Lesson 101

Romans Chapter Eight         

Freedom in Christ through the Holy Spirit

The Dynamic for living the Christian Life

 

Ø     8:9  Back to focus on the Believer

 

-  Begins with a statement of fact then follows with how we know this!

 

-  However, YOU, [yourselves]  are  [eivmi  keep on being, always true]  not in the flesh but [avlla.]  in the Spirit,

 

 

 

-  How we know this Paul states in the next phrase;   if indeed  [ei;per assumes as true]  the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

 

- Fact of: Jude 19; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19-20 

 

 

-  How important is the indwelling of the Spirit?

But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to Him. 

 

 

 

*** Note on terms for the Holy Spirit in the context:

    #1.  Spirit of life - 8:2 - agent of regeneration; giving of new life

    #2.  Spirit of God - 8:9 - indicates He carries out the purposes of God

    #3.  Spirit of Christ - 8:9 - Jn 16:7 I will send Him to you; to produce the character of Christ in the one indwelt, all to glorify Christ.

 

 

 

 

Ø      8:10   And if [1cc] Christ is in you, though the body is dead [subject to death] because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

 

 

What manner of life is it and whose life is it?

- Jn 1:4 cf. 10:10; 11:25;  Col 3:4;  1 Jn 5:11-12;     Gal 2:20;  hope -> Col 1:27;  Eph 3:17

 

- Stress here in the context is on our intimate relationship not only with the Holy Spirit but also with Christ.

 

- What one thing will justification and sanctification never cure??

 

Written into our physical bodies (into the DNA code) is the judicial sentence of death. Because of  the presence of the sin nature, judgment from the fall.

 

-  (On the other hand) the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

 

 

The power of the new spiritual life in Christ, conveys 2 truths here; 

      #1  that we have life in the sense of deliverance from condemnation, servitude to the Sin nature, and we can enjoy that now.

      #2  in the future we will experience resurrection life that will bring transformation of this body itself.

 

When you believed in Christ, the perfect righteousness of God was credited to your account;  

ledger account - debt of sin canceled;         God's +R credited to your account

                          by the redemption price                   (imputation)

 

The result is you have a new standing before God; you have God's imputed righteousness that leads to life!  2 Cor. 5:21

 

Ø      8:11  The reminder that the body is still subject to death need cause no alarm or despair to the believer. 

 

-  The Holy Spirit is the guarantee that just as He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.               Phil. 3:20-21

 

- What then is the hope of the believer who dies??

 

 

2.  The believer's obligation  8:12-17 [2nd major section of ch 8]

Our response to what God through Christ has done for us and provided to us.

 

Ø      8:12-13   We are under obligation

 

In view is the process of sanctification, making wise choices daily, living in the sphere of the Spirit.

 

-  So then  [intros a logical conclusion from the preceding paragraph]

- God always gives us reasons for what He desires of us, as His children.

 

 

-  What happens when you have people who try to fulfill obligations in their life without BD;   Therefore W/O any foundation for what they're attempting to do??

 

-  Paul tells us here very emphatically we have absolutely no obligation to the flesh, to the Sin nature.

 

-  Structure Summary vs:12-13:

We are under obligation                   NOT  to the flesh

                           we are debtors                    not to live according to the flesh

 

                              [last of vs:13]                   BUT  to the Spirit

                                                                         to live according to the Spirit