Lesson 100

Romans Chapter Eight

Freedom in Christ through the Holy Spirit

The Dynamic for living the Christian Life

Review:

Observations

1. In the life of the positive advancing believer God is at work, empowering, enabling them by the Indwelling Holy Spirit.

2. It is God/H-S who will illuminate and reveal to us what the will of God is at any time.

3. God works in us, stirring us through the Word in the new man, the new conscious that we're building to do what we ought.

4. Simply to know what is right and even to desire to do the right thing isn't enough; we must have the empowering, the enabling of the H/S if we're going to be able make the overt application of the truth known and have it be effective in our life.

5. We must make the overt application of the truth that we know.

6. "To work" energew also means to have production, to bear fruit.

7. We are to be like a plant that grows, flowers and sets fruit.

8. Analogy with the believer:

- grows = to grow up spiritually - God will provide the necessary resources for anyone who is positive and desiring to know His word.

- flowers = along with our growth is an increasing desire to do what is right; what is consistent with our new nature in Christ and our developing relationship with Christ.

- fruit = divine good production in the life of the believer, and applying the Word daily and that regardless of the external circumstances.

9. The whole activity of learning what the will of God is and then acting on it fulfills God's purpose/plan for you.

10. God is not pleased and His purpose not fulfilled when negative volition and rejection of truth reigns. 1 Cor 10:5; Why?? Heb. 4:2; Heb. 10:38

8:5-8 Our Freedom in Christ; The Liberation of the Believer.

8:5 Statement of the 2 natures in view

The contrast here is between the believer, the one with the H/S and the unbeliever the one dominated by the flesh.

Several key words here;

- according to - prep. kata.; down on; has the force of domination

Speaks of what dominates the life and thinking. The standard on which the life is lived is the flesh!

- set their minds vs:5 & mind set on the flesh vs:6 fronew vb. fronhma noun not just referring to the function of the intellect, thinking, reasoning;

This word recognizes the close relationship between life and thought and therefore includes the impact of the will/choices being made.

- The fantastic blessing and provision of 8:1-4 can not be realized by the one whose mind is set the flesh.

Notice the contrast! but those who are according to [kata] the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Ø 8:6 The results/consequences of these 2 natures

- the flesh is death

- the Spirit is life and peace

Ø 8:7-8 Characteristics of the mind that is set on the flesh that leads to death!

for it (the mind set on the flesh) does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able

Verse 8 logically follows;

There is absolutely nothing an unsaved person can do to please God!

This verse is saying that everything that we have done in our life before coming to faith in Christ; was unacceptable to God, it was not pleasing to Him in any way!