Studying His Word and His Works

Listen to the study here: Romans 8:9-17

Read here: Romans 8

Review

• Calvin on the theme of Romans: “Man’s only righteousness is the mercy of God in Christ, when it is offered by the Gospel and received by faith.” Romans 1:17 and elsewhere.
• IMPORTANT: Paul wrote the letter to the saints (1:7), and the letter is about the gospel, which is a reminder we need to preach the gospel to ourselves daily. 
• Luther: Simul iustus et peccator = At the same time, righteous and a sinner! Romans 3:23-25
• In Ch. 1-3 Paul shows us our unrighteousness, and God’s wrath against that, and the switches to Christ’s righteousness as our covering, the propitiation of our sins (Romans 3:25) as the final sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the promise to Abraham, who had faith before any works
• Faith being “counted” or “credited to our account” as righteousness is mentioned 11 times in Chapter 4! If “none are righteous” as Paul wrote in Romans 3:10, then this saving faith must be a gift from God.
• Ch. 5, We now have peace with God, access to God, and hope, because of what Christ did for us while we were weak(v. 6), sinners (v. 8), and enemies (v. 10). Christ did this “at the right time,” (v. 6), connecting Christ’s work on the cross and God’s plan of redemption to real history (not just a myth or legend).
• Atonement(5:6-11): Jesus satisfying God’s wrath for us through His sacrificial death on the cross.
• Ch. 5 and 6 describe federalism, this idea of one man making a difference, for righteousness (Jesus) or wickedness (Adam). 
• Ch 6 ended with lots of words pointing to the new road we are now on with Christ, the sanctification road.
• Service is the key word, “slaves” used 8 times
• “Present yourselves”(5), “Leads to”(5)
• Sproul: “our regeneration, our rebirth was the work of one Person, God. It was not a joint venture; but from the moment we take our first breath of regenerated spiritual life, it  becomes a joint effort.” The work of one Person is what salvation is about. The joint venture is what sanctification is about. Ch.6 ends and we continue into Ch.7 describing what this “sanctification road” looks like to walk down. We were on the sin road that leads to death, but now we are on the grace road that leads to eternal life.
• Theologians disagree on many parts of Romans, including Chapter 7:13-25. Some believe Paul is talking about his pre-Christian life, others that the passage is describing Israel, and others that Paul is talking about his current life as a Christian. I can see how it could be describing Israel, and Paul before being a Christian, due to the “sold under sin” phrase of v. 14, which is clearly not a Christian’s life since we are free. What does match up is how the end of Ch. 7 (21-25) is similar to Galatians 5. We are born sinners, and while Christ has set us free, we have that joint effort now to let Christ lead us out of slavery. Believers are still the Romans 7:25 person, but with Christ in us now. And we know He is in us because we have the ability to turn away from serving the law of sin in our flesh and serving the law of God instead.  “Paul’s Law” (v. 21) is in effect now, evil is out there, tempting us, but now we are teamed up with the Holy Spirit, and we can fight on the inside to turn and set out minds on Him instead!

