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Romans 8:28 – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Paul has been showing Christians the power of the gospel to do things which the law could not do.  In verses 28-30, he gives us the assurance that all things work together for the good of the Christian, since all things are connected with the purposes of God. 

This truth should be of immense comfort to every Christian, because we all have times when we don’t fully understand what God is doing/working out in our lives.  During these times we sometimes feel confused or defeated.  This portion of scripture reminds us that even when we can’t fully comprehend it, God is working to bring about our ultimate good through every circumstance.  Let’s explore this interesting truth more fully.   

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Regardless of what happens to us or what circumstances we face, Christians have the assurance that all things are really working together for our good.  In other words, all things (the seemingly good and the seemingly bad) work together to complete our salvation.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And we know:  Paul says that, as Christians, ‘we know’ or understand that the circumstances of our lives work together for our good.  

• We know this is true because we know God.  We have the assurance that he is infinitely wise, loving and powerful.  We know that he has purposed and made possible our salvation; there is no way he is going to allow anything to prevent our adoption as his children, because all things are under his direction.

• We know this is true because we have biblical examples that demonstrate it.  For example, we can see the hand of God at work in the life of Joseph.  He was captured by his brothers, sent to a foreign country, sold into slavery, falsely imprisoned and forgotten by men, yet we find that all these circumstances prepared him mentally, physically and spiritually to assume the role that God had created him for – to save the Hebrews and much of the Gentile world as well (Genesis 37, 38-50).

• We know this is true based on our own experiences in life.  We may not understand this at the exact moment of our blessing or affliction, but once we get to the other side of that situation or once we arrive at the end of our earthly lives, we will most certainly be able to look back over our time on earth and agree that our circumstances (whether we perceive them as good or bad) were beneficial to us.  

For those who love God:  Make no mistake – this principle does not apply to everyone.  The people in whose behalf all things work together for good are those who love God and who live in a state of willing obedience to him as a result of that love:

John 14:15 - If you love me [Jesus], keep my commandments.

John 14:21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me [Jesus]: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Obviously, there are no perfect Christians.  We all stumble and fall into sin on occasion.  But that is not the same thing as continuously walking in flagrant sin.  If you are picking and choosing which of God’s commands to live by, or if you are in defiant rebellion against a specific command, then this verse does not apply to you.  All things are NOT working together for your good.

All things work together for good:  As you have no doubt already discovered, when all things work together for our good it does not mean that everything falls into place and we can expect a life of ease and comfort.  It does not mean the automatic fulfillment of all our earthly desires. 

Rather, it means that all things shape us, guide us and teach us to both know and walk in the ways of God.  When we do so, we will glorify him and ensure our own personal growth and blessing (spiritual, temporal and eternal). 

So… what does it mean to have all things working together for your good?

First, let’s point out that everything is under the direction of God, our loving heavenly Father who is an infinitely wise and powerful being.  He has designed and made possible the salvation of each person and it is under his direction that all things contribute to that salvation, as well as our spiritual, eternal and even temporal good.

‘All things’ specifically refers to the events, circumstances and facts of our lives, whether good or bad.  Thus, whether we experience adversity or ease, health or sickness, abundance or lack we can be sure that God’s glory and our good will certainly be advanced by these conditions.

Under the orchestration of our heavenly Father, his providence, his Holy Spirit and our circumstances work together to produce what is best for us.  (As a side note, keep in mind that what is best for you may or may not be best for me.)  This process cannot be stopped or thwarted by Satan.   In fact, when the enemy seeks to destroy us with a trial or problem, God merely presses those circumstances into his service as well, using them to contribute to the general good of those who love and serve him. 

Oddly enough, it’s often the adverse circumstances, events and things that provide us with the most benefits:

• They show us that God is active in our lives.
• They help increase our faith. 
• They take our focus/affections off of this world, and place them in the eternal realm. 
• They teach us the truth about the limits and brevity of our mortal lives. 
• They lead us to the hope of a life in God which ultimately results in a heavenly home. 
• They motivate and encourage us to be fruitful in God’s kingdom, and to be faithful soldiers in his army. 

Simply stated, all things work together for our salvation, our subsequent spiritual growth, our eternal good and even for the good of our lives here on earth.  When we understand this, we can truly say along with the Psalmist that it was good for us to be afflicted in this life:

Psalms 119:71 – It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your [God’s] statutes.

Before we move on, let’s look at one final point - all things are working together for our good right now - in the present.  In other words, this is a constant state of affairs.  Right now, at this very moment, God is managing our circumstances to bring about the best outcome for us and he will continue doing so until we enter the next age.  

For those who are called:  The word translated ‘called’ is sometimes used to denote an invitation or an offer.  There is no doubt that God has called or invited ALL of mankind to accept salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16, I Timothy 2:4).  But sadly, not everyone will accept this call or invitation.  The promise of this verse (that all things work together for the good of those who are called) applies only to those who have accepted the offer of salvation.  In other words, the ‘called’ are Christians:

I Corinthians 1:2 – To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together will all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours;

Revelation 17:14 – They [Satan and his servants] will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him [Christians] are called and chosen and faithful.

According to his purpose:  A purpose is the ultimate aim of any plan, design or intention; it refers to something that is to be reached or accomplished. There can be no doubt that the salvation of mankind was always God’s purpose/plan:

II Timothy 1:9 – [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

Furthermore, God has eternal designs and plans for each individual which existed before they were born.  Thus, we know that our salvation is not pointless or meaningless.  Though we experience trials and afflictions our loving heavenly Father ensures that they fit into the perfect plan he has mapped out for each individual Christian.  Since our circumstances are used to further our spiritual, eternal and even temporal good, we can rejoice and be glad in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.  

In conclusion, let me make this point:  As Christians we are the adopted children of God.  We have Holy Spirit living in our hearts and our desire is to love and serve God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  Therefore, we might wonder why God would allow calamities and trials to touch our lives.  We might further wonder why he does not remove said difficulties when we cry out to him in prayer, and in fact, we sometimes think he does not even hear us. 

In response to these misgivings, Paul asserts that God DOES hear us and he DOES answer.  By his own miraculous wisdom and power, he turns those things which seem evil into things that promote our spiritual, eternal and even temporal well-being as well as his glory.  

Genesis 50:20 – As for you, you meant evil against me [Joseph] but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Though sinners and saints are indiscriminately exposed to similar evils there is a vast difference between the two – God trains his faithful followers through difficulties thereby promoting their salvation and eternal good.  Satan simply seeks to destroy those who follow him.   

