Bible Study Materials

Romans 8:1-17

by Paul Choi   03/14/2010  

Question


LIVE AS CHILDREN OF GOD BY THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:1-17

Key Verse: 8:14

1. What declaration does Paul make (1; 7:5-6; 23-25)? What has God done for “those who are in Christ Jesus,” and how (2-3)? For what reasons (4)?

2. How does Paul contrast two kinds of people (5-8)? Think about the differences in mindsets, consequences, and attitudes toward God.

3. What assurance can we have and why (9)? What happens when the Spirit of Christ lives in us (10-11)?

4. What obligation does a believer have and not have (12-13)? Why is this important? Read verse 14. What privilege belongs to those who are led by the Spirit? What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?

5. How does the Spirit change the status of and empower believers (15)? How can we have assurance that we are children of God (16)? What blessings do God’s children have (17)? What is the result of sharing in Christ’s sufferings?


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Message


LIFE CONTROLLED BY THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:1-18

Key Verse: 8:6 “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”

  In the movie “Seabiscuit”, an automobile entrepreneur named Charles Howard picks up an untried jockey named Red Pollad and wins numerous horse races with Seabiscuit. Charles rescues Red from poverty and disciplines him to be one of the best jockeys in horseracing history. It is impressive to hear a story where a helpless and poor person becomes strong and successful by the help of others. There are many similar heart-moving examples in the Bible. God not only called Abraham from the land of unbelief, but also helped him to grow as a source of blessing for the whole world. Jesus also called the mere fisherman Simon and made him a great teacher and a fisher of man in God’s history. What I want to say is that our God not only saved us from the life of sin and death, but also helps us to grow as warriors of faith and victors in our spiritual life.

  Last week we studied the growth of faith. In the process of spiritual growth, our inner struggle against our sinful nature is inevitable. I have seen all the male members of our church struggle to control their emotions and feelings in order to be good fathers and husbands at home. The more we struggle against our sinful nature, the more we imitate our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

  Romans 8:1-39 is known as the climax of gospel message. It contains all the blessings and privileges which we receive and experience as children of God.  (those who are justified through Christ Jesus). Some scholars say that this chapter is the power of Christian living. This chapter teaches us power (by the Holy Spirit), hope (by the future glory) and victory (by God’s unchanging love). Today we will study our life as controlled by the Spirit. May God teach us how he gives power to those who live according to the Holy Spirit.

First, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (1-4). Look at verses 1,2. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” In the past, Paul struggled hard to be made righteous before God by observing the law. However, the more he knew the law, the more he was frustrated since he found that it was impossible for any man to meet the requirements of the law. For example, he knew that the law forbids coveting. But, the more he struggled to overcome his covetous desires, the more he became a slave to covetous desire. Soon He condemned himself as a lawbreaker and despaired.

  However, when he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, Paul was freed from condemnation. He did not despair of his weakness and sinfulness. He had the power to overcome condemnation through the Holy Spirit. He had the power to come to God with the confidence that comes from Jesus Christ. He was now in Jesus Christ, not in the chains of law. He was now under God’s grace through Jesus Christ, not under oppression of the law.

Read verse 2. How did Christ Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death? Look at verses 3,4. “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” The purpose of the law was to make people right in the sight of God. However, because of men’s weakness and sinfulness, the law did not make people right before God. Rather it led them into sin and condemnation. So, God sent his One and Only Son Jesus Christ to this world as a man like us and let him die on the cross for our sins. God condemned Jesus in our place so that we might not be condemned because of our sins. Moreover, we are justified, pronounced not guilty, and considered righteous before God when we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is amazing grace and incredible good news.

Second, Christians are spiritual men (5-11). Look at verse 5. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” In this verse Paul teaches us that there are two kinds of people. The first are those who live according to their sinful nature. We call them physical men. The second are those who live according to the Spirit. We call them spiritual men. Christians are spiritual men who live according to the Spirit, not the sinful nature. Physical men always think about how to please themselves. They pursue whatever their flesh desires. On the contrary, we Christians always think about how to please God. We always think about spiritual things. We also pursue whatever the Holy Spirit desires.

