIFE and PEACE (verse 6)

Ap. Christian - please note:

It is IMPOSSIBLE to obey God with a carnal mind, it's at war with God.

Can't ride the fence with one foot in the world and one foot in the KOG. If you try to, you'll find that you are forever falling to sin.

No middle ground!

What is your goal this morning?

If it's truly to walk with Jesus, take heart, you'll make it!

Understand that Satan will do his best to push you off course by sending…

A wave of temptation to swamp your boat

A wind of doubt to push you off course

A silent current of activity to impede your progress

"Am I even a Christian?"

It's not the sinful thought, rather the constant thinking that gets us in trouble.

Ap. What do you do?

2 Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

2 Cor. 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

2 Cor. 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Ask the Lord to take those carnal thoughts captive and bring them into obedience to Christ.

"But YOU… (vs. 9-11)

Ö Paul takes it from the THEORETICAL to REAL LIFE by applying his thoughts to "you".

Note the CONFIDENCE Paul has for the Christian: Vs. 9

"You are NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit"

Lit. not "controlled" by the flesh since you have the Spirit living within you.

Ap. 1. Christian-since you have given your life to Jesus then you

can be sure He is going to save you.

2. The work of SANTIFICATION is accomplished by the Holy Spirit living within you.

LISTEN - when Jesus saved you

He gave you a NEW LIFE, not a new LAW.

Therefore, as you yield to that new life you will find that you will obey His Law!

Ö Notice also that it is the PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit in a person's life that tell us he/she is saved.

No Spirit - not saved (vs. 9)

Eph. 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Eph. 1:14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The Holy Spirit is the "down payment" - tells you that Jesus is coming to claim you for His own.

Ap. If you can observe the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, then you can be sure of His "seal" and of your salvation.

Finally…

Note the Promise in Verse 11.

Not only does the Holy Spirit give us SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION now….

….we're also promised that the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead will like-wise raise us from the dead!

CLOSE (*No condemnation)

1. Do YOU have to spend your whole life on earth FRUSTRATED by ongoing defeats to sin.

NO!

2. Is there POWER available to have daily VICTORY over sin?

YES!

Jesus walked in the Spirit the same way you and I can!

"not my will but yours"