Furthermore, the truth Paul presents here is of great benefit to believers in their daily lives.  For example, we can be victorious over murmuring and complaining when we realize that even trying circumstances are used by God to work out his highest and best good in our lives.  What might otherwise be annoying or frustrating can be understood as the building blocks of God’s divine love and mercy; if we accept our circumstances and difficulties as being under God’s control, they will be a means of blessing as we learn from them. 

One thing is certain:  A day will surely come when we will look back upon this life and truly see that God has lead us in a way that promoted both his glory and our good.

Romans 8:29 – For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Paul ended the last verse by mentioning the purpose of God.  He now enlarges upon that topic.  In the next few verses, Paul shows how our calling (our acceptance of the gospel/Jesus as our Savior) is an argument for the fact that all things work together for our eternal benefit/happiness.  He does this by showing us the basic steps which the wisdom and goodness of God have taken to bring us to salvation.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  God, in his infinite wisdom and understanding, knew that we would be in need of a Savior before he even created us.  He therefore deliberately (with clear intent) purposed or predestined (determined beforehand) to save us and conform us to the image of Jesus.  This happens in such a way that Jesus is the firstborn among the infinite number of his children.

Because this is the case, we can be sure that whatever happens to the Christian in this life will contribute to his/her good.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For those whom he foreknew:  To foreknow is to know before hand; to have previous knowledge of something.  God knew that we would need his salvation before the world was ever created: 

II Timothy 1:9-10 – [God] who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus…

Thus, we find that the first step in our salvation was the purpose and grace of God; he knew and favored us before we were even created.  Scripture clearly shows that he favored ALL of mankind.  In other words, it was always his plan to offer salvation to both Jews and Gentiles:

Ephesians 2:12-14 - …remember that you (Gentiles) were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For he himself is our peace, who has made us (Jews and Gentiles) both one … 

Obviously, we as individuals had nothing to do with this; the root cause of our salvation is found in the plans and purposes of God, not within anything that we have done.  Here is one reason why that is important:

We are called, invited or chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, who has the right to give his blessings to anyone he chooses.  We are therefore guaranteed to receive the blessings of the gospel, because it was God himself who invited us to partake of them.

He also predestinated to be confirmed to the image of his Son:  Under God’s perfect plan of salvation, he calls all his adopted children to be patterned or modeled after the example of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

As Paul has shown us here in Romans chapter eight, in this life we are conformed to Christ in holiness and suffering.  In the next life (eternity), we will be conformed to him in glory (Ephesians 1:4-6, I Corinthians 15:49, I John 3:2). 

The final outcome of our conformity to Christ is that we become the adopted children of God and joint heirs with Christ in the next age.  Our conformity to Jesus will become evident when we are raised from the dead and our bodies are transformed into new bodies that are fit for our eternal existence in heaven.

Philippians 3:20-21 – But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

So we find that the foundation of our salvation is the foreknowledge or gracious purpose of God.  The finishing stroke is our being joint heirs with Christ, as evidenced by the resurrection and transformation of our bodies as we enter the eternal realm.  

Based on these truths, we can be certain that in our current state (in our lives here on earth) all things work together for our good, because God intends for us to have eternal glory in Christ. 

In order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers:  Throughout this passage, the kingdom of God is described as a family.  God is our Father, Jesus is his only Son and we are his adopted children.  The object of our salvation (foreknowledge, calling, justification, glorification, etc.) is to make us sufficiently like Jesus that we might be added to the family of God as his brothers/sisters. 

Jesus is the head or firstborn of all the redeemed because he was the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead - he was the first human to pass through death and be raised to eternal glory.  We might say that he is the elder brother of the saints and we are co-heirs with him.  

1 Corinthians 15:20 - But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Because of the plan of salvation, Jesus will not stand alone in isolated glory, he will be surrounded by a countless number of saints fashioned after his likeness just as He is in the likeness of God.

However, it should be clearly noted that in our conformity, we have a likeness to Christ but NOT an equality – Jesus forever retains the dignity and honor of the first-born and only true Son of God:

I John 4:9 – In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

(See also John 3:16-18, John 1:18).  Obviously, Jesus is far, far greater than we are.  He is the Head and Ruler of the family of God in heaven and on earth.  He has preeminence in all things:

Colossians 1:18 - And he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Romans 8:30 – And those whom he predestined he also called. And those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  God deliberately (with clear intent) purposed to save mankind from his wrath through the plan of salvation.  Using the gospel message, he called mankind to salvation.

Those who accept his offer of salvation as outlined in the gospel have been justified by Christ, according to the sovereign will and power of God.  They are now reconciled to God.   

Those who have been justified by Christ and are reconciled to God have also been glorified or brought into final glory (Romans 8:17-18).  Granted, this final glorification has not yet taken place, but Paul regards all the steps of our salvation as being already accomplished because predestination, calling, justification and glorification are all parts of the same salvation experience.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And those whom he predestined he also called:  As we already established, before the foundations of the earth were laid, God determined to provide a way of salvation to mankind.  Logically speaking, that method of salvation would be useless if mankind didn’t know about it or wasn’t invited to participate in it. 

So God made it known throughout the earth, to both Jews and Gentiles.  This was accomplished through the incarnation of Jesus on earth.  Jesus revealed the Father to the world.  He then chose 12 apostles, taught them, trained them and entrusted them with the gospel message. 

He then gave up his life on the cross, rose from the dead on the third day, and went back to heaven as the Mediator between God and man.  

Hebrews 9:15 – Therefore he [Jesus] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

The apostles began the work of calling/inviting people to salvation by spreading the gospel message throughout the world.  That invitation is still circulating today.  If you’ve received it, then pass it on!

And those whom he called he also justified:  God pardons the sins of all those who turn to Christ in faith with true repentance.  This is the heart of the gospel message.

I John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   

And those whom he justified he also glorified:  Justification implies or includes the concept of sanctification.  Let’s take a brief look at these two concepts.

To be justified means to be forgiven of sin.  Justification is an instantaneous process – it happens the moment you ask Christ to forgive you. 

Sanctification is the process of denying your flesh/old man and dedicating your life to holy living.  This is a life-long process that begins just after justification and continues until you die or Christ returns.