Intro

• Key words: Spirit (12, 2 lower case), if (6), we (5), dead (3). Paul starts focusing on the team, the family aspect of Christianity, in these verses and the next study on v. 18-27. As believers, we have a responsibility to each other, to the “love God and love others” of Matt. 22:37-39, etc. 
• Verses 1-11 described the “no condemnation” for those in Christ. For Christians, God sees His righteousness in us now. With Christ in us, we WILL set our minds on the things of the Spirit(v. 5), which results in life and peace (v. 6). Many other places Paul talks about this “setting” that we CAN do as Christians, an impossible thing without Christ in us. But, we should also expect Satan to deceive with fake versions of this (like Mormons and JW). Fortunately, the fake versions are usually easy to spot, because they are self-righteous and works based. They are deceptions of Satan to make you think you’re not saved unless you do certain things.
• But, praise God, the “no condemnation” of verse 1 is a reminder that there’s nothing we can do to gain His favor; He did the work of imputing our sins to him and His righteousness to us. We can only repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15) if He has already done a work in us. In this study we are going to continue talking about what the “setting on” looks like, what that “presenting our members” looks like, as those who have been brought from death to life, as instruments of righteousness (6:13).
• Sproul: This section of Romans is answering the question “is it safe?” Am I really saved? From the no condemnation of verse 1 to the adoption to the nothing can separate us at the end of Ch 8.
• Verse 9
  • Paul is reminding that you, Christian are under new management now! If in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you, He owns you now. Not Satan, not sin. If the Spirit is in us, then we have that “want to” to be slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification (Romans 6:19).
  • The thing we don’t like to hear in this verse, but need to hear, is the if, that is if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. We’ve talked about the “if” quite a bit, which is why I keep bringing up the “want to” inside of you. In logic, the “if” begins what is called a conditional statement. “If p, then q.” “If this is true, then that is true.” The fact that you are reading this, that you are aware of the sins that influence you and you have a desire to turn from them, that you want to get into His word and know him more, those are the very basics of the assurance of your salvation. If the Holy Spirit is in you, then you have the “want to” to surrender to Him. To present yourself to Him. It’s as simple as that!
  • In Sproul’s commentary on v. 9, he brings up false converts, referencing Matthew 7:22-23, when Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount says that many will come in His name, prophesying, doing wonders, etc. And Jesus says to them “depart from me, I never knew you.” They were in it for themselves. 
• Verses 10-11
  • Sproul writes that whenever we see the contrast between spirit and flesh, “the flesh refers to the fallen, corrupt nature that we inherit from Adam, and the spirit refers to the new man, the person reborn by the Holy Spirit.” That fallen, corrupt nature is something we can fight (7:22 and waging war) now that we have the Holy Spirit in us.
  • Sproul thinks the Spirit is life in verse 10 is actually “spirit”(lower case) because it doesn’t have “Holy” in front of it and is contrasting how our own soul or spirit is dead without Christ and now alive because His righteousness has been imputed to us. I don’t know if I agree with this, although it does kinda make sense. I think it is good to remember the different audiences Paul is referring to, Jews, Gentiles, Israel, Christians. So he will be jumping around some. I think most translations use “Spirit”(capitalized) here because verse 11 is clearly describing the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. 
  • Verse 11 describes how our mortal bodies will be raised as well, just like Jesus’s was. Ours raised at the last judgment. 
  • If we have the Holy Spirit in us, we are “marked safe from Hell.”
    • Here is a question that some people overthink, but most underthink: How can we know for sure that we are saved, that Matthew 7:22-23 doesn’t apply to us? Sproul describes 4 types of people:
      • 1) Some are not saved and they know and don’t care.
      • 2) Some are saved and have the full assurance of their state of redemption.
      • 3) Some are saved but they are not sure of their state. Their souls are restless.
      • 4) Some are not saved but they think they are saved.
        • Perhaps for some, this false assurance is because they were preached a false gospel, a “Jesus loves everybody, ask him into your heart,” with no repentance or belief involved. Just “me inviting Jesus in.” Or perhaps the false gospel they heard was more in the form of a works-based salvation, heard by many Catholics(a baptism with no belief or repentance), Mormons, JW, etc.
      • Some people just use the “good people” argument; those folks are nice, therefore they will go to heaven. The great theologian Voddie Baucham liked to say we have an 11th commandment now, “thou shalt be nice.”
      • Sproul says a false assurance can even happen to a seminary graduate; they understand the gospel, but are not trusting Christ alone for salvation. They still think we have to do something in other words. 
      • In Romans 7 and 8, Paul is showing us the life of a believer, the simul iustus et peccator of Luther, the peace/access/hope of Romans 5 amidst the storm of our dying flesh. In Christ we can be peace amidst the storm.
        • How I wish the Christian life were like efoiling a glassy, flat lake! To learn efoiling, you need calm conditions like this. It’s hard to learn, but once you do, it is so nice and peaceful and smooth. But, then you get in a little wind and waves and it is instantly harder.
          • The Christian life is like training to be calm and in control amidst the wind and waves. The glassy flat lake is what we wish it were like. Peace amidst the storm is more like what I think God intended. We can start on the glassy, flat lake of our Christian walk, but we shouldn’t stay there.
• Verses 12-13
  • By the Spirit alone we WILL put to death the flesh, the sin nature. We can’t even see the sanctification road, much less walk on it, without the Spirit in us. Let’s say there is some sin that you have, anger or lust or jealousy, whatever. You are tempted and you turn from it. Praise Jesus! But, how did that happen? Well, it wasn’t you! That was the Holy Spirit in you. Have confidence in that!