What is the consequence of each life? Look at verse 6. “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. In other words, if our minds are ruled by our sinful desires, we will die. But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. (CEV).  King James Version describes this verse more precisely saying, “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. For example, many young people confront the temptation of watching pornography on the Internet. When they obey their carnal desires, they will soon experience death. Guilt and shame follow right after temporary eye pleasure. The mind of sinful man takes the spirit from believers and put them into self-condemnation. All of us struggle to overcome temptations and to have their minds set on things of God. We study the Bible, memorize key words and pray. Despite our busy schedule, we make God’s work our first priority. We experience abundant life and eternal peace every day. 

Why does the mind of sinful man bring death? Look at verses 7,8. “the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” To be carnally minded is to be an enemy of God. Such sinful desires fight against God in us and prevent us from obeying God’s law. Some may ask, “Why can’t we serve God and enjoy our sinful desires at the same time?” We cannot because God is holy and cannot exist with sin just as light cannot co-exist with darkness. There is no middle ground between God’s law and sinful desire. If we don’t obey God’s law, we submit ourselves to sinful desires. Those who submit to their sinful desires cannot please God. These verses remind us of a spiritual lesson from Psalm 119:9-11 which says, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Here we learn how the Psalmist struggles to overcome his sinful nature, to please God, and to keep his heart pure.  Those who seek holy desire please God and grow as men and women of great influence.

  In order to be controlled by the Spirit, we must allow the Holy Spirit to always live in us. We need constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Look at verse 9. “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” Christians are those who have the Spirit of Christ which is the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised his disciples to send the Holy Spirit as “another Counselor” In John 14:16,17a Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth.” How can we receive the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit comes the moment we believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit comes when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus is the God Incarnate and the Holy Spirit is the God Infinite. Whoever believes in Jesus Christ provides room for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

  Christians are made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit. In other words Christians receive resurrection power through the Holy Spirit. Look at verses10,11. “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” Those who live according to what their sinful nature desires will die. But those who live according to what the Spirit desires will live. Those who live by the Holy Spirit live with resurrection power that enables them to never give into the power of sin and death. The power of the Spirit enables them to master the power of sin and death.

Third, the power of the Holy Spirit (12-18) What does God give through the Holy Spirit to those who live according to the Spirit? Look at verses 12-14. “Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Above all, the Holy Spirit gives us the assurance that we are God’s children. Look at verses 15-17. “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Children are hope for the future. They have the privilege to inherit their parents’ name, position, rights and properties. Our God is the Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth. He owns the whole universe. The moment we accept Christ and believe in his name, God gives us the right to become children of God. (Jn 1:12) Being children of God means inheriting his kingdom and receiving the privileges which Christ Jesus shares. What an incredible blessing and privilege to be children of God! The Holy Spirit makes us sure of this blessing. The Holy Spirit testifies to us that we are children of God because of our faith in Jesus.

  The Holy Spirit also drives away fear in us. Verse 15 says, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.” When I was young, I had a chance to walk along a pier at night. My two legs became weaker with fear with each step I walked as I thought that the dark sea might swallow me up at any moment. But, when I held my father’s hand, I walked and jumped close to the edge of the pier. Fear was gone! Being with my father drove away the fear in me. In the same way, the Holy Spirit drives away fear when we have confidence that we are children of God. The Bible says, “If God is for us, who can be against us.(8:31). God did not give us a spirit of timidity and fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Ti 1:7)

  The Holy Spirit also provides spiritual power and inner strength to overcome present sufferings and to endure them for future glory. Look at verse 17. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” In the age of the early church, there were constant persecutions against Christians. Some were arrested and put into prison. Others were stoned to death in public. Still others were thrown into the den of lions. Despite these trials, the Christians did not lose their faith. They accepted martyrdom as an opportunity to share glory with Jesus Christ. How could they do so? They had the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enabled them to endure hardships and to keep their faith and loyalty to Jesus even at the point of death. The Christians died peacefully as they were being eaten by lions; they were expecting to receive the crown of life in heaven.

  In today’s passage we learned that we should live not according to our sinful nature, but in accordance with the Holy Spirit. We have an obligation. We must live as spiritual men ruled by the Holy Spirit. Those who do not have the spirit of Christ are not Christians. God grants us the power of the Holy Spirit when we have constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit. May God help us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and be guided by the Holy Spirit everyday. Amen.

 


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