Those who are justified and sanctified are also glorified (or more accurately will be glorified in the next age).  This glorification consists of a likeness to Christ, eternal communion with him, and freedom from all that is evil.  It also includes enjoyment of all the rights, privileges and benefits of being a child of God and a joint heir with Christ.

Now we can see the overall sequence of events in salvation – predestination (which took place in eternity past) precedes and secures our calling, while the calling precedes and secures the justification (which takes place during the era of time as we know it), which leads to sanctification, which precedes our glorification (which takes place in the next age).  

Let me offer you some encouragement:

It has often been said that the gospel is so simple a child can understand and accept it, but at the same time it is so rich and complex that even the most mature Christian is in awe of its many facets.

When is the last time you stopped to consider the incredible plan of salvation that God has granted to us?  When was the last time you reminded yourself that you did nothing to deserve this astonishing gift; it was completely the result of God’s rich, gratuitous mercy and grace? 

Today I encourage you to take a fresh look at your salvation.  Allow its many facets (predestination, calling/invitation, justification, sanctification and glorification) to prompt you into praise and worship of our Heavenly Father, who made it all possible.  

 Let me offer you some relief:

Nothing in your life is a surprise to God.  He sees you every moment of every day for your entire existence on earth.  He knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30).  He determined the day you would return to him (die) before you were even born.  He knows when you sit down, when you get up and he knows what you will say before you even utter a sound (Psalms 139:1-18).  

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us that our infinitely powerful, loving and wise God is more than able to make all of the circumstances of our lives work together under his guidance to result in our spiritual, eternal and temporal good.  The next time you walk through a difficult time, don’t be dismayed and don’t fear.  Instead, rejoice and seek to bring him glory, knowing that God is using that thing or situation for your good!

Let me offer you some strength:

If you have accepted Christ as Savior and made him Lord of your life, he is going to make sure that you find yourself glorified with Christ Jesus in eternity, in spite of the failures you sometimes experience.  Scripture confirms this by telling us that when God begins a work in us, he will surely finish it:

Philippians 1:6 – And I [Paul] am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

When you stumble or fail, the enemy will encourage you to quit or to give up, but don’t you listen to that nonsense!  Take strength in knowing that salvation does not come as a result of your actions (no one can be saved by the law); it comes solely as a result of God’s firm intentions to bless you and reconcile you to himself.  He knows your weaknesses and he will forgive you again and again.

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Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

In verses 18-25, we discovered that Holy Spirit (a gift given to the adopted children of God under the provisions of the gospel) sustains the soul of the Christian during their earthly trials/tribulations by providing them with a sure hope of future deliverance from sin. 

This final deliverance will be evident when we receive the complete redemption of our bodies - when Christ raises us from the dead and changes our mortal bodies so they are fit for life in heaven.  

In verses 26-27, we will see the strength and support/aid given to us by Holy Spirit to sustain us during the difficulties of this life.  This priceless help stands in opposition to the law, which is powerless to assist us during our struggles.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  When Christians experience great trials and do not know what type of relief to pray for, we have the comfort of knowing that Holy Spirit intercedes for us.  He does this by means of an internal work; he inspires us to groan or cry or pray according to the will of God.  Because he influences us to pray for the true will of God, we can be assured that God will grant our petitions.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Likewise:  ‘Likewise’ is a connective word.  It draws a comparison between the spiritual truth in verses 18-25 and the current statements of Paul. 

In the prior verses (18-25), we discovered that the reality of the future complete redemption of our bodies is a source of encouragement (hope) that sustains us in times of affliction or difficulty.  This source of strength is available to any believer who chooses to fill their mind/understanding with the word of God. 

Here’s how it works:  As you meditate on the truth of God’s word, Holy Spirit works through your faith to firmly implant that word into your heart.  Once that promise takes root, hope is produced and it gives you the strength and courage to continue in your Christian walk regardless of your circumstances.  Clearly, this form of support is a partnership between the Christian and Holy Spirit.

In the same way, Holy Spirit is our divine partner in prayer.     

The Spirit helps us in our weakness:  As Christians, we MUST exercise control over our minds.  We should be filling them with the truth of the word of God, which includes the promises of future redemption and salvation.  Exercising control of our minds is actually a form of spiritual warfare:

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down arguments, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

But as we all know, we can never rely solely on our own strength.  If that was all we had to depend on, we would quickly sink under the burdens of life.  But thankfully, God has given us Holy Spirit as our divine, ever-present, ever-comforting companion and helper!   

Paul tells us that Holy Spirit helps or supports us when we are spiritually weak.  Specifically, the word translated ‘help’ literally means ‘the assistance that any two persons gain from each other, as they mutually bear or carry the same load between them.’  Again, we see the partnership between the Christian and Holy Spirit.

Can you think of a time when you were unable to accomplish something on your own, but someone else helped you get the job done? 

The first thought that pops into my mind was the last time I got a new computer.  I did my best to set it up correctly, but mistakes were made and errors abounded!  I had no idea what to do next; I fervently regretted buying the new laptop, even though it was a necessity!

In the midst of my frustration, my daughter-in-law offered to assist me.  She helped me correct the errors and understand some of the computer’s new functions.  It wasn’t long until the new computer was working perfectly.  In fact, I am using it right now to write this blog!

Similarly, there is no Christian who is strong enough or knowledgeable enough to successfully walk their earthly journey alone.  All of us need the divine help of Holy Spirit in order to be victorious in our Christian walk/duties.

Before we get into the specifics of how Holy Spirit helps us in prayer, let’s just remind ourselves that we are discussing a partnership – when we do our part, Holy Spirit comes alongside and does what we cannot do.  Hence, the Christian who prays receives help from the Spirit of God, but the one who does not pray receives no help.

Think of it this way:  As we wait for our full redemption, we must wait both passively and actively.  We wait passively by reminding ourselves that the day is coming and by rejoicing in that knowledge.  We wait actively by doing the will of God here on earth – by praying, proclaiming the gospel, doing good works, etc.

In the midst of all our weaknesses and trials, Holy Spirit is with us.  He gives us the patience to wait, the strength to bear our burdens and the energy to pursue our appointed kingdom tasks/ministries regardless of our circumstances. 

In other words, Holy Spirit isn’t going to do the work for you.  But if you step up and engage in prayer (or any other kingdom work), he will come alongside you and assist you until you obtain victory.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought:  Now let’s talk specifically about prayer.  Prayer is both a duty and a privilege.   There are many aspects to prayer that we understand clearly:

• We know that we pray to God in the name of Jesus.
• We know that we are to pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).
• We know that we are to pray in faith with perseverance and humility (I Timothy 2:8, Matthew 21:22). 
• We know that we are to pray for all men; both our fellow saints (Ephesians 6:18) and our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
• We know that we can come boldly before the throne of God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16).
• We know the model prayer that Jesus gave the disciples as a guide (Luke 11:1-4).

Nevertheless, we often do not know exactly how to pray (what to specifically ask for) in regards to the things of this life.  There are several reasons for this: 

One:  We are still under the influence of our old man/fallen nature.  While we are the redeemed sons and daughters of God, our redemption is not yet complete; we are still influenced by sin.  We tend to pray for things that make us more comfortable, or that make our lives easier, or that provide more benefits for us in this life rather than in the next.  We also have a strong tendency to pray for things that feed our pride or vanity.

Two:  We do not always know what would be best for us.  Based on our limited perspective of life, we may be praying for a situation to turn out in a specific way, but that resolution may not be the best thing for us.  Only God can see the future; he might be using that situation to steer you in a different direction.

Three:  We often pray for deliverance, instead of praying for victory.  At one time or another all of us have prayed for some situation to just ‘go away’.  But the reality is that God keeps us there for a season in order to bring about something good (spiritual growth, understanding of kingdom principles, suffering for his kingdom, etc.). 

Four:  We tend to pray for something that others have instead of what God has prepared for us.  If you have multiple children, you know that each one of them is unique.  They all have different talents and capabilities.  That is true in the family of God as well.  If you are busy praying for a ministry just like Mr. or Mrs. Jones, you are missing the boat.  You are unique.  God has given you a set of talents, skills, capabilities and opportunities that no one else possesses.  Don’t pray to be like someone else or to have a ministry like someone else – pray to discover the unique plan that God has for you!

Five:  We are sometimes hindered in our prayers because we are ignorant of God’s character and/or the principles of his kingdom.  For example, we might be diligently praying for God to give us an increase in wealth, when all we really need is to do is follow kingdom principles – honor God with your tithes, give to the poor, go to work and live within your means.  

Another example is faith.  We might be praying for more faith, but that is a wrong prayer.  Scripture tells us that faith comes by hearing/meditating on the word, and by exercising the faith we already have. 

Six:  Sometimes we desperately need help in prayer because we are blinded by our current circumstances.  If we are in the midst of intense pain, or a devastating circumstance, or if we have been blind-sided by the actions of another person, we may be so overwhelmed that we don’t have the first clue what we should be asking for. 

Furthermore, we are often subject to doubts about whether or not we are praying for certain situations correctly (whether our prayers are pleasing to God or not). 

All things considered, we would be liable to endless mistakes in our prayer lives if not for the assistance of the Spirit.  Thankfully, he comes along side us and bears the burden of prayer with us, using his power to help us bring our petitions before the throne of grace.

But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words:  Holy Spirit makes intercession for us by helping us to pray.  He reveals what we should pray for and then assists us in finding suitable expressions for our prayers.

When we turn to him for help, he will touch us deep within our hearts.  As we lean into him, he shows us our true need, and then stirs us up to pray.  At times he will put words in our mouths (suggest to us how to pray or what to ask for).  He will remind us of promises in the bible which we can stand on or use for direction.  As we are praying, he causes faith to rise up within us, which fuels a spirit of fervency and results in boldness to come into the throne room of God to obtain the answers/help that we need.

At other times, Holy Spirit touches our hearts in such a way that we do not pray with normal words.  When our prayers are too deep and too intense for words, they often come in the form of a sigh, a sob/tears, a groan/cry straight from the heart, or even as a silent plea (like Hannah – I Samuel 1:13), as opposed to intelligent speech.    

He stirs up tears/sighs/groanings within our hearts when we are unable to fully or clearly express what we need because of how great our burdens or needs are.  When that happens, we know that these utterances are prompted by the Spirit himself; it is he who is praying to God for us.  In these situations, our groaning is heard by God, understood by God and will be answered by God.

Holy Spirit also helps us to pray through our heavenly prayer language.  All Christians have the opportunity for Jesus to baptize them in Holy Spirit. 

Mark 1:8 – I [John the Baptist] indeed have baptized you with water: but he [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

When that occurs, we are given a personal heavenly prayer language.  This is referred to as speaking in tongues and it is one of the gifts of the Spirit.

Acts 19:6 - And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.  

When you speak in tongues, it isn’t a language you understand.  But that’s okay.  By yielding yourself to the Spirit, he is able to pray through you; he will intercede on your behalf and ask God for the exact thing you need. 

All Christians need to be reminded that even when we aren’t perfect in our prayers, God still hears us.  Whether we are praying in a language we understand, or with groanings or in a heavenly language, God hears us – and he answers. 

Psalm 65:2 - O you that hears prayer, unto you shall all flesh come.

God guarantees that those who seek him with a humble and sincere heart will always find him; we never seek him in vain.

Isaiah 45:19 – I [God] have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the descendants of Jacob, Seek me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 - Then shall you call upon me [God], and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, says the LORD…

Romans 8:27 – And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  We have full confidence that God recognizes the voice of his own Spirit; the prayers that the Spirit prompts us to pray are in strict accordance with God’s will.  Thus, we have full confidence that our prayers are correct (pleasing to God and good for us) and they will be answered.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And he who searches hearts:  God is the one who made our hearts and minds; he and he alone is able to fully search the heart of each person.  Angels cannot do it, mankind cannot do it, and even we ourselves cannot fully know our own hearts.  Only God thoroughly and perfectly understands all of our thoughts and motivations. 

For the children of God, this is a very good thing.  Sometimes we intend to do good but we fail or our actions backfire.  At other times, the world judges us as insincere.  But in all cases, God can judge us accurately because he can see what is in our hearts.

Jeremiah 17:10 - I the LORD search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

Knows what is the mind of the Spirit:  God approves, favors and is pleased with the mind of the (his) Spirit.   As we just noted, God does not need for our deepest emotions to be expressed in human language.  He is able to know and understand the anxious feelings of the soul expressed by his Spirit through us.  He is ready to aid and bless us in those requests.

Because the Spirit intercedes for the saints:  To intercede on behalf of someone else is to mediate or negotiate; to plead the case of one party to another for the purpose of reconciliation. 

Jesus intercedes for every Christian by negotiating or managing all the affairs that pertain to our salvation (Hebrews 7:25).  Holy Spirit also intercedes for us, but in a different way.  He directs our prayers by influencing our hearts/minds (II Corinthians 5:2-5) so that we pray according to the will of God for us.  And when we pray according to his will, we receive exactly what is best for us.  

According to the will of God:  Prayers that are offered through the work of the Spirit are according to the intention, design or plan of God. Thus, all the prayers or groanings uttered by the Spirit are pleasing to God.

Whether we pray with words, groans, sighs, tears or even silent cries, God understands us because he is one with the Son and Spirit; he fully understands the language of these prayers regardless of what form they take.  Because the desires/urges that the Spirit places within our hearts are in perfect harmony with the will of God, we know will receive the answer we need.

1 John 5:14-15 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we desired of him.

We might think of it this way:  Holy Spirit can be said to supervise the prayers of the saints.  This does not mean that we will never ask an improper prayer, or that we will always get what we want when we want it.  Rather, it means that in so far as we yield ourselves to Holy Spirit, he will provide general supervision or guidance over our minds and help us to pray according to the will of God, which in turn gives us the answer we need. 

Let me offer you some encouragement and some relief:

In today’s post we noted that we are in a partnership with Holy Spirit.  When we pray, he shares the burden with us and assists us in making our requests.  However, he will never do the work for us.  If we don’t pray, there is nothing he can do to aid us.

With this in mind, take a few moments to take an honest look at your prayer life:

Do you pray consistently?  Do your prayers center mostly on comfort in this life or are you seeking to be used in God’s kingdom?  Have you consciously asked Holy Spirit to help you pray for God’s will in your life?  Do you have a personal heavenly prayer language? 

Based on today’s post and your answers to these questions, I encourage you to consider making some changes in your prayer life.  When we get to the day of final redemption, you’ll be glad you did!

Let me offer you some strength:

As Christians, we should never, ever, EVER underestimate or take for granted the help available to us through Holy Spirit.  Next to our salvation, his presence in our lives is the best gift we have ever received. 

If you’ve neglected your relationship with Holy Spirit, please make it a priority to get to know him better.  Search the scriptures to find out who he is, what he does and how he can help you.  Invite him to be a part of your everyday life.  Ask him for guidance, wisdom, help in prayer and strength to meet the challenges of your Christian life.  I guarantee he will be there for you!

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Romans 8:23 – And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

We now continue our study of chapter eight.  As we noted earlier, scholars find this portion of scripture very difficult to fully explain.  Several points (for instance, Paul’s definition of ‘creation’) have been interpreted differently by different commentators. 

However, regardless of the finer points of interpretation, we can clearly see the overall scope and purpose of chapter eight - the apostle reveals the power of the gospel and its ability to do what the law could not:

• In verses 1-13, he proved that the gospel could give life and deliver mankind from condemnation.  These were obviously things the law could not do.

• In verses 14-17, Paul revealed the power of the gospel as it produces a spirit of adoption in us; we become children of the Most High God and we are recipients of all his blessings.  This is in opposition to the law, which brought us terror when we tried to approach God.

• In verses 18-25, we discover that Holy Spirit (only available under the gospel) sustains the soul during our earthly trials/tribulations by providing us with a sure hope of future deliverance from sin.  This final deliverance will be evident when we receive the complete redemption of our bodies (when Christ raises us from the dead and changes our bodies so they are fit for life in heaven).   

• In verses 26-27, we will see the strength and aid given to us by Holy Spirit to sustain us in our trials and tribulations.  This stands in opposition to the law, which was powerless to assist us.

• In verses 28-30 Paul gives us the assurance that all things work together for our good, since all things are connected to the purposes of God.  Our circumstances and experiences are part of God’s plan to save us and make us fruitful in his kingdom. 

So, without further ado, let’s finish this section by examining verses 23-25.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  All those who have placed their trust in Christ have become the adopted children of God.  As such, we have received a portion of the gifts and blessings of Holy Spirit. 

Yet each Christian continues to have a sincere, heart-felt longing for the full scope of our adoption/deliverance to be revealed.  This will happen at the end of the age, when Christ raises all his children from the dead and transforms their earthly bodies into bodies fit for life in the next age (life in heaven).

DIGGING DEEPER: And not only creation:  As we mentioned in the last post, verses 18-23 are difficult to understand and subject to numerous interpretations.  For example, the word ‘creation’ is defined in a number of different ways including the earth (rocks & minerals, plants, animals), Jews, Gentiles, angels or even believers.

However, regardless of how you choose to define it, Paul’s point is that creation groans in anticipation of the day when Jesus will return and deliver his children from the bondage of sin.  The apostle goes on to say that ‘creation’ is not the only thing that is groaning – Christians do too.  

But we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit:  Here we find yet another difficulty in the interpretation of this passage.  What does Paul mean by the word ‘ourselves’?  Does he refer specifically to the apostles, or does he refer to all Christians, because we all have the first fruits of the Spirit in our lives?  For the purposes of our study, we will take the position that he means all Christians.   

Now let’s talk about first-fruits.  Scripture has a lot to say about this subject.  Basically, a first-fruit is the first of anything in any realm of life.  The first-fruits belonged to God: 

Exodus 22:29 - You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe fruits, and of the outflow of your presses: the firstborn of your sons shall you give unto me.

Exodus 23:19 - The first of the first-fruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God…

The first portions of crops, grains, fruit, oil, wool, animals and even male children were collected and consecrated to God.   There were different rules governing the treatment of these offerings.  Some were given to the priests as part of their provision (Deuteronomy 18:1-8), some were burned on the altar to God (Leviticus 2:8-9) and some (all male children and some animals) were redeemed (Exodus 13:13).  If the owner decided not to redeem an animal, he was required to kill it by breaking its neck (Exodus 13:13, Exodus 34:20).

What was the significance of the first-fruit offerings?

Well, obviously they helped to provide for the priesthood.  But their significance goes far beyond just that.  People brought a portion of their first-fruits to the Lord as an acknowledgment that he is the source and giver of all blessings.  These offerings were a visible token of the gratitude and thankfulness of the Israelites for God’s provision.

In addition, the first-fruits also served as a token or a pledge of what was to come.  For example, the first ripe wheat was given to God as an act of faith that the rest of the crop was soon to follow.  This is the sense in which Paul uses the phrase first-fruits in this passage. 

Specifically, the apostle indicates that right now we enjoy a limited measure the gifts, graces and comforts of Holy Spirit (righteousness, joy, peace, etc).  But this is only a first or partial blessing – we can expect to receive much, much more in the next life.  Thus, the blessings of the Spirit which we currently enjoy are the first-fruits (token or pledge) of what we can expect in the next age.  

Groan inwardly:  Those who belong to Christ inwardly groan under the sin and afflictions of this life, longing for the day when they will come into their full inheritance from the Lord.  This groaning reflects a strong, deep, internal desire within our hearts to be released from the effects of sin in this life. 

As we wait eagerly for adoption as sons:  We are officially adopted by God when we are redeemed, but as you know, we have not yet experienced the full depth and scope of our rights and privileges as his children.  That fullness will only be manifested when Christ returns at the end of this age.

The redemption of our bodies:  Question:  Why does Paul place such an emphasis on the redemption of our physical bodies?

Answer:  The redemption of our bodies can only occur when we have perfect, complete deliverance from sin.  

Right now, our adoption has an effect upon our soul and spirit but our bodies are still fully subjected to corruption (sickness, disease, aging, death).  Since the redemption of our physical bodies can only occur when we have complete deliverance from sin, it is the redemption of the body that proves the whole man (body, soul and spirit) has been redeemed.

Therefore, our final adoption will be evident when our bodies are raised from the grave, changed, and made immortal/fit for our existence in heaven.  Only then will the entire person be restored from the evils of sin and consequences of the fall.  This occurs when Christ returns to earth for the rapture.   

Romans 8:24 – For in this hope we were saved.  Now hope that is seen is not hope.  For who hopes for what he sees?  

GENERAL SUMMARY:  We have both a desire and an expectation of a final redemption. According to the promises of God (which never fail), this redemption belongs to us right now.  Yet, at this very moment we do not possess it; we still hope for it.  One day, it will be ours.  On that day, redemption will cease to be our hope – it will be our possession.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  For in this hope:  As we already noted, hope consists of two parts – a desire for something and the realistic expectation of obtaining what we desire. 

Christians hope for a final redemption and subsequent admittance to heaven.  Our salvation is described as hope because we have not yet obtained it.

This hope is a powerful thing; the hope of a future in heaven as the adopted children of God supports and strengthens us as we bear the trials and afflictions of this life.  Thus, the Christian can rejoice in the midst of their trials, because we know that our hope is not in vain; we will one day receive all the privileges of being a son or daughter of God.

We were saved:  We have the assurance of Holy Spirit that we are saved:

Ephesians 1:13 - In whom you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

(See also II Corinthians 1:22, Romans 8:16).  As of right now, our final redemption is still a hope or a promise because we have not yet received it.  We have a certainty of receiving it, but it is not yet within our grasp.  Therefore, we are saved by or in hope. 

Now hope that is seen is not hope:   Think of it this way:  When you were a child you probably hoped to receive a particular, special gift each Christmas.  You knew your parents or grandparents were going to buy it for you.  Maybe it was a video game or a doll or even a puppy.  All summer long, you anticipated receiving that special thing. 

Finally, when Christmas morning arrived and the presents were opened, you got the item you had been yearning for.  At that moment, you no longer hoped for that thing, because you possessed it. 

In the same way Christians have hope for final redemption and the fulfillment of all the blessings of being an adopted child of God.  As we toil through this life, we continue to hope for these things.  In times of trial, our hope sustains and comforts us.

One fine day, the rapture of the saints will occur.  Jesus will return to earth, raise the dead, give all his children new bodies which are completely free of sin, and take us to heaven to spend eternity with him.  At that point, we will no longer hope for redemption because it will be our possession.   

For who hopes for what he sees:  By definition you cannot hope for what you actually possess because the expectation of receiving it has been fulfilled.  

Romans 8:25 – But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Christians of every generation wait patiently for the day when we will receive our final redemption.

DIGGING DEEPER:  But if we hope for what we do not see we wait for it with patience:  God is completely trustworthy.  He always keeps his promises.  As Christians we have a sure guarantee that one day, when the time is right, God will return and give us full redemption. 

Hebrews 10:23 - Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  

No matter what happens in this life, Christians have a sure expectation of resurrection from the dead, of receiving a new body, of perfection and of glorification in heaven, along with all the joy and satisfaction we will experience there.  

By default, these blessings are future; there will be a delay before we receive them.  Nevertheless, we can patiently endure the trials and tribulations of this life knowing that God is faithful to do all that he has promised.  The sure hope of receiving God’s promises makes our current waiting period bearable.  

Hebrews 6:11-12 - And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: that you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

It has often been remarked that hope is a universal blessing and one of the greatest gifts God has given to mankind because without it, life would be intolerable.  Truly, hope is just as necessary as faith in the Christian walk.  Mankind finds life, with its various trials, pressures, afflictions and injustice, to be endurable only because of the sure hope of enjoying a future state of blessing in the end.  In fact, faith, hope and patience go hand-in-hand.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today’s post, we talked about patiently waiting for our final redemption.  What does that look like?  Patience is defined as undergoing trials without murmuring or fretting. 

I don’t know about you, but that is often a problem for me!  It’s one thing to wait, its another thing entirely to wait without complaining or anxiety. 

Fortunately, we have Holy Spirit and the promises of God’s word to help us.  Instead of complaining or being anxious when you face your next problem, try responding to that situation with a promise from the Bible.  It will improve your situation and help you wait for your redemption with patience.

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

Sometimes, in the struggle of day-to-day life we naturally focus on the here and now instead of the bigger picture.  But the next time you are overwhelmed with cares and problems, try meditating on the promises of redemption – a new perfect body, an existence without sin and its deadly effects, the joys of heaven and the thought of spending eternity with Jesus in the presence of Father God, etc.  These thoughts will move your focus off your problems and into God, where you can find relief and strength for your journey.

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Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Paul has just discussed the benefit of the spirit of adoption which has been given to every Christian.  This benefit assures us that we are God’s children.  It also gives us a glimpse of the incredible blessings we enjoy as children of the Most High God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ our Savior.

In Romans 8:18-25 the apostle gives us another reason why the gospel is far superior to the law.  In this section, he points out that the gospel sustains the Christian during their captivity to sin and its trials.  Specifically, it does this with the hope of a future deliverance – a complete and final redemption of the body, soul and spirit from all the evils of this life.    

As Christians throughout the ages have experienced many trials and afflictions, it is a welcome relief to know that help is available under the gospel.

GENERAL STATEMENT:  In verse 17, Paul declared that Christians must suffer with Christ if they are to partake of his glory.  But there is no reason to despair, because any trials/suffering we experience here are NOTHING compared to the incredible glory we are shortly to receive.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For I consider:  To consider something is to think carefully about it; to weigh the implications of it; to make a judgment based on all available facts. 

In other words, this isn’t a casual, spur of the moment opinion.  It isn’t something Paul merely hopes to be true.  He has deliberately weighed these matters in his mind, prayed about them, listened to Holy Spirit, and come to a sound, logical conclusion. 

That the present sufferings of this present time:  ‘Present sufferings’ refers to all the persecutions, trials, and calamities that Christians of every age experience, regardless of when or where they live.  No one is immune from these afflictions:

John 16:33 – I [Jesus] have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.

When considering this topic, it’s good to remember that Paul is speaking from the perspective of someone who experienced many grievous troubles during his ministry (II Corinthians 11:23-28).  He was stoned, beaten multiple times, imprisoned, shipwrecked, mocked, rejected, falsely accused and eventually martyred.  If his earthly misery was insignificant compared to the heavenly glory/reward of every Christian, we can be assured that ours is too.

Are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us:  The sufferings and hardships we now endure may be incredibly difficult.  They may seem like they will never end.  But Paul assures us that compared to the happiness, honor and amazing things that await us in heaven, our trials are insignificant.  They are nothing.   They aren’t even worth mentioning.

This brings up a relevant question – in what way are our trials insignificant when compared to our future blessings?    

Answer - Our trials are nothing in quality, quantity or duration compared to our future glory. 

II Corinthians 4:17 – For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Quality – Yes, suffering can be intense.  There are days when we think we can’t go on.  There are times when the enemy whispers in our ear that we should just give up.  But don’t you listen to those lies!  God never sets us up for failure.  He will never overwhelm us with a burden we cannot bear.  As intense as your suffering is, keep in mind it is ‘light’ or trivial in quality compared to the blessings that await you.

Quantity – God is a loving Father.  He will not subject us to more trials than necessary.  Regardless of how many trials we endure, we know will have infinitely more blessings in the next life, simply because blessings are eternal, while trials are temporary.

Duration – As we just mentioned, we endure hardships only during our earthly existence, which is like a vapor that vanishes in seconds (James 4:14).  On the other hand, our blessings are everlasting – they have no end!

Notice that our glory is ‘yet to be revealed’. 

I John 3:2 – For though we know that we are now his sons, yet it appears not yet what we shall be.

In other words, the blessings, honor and happiness that await us are currently hidden from view.  We can’t see or imagine them just yet; neither can we plumb the depths or measure the scope of them.  During our time on earth, we receive these benefits by faith, but a time is coming when they will be our possession, fully visible to ourselves and others. 

Romans 8:19 – For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  All of creation was subject to sin, bondage and death when Adam rebelled against God.  Because of its state of misery, creation anxiously looks forward to the next age, when God brings restoration and blessing.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Romans 8:19-23 has been deemed one of the most difficult passages in the New Testament by bible scholars.  Despite decades of discussion, there is no one interpretation that is widely accepted (or even deemed satisfactory) by all critics. 

We will now examine a few of the various interpretations.  As we do, keep in mind that the main truth of the passage is clear.  Paul’s main objective is to show the sustaining power of the gospel in the midst of trials by assuring Christians of their future deliverance and inheritance as the children of God.  Regardless of which exact interpretation you accept, this is the overall meaning of verses 19-23.

For the creation:   This is where the controversy begins.  What does Paul mean when he uses the word ‘creation’? 

That word has been variously defined as: rational creation (man as a rational being), the church, Christians, the Jewish nation, the Gentile nations/the heathen, angels and/or fallen spirits, or the entire world, both animate and inanimate. 

We are going to take a brief look at three of these options. 

Option one identifies creation as the Christian or more specifically, the renewed nature of each Christian.  According to this interpretation, the Christian is waiting for their future glory.  They are highly desirous of the full revelation/ development of the honors that await them as a child of God.  While he or she awaits future glory, they are subject to a state of trial/tribulation.  It is not their will to endure this, nevertheless, God has determined this is what is best for them.  As they endure this state of trial, they have a hope of deliverance into glorious liberty.  This hope sustains them during their afflictions.

Option two identifies creation as the world itself (rocks, minerals, etc.), along with all plant and animal life.  Those who hold this view point out that through the sin of man, the entire earth has suffered; all things whether living or inanimate are under the rule of corruption and decay.  According to this interpretation, the whole frame and substance of the world is personified as groaning and suffering under the sin of mankind, waiting for future deliverance and restoration. 

Option number three identifies creation as the Gentile world/heathens/sinners.  According to this interpretation, the gospel will rescue the heathen from the idolatry that enslaves them.  They will be brought into the family of God where they will be his adopted children and share in the inheritance of heaven.  Those who hold this theory point out that the same word for creature/creation is used in Mark 16:15 and Colossians 1:23 where they clearly refer to Gentiles or unbelievers.  In fact, it was common for the Jews to refer to Gentiles as creatures in their own writings, to distinguish them from the Israelites.

Mark 16:15 - And he [Jesus] said unto them, ‘Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’

These are the only three explanations we are going to look at in our study, but if you are interested in one of the other viewpoints, I encourage you to engage in your own research. 

Regardless of which interpretation you choose, we can make the general statement that there is no part of creation that is free from misery brought about by sin; sin has touched and defiled everything.  That being the case, there is no part of creation that does not intensely hope for restoration.  Likewise, the entire creation (whether animate and inanimate) is sustained by the hope that God will deliver it from the bondage of sin.  This will occur on the day when God openly exhibits the glory of the children of God. 

Waits with eager longing:  Eager longing denotes a state of intense, earnest desire; an ardent wish or an intense anxiety.  The literal interpretation is ‘straining forward with an outstretched head/neck’. 

We might think of it this way:  Picture yourself in the audience of a show where you greatly desire to see what is taking place on the stage.  Unfortunately, you are not in the front row, so you automatically strain forward to catch a glimpse of what is happening.  That is the same thing that is being described in this verse.  It denotes concentrated longing and desire.   

For the revealing of the sons of God:   This is what creation eagerly and intensely longs for - the full manifestation of the benefits/blessings promised to the adopted children of God. 

There is no doubt that when a sinner becomes a Christian, they experience a multitude of blessings from God.  However, we are still living with our flesh/old man and (as each one of us can testify) we are still subject to sin.  Our bodies are still actively growing old and dying.  We are still enduring the trials and frustrations associated with this life.

Obviously, the FULL scope and manifestation of our blessings is still a future event.  It will occur when we are revealed as the children of God.  This takes place in front of the whole world, when Christ returns in the clouds in all his splendor and glory.  At that time, he will raise the dead in Christ from their graves, catch the living in Christ into the air, give us all a new glorified body free of the flesh/old man and untouched by sin.  Then he will escort us to heaven as his bride.  (I Corinthians 15:35-53, John 14:1-3, Revelation 21:1-7).

When Christ returns, it will be abundantly clear who the adopted children of God are.  Likewise, it will be abundantly clear who the children of Satan are.

Romans 8:20 – For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but because of him who subjected it, in hope…

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Creation is subject to futility (things that are useless or fruitless).  They do not willingly submit to futility; they do so because God decreed it.  However, God subjects them to futility in hope.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For the creation was subject to futility:   When you are subjected to something, it generally means that you are forced to undergo an experience or situation that you find unpleasant or unwelcome.   

For example, you might willingly stop by your friend’s house to say hello.  Suppose that when you do, they whip out a whole slide-show of boring pictures from their recent vacation.  Although you want to leave, social convention traps you there until the show is over.  You could say that you were subjected to a boring review of your friend’s vacation.

To be subject to futility is to be forced to endure a situation or experience that is useless, ineffective or pointless. 

Paul tells us that creation was forced to endure just such a vain experience.  Of course, the exact interpretation of this verse depends upon how you defined ‘creation’ in the prior verse. 

For example, if you believe that ‘creation’ refers to Gentiles/heathen/sinners, then by default, the futility discussed here refers to the vanity/emptiness of the minds of the Gentiles, who were without God, the law and the gospel.  The Gentiles believed they possessed wisdom, knowledge and great learning, but they were wrong.  All their reasoning resulted in vain philosophy, polytheism, gross idolatry and vain superstitious worship practices (Acts 14:15).  On top of all that, they were enslaved to their sins and lust (Romans 1). 

Looking at where their wisdom led them, we could easily conclude that they were subjected to the futility of their own reasoning because their religious practices were vain, useless and fruitless.  In fact, their so-called wisdom led them into a bondage they could not break. 

Similarly, we could conclude the earth is subject to futility because it had no choice but to endure the fruitlessness, corruption and death produced by the sin of man.  Or we could conclude that Christians are subject to futility because their flesh/old man still causes them to do vain, pointless, useless things.

Not willingly:  When you do something willingly, you do it by choice; you want to do it.  When you do something unwillingly, you are doing it because you are forced to, even if you would rather not do it.

In the present case, Gentiles/sinners (creation) were willingly vain.  In other words, in accordance with their own free will, they chose to worship false idols, engage in sin, give in to lust and rebel against the commands of God.  However, they were unwillingly subjected to futility through these actions.  They did not want to become slaves to these useless, pointless, fruitless evils.  However, by divine permission, Satan took them captive and made them slaves to sin and lust. 

So we find that their descent into vanity/futility was not so much of their own accord or free choice, but by the power and malice of the devil, to whom they are justly given up by God.  Satan rules in their hearts, makes them captive to his will, and subjects them to misery and vanity. 

Likewise, we can conclude that neither the earth nor the Christian is brought under vanity/futility because they desire or choose that outcome.  

But because of him who subjected it:  If creation was unwillingly subjected to vanity/futility, who was/is responsible for their subjection?  Who forced them into it?

The answer is God.  The apostle does not give us any explanation or reason why this is so.  All we can say is that creation is subject to futility in pursuance of the sovereign purpose and council of God, who possess all wisdom and knowledge. 

So, two things are certain.  First, it (subjection to futility) did not happen because the devil had the authority or desire to do it.  We know for a fact that it happened because it was God’s will for it to occur.  Second, God subjected his creation to vanity/futility in hope. It’s hope that makes all the difference.

In hope:   Paul is talking about the hope of our deliverance from the futility of this world.  As we mentioned in a prior post, two things must be present in order to have hope - a desire for something and a reasonable expectation of obtaining it.

By definition, hope looks to the future; it longs for something we do not yet possess.  In this case, the sinner/earth/Christian has a desire for deliverance as well as a guarantee of receiving it through the gospel.  Therefore, the creation has a real hope of being delivered from corruption and death.

Romans 8:21 - …that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  In due time, creation (sinner/earth/Christian/etc.) will be delivered from the bondage of sinful corruption and be brought into the same liberty that the sons of God will enjoy. 

DIGGING DEEPER:  That:  (Your translation may say ‘because’.)  This word links our current situation to the hope that we will one day be delivered from all the sin, corruption, death, toil, cares and futility that we currently experience.

We know for a fact that it is the will/plan of God to deliver his adopted children from the afflictions of this life.  The hope of this deliverance is a mighty beacon of light and strength that sustains Christians right now, when we are in the midst of life’s struggles.

Furthermore, it is God’s will that every human being ever created embraces forgiveness through the gospel and comes to experience the same spirit of adoption that his other children have already received:

I Timothy 2:3-4 - …God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved nd to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The creation itself will be set free:  Paul tells us that creation has been made subject to vanity - but in hope.  In other words, for reasons we don’t fully understand, God makes us endure a season of futility, but he gives us a sure hope to sustain us during that time. 

He promises that a time will soon come when we will be delivered from the bondage of sin and all its effects.  As we mentioned above, this will happen when Christ returns to earth to collect the children of God and take them to their heavenly home. 

Notice that we are ‘set free’ not ‘recreated’.  This means that we will be renewed by God/Jesus/Holy Spirit without substantial change.  When we are set free/renewed, it will be our same spirit (though purified), our same body (though glorified) and our same soul (though freed from all the corruptions of humanity).  We will be perfect renditions of ourselves, freed from all the degradation of our present condition.  As such, when we arrive in heaven, we should expect to recognize others that we knew on earth, and we should expect others to recognize us, because we are still us!

In the meantime, each of us should consider the dreadful curse that man has brought upon not just himself, but all of creation because of his rebellion to God.  We do not deserve the mercy of God, yet it is his will to set all of creation free. 

Ephesians 2:4-7 – But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

From its bondage to corruption:  Instead of the word ‘bondage’, we could use the term ‘slavery’.  Our situation amounts to servitude to a corrupt