    • Next temptation, you fail. What do you say now? Well, can you repent? Yes. Can you get up and try again? Yes. Can you believe Jesus saved you, not because of you but in spite of you? That’s what the Bible says, while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We aren’t so great, Christ is great. We get ourselves down because we thought we were so great and then we failed. That might be how it is when you’re playing sports and mess up and lose the game, but that doesn’t completely translate over to being a Christian. Christ makes you great in God’s eyes, not you! 
• Verse 14
  • The best test of assurance of salvation is this: are you led by the Spirit of God?
    • Sproul says led by the Spirit has been muddied with Christian jargon. We use it a lot to mean God is leading us in this or that direction. We ask “How can I know His will?” and we might say we are “being led by the Spirit” towards very concrete, specific things, like a marriage, a job, etc. Of course God does lead His people where He wants them to go, but the led by the Spirit here is referring to Christians, people who, by the work of the Holy Spirit in them, have repented, believed, are walking the sanctification road, are presenting themselves as instruments of righteousness, as slaves of God and slaves to righteousness (6:19 and 22). Those who can set their mind on the Spirit (8:5) are living according to the Spirit, which means they are slaves and slaves are led. A slave position is not a position of leadership, it’s a position of being led.
    • The desire to know God’s will for our lives is actually a sign you are being led by the Spirit. You want to follow where He leads you, you’re just not sure exactly where. BUT, becoming a Christian is about FREEDOM, not freaking out and worrying about whether you picked the right job or the right cookies or the right car, etc. You have FREEDOM to trust Him with your future, whatever that is. 
    • What is the will of God for you? “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” (I Thess 4:3). That’s it. Any time you wonder, what is God’s will for my life? Your sanctification is His only will for you, leading you down the road to eternal glory. And, everything in your life is driving you down that road. You don’t have to know every bend and twist and turn, but you do have to know and believe that every bend and twist and turn has a purpose, and that purpose is your sanctification, to make you more like Him. 
    • If we are truly saved, we can come to verses like “If you love Me, keep My commandments”(John 14:15) and joyfully, immediately, happily reply, “YES SIR!”
    • This is something I (and Sproul) keep going back to, because I think it is something Paul is conveying to Christians in Romans: “if there is a sense in which our spirits are directed to the things of Christ-any at all-it guarantees us that we are indwelt by the Spirit of God.” 
    • The sons of God at the end of v. 14 refers not to biology, but obedience. If we obey our lusts, then we are children of the Devil, not of sons (and daughters) of God.
• Verse 15
  • Such an important verse! The spirit of slavery and fear is NOT something you received from Jesus! And Abba is not really the “Daddy” of modern evangelicalism, it is really more of a term of respect, of “yessir!”, that Jesus is a man I trust and respect and can be at peace around because I know He is in control. I can lean on Him when things seem out of control. I don’t have to fear when things seem out of control, but can trust He’s got this. 
  • One thing we have fear of is the future, that is why we can overthink the “what is God’s will for my life?” question and turn it into all these specific things instead of seeing sanctification is God’s will. We have to set our minds on sanctification instead, especially when we have two job offers and wonder what happens if we pick the wrong one(or so we think), or two choices for a spouse and we pick the wrong one(or so we think). If we let fear and inaction overwhelm us, that is definitely not where Christ wants us. He FOR SURE wants us to pray about these things, but also trust Him with the outcome and the plan and purpose that unfolds. We are adopted, our eternal future is secure, we have nothing to fear now!
  • God has one son, Jesus, the rest of His children are adopted! Think about this, in order to be adopted, you have to be picked, right? You don’t adopt yourself, God adopts you! You are not in charge of this transaction, He is!
  • It is not bad to say Abba=Daddy, we are in a close family relationship now. Jesus repeatedly called God His father, and the Jews hated it! It was radical to refer to God this way in Jesus’s day. But just like Jesus prayed “Our Father in heaven”(Matt 6:8-9a), God is Father to all believers. So yes, respectfully think of Abba=Daddy, but even more, think of it as a privilege, something we didn’t earn the right to call Him. It was given to us freely. Part of receiving the Holy Spirit is the unity and diversity that is there, that this is also a Spirit of adoption. 
• Verse 16
  • The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, meaning, it’s a team effort now!
    • The main way the Spirit “bears witness” or communicates with us is, as Sproul says, “by the Word, with the Word, through the Word, and never against the Word. Millions claim to be led by the Spirit into sin and disobedience. The testimony we receive from the Holy Spirit comes in and through the Word.”
      • Do you lack assurance? Go to the Word. Do you want to be led by the Spirit? Immerse yourself in His word. 
      • There are other spirits out there trying to communicate with us, to deceive us. We are told to test the spirits(I John 4:1), but how do we do that? With the Word. Memorize the Word.
• Verse 17
  • If we are adopted, we are heirs to the throne along with Christ. We will be glorified with him. BUT, look at this part in v. 17, the provided we suffer with him part. Ewwwww! I have to suffer?!
    • Think about this, one reason we can get over-specific about what God’s will is, is often really NOT because we want to do His will so badly. It’s because we want to know which way will be the most comfortable. Which way will provide the easiest result. But that’s not what Jesus saved us from. He didn’t save us from temporary trials in our incredibly short lifetimes on Earth. He saved us from God’s wrath, forever! Our earthly and very temporary sufferings pale in comparison to that. It’s eternal peace He has given us, eternal access to the Father, eternal hope. Suffering in this world, being persecuted for being a Christian, is a good place to be in this world. Count your trials as joy! (James 1:2-3).
• Up next, Romans 8:18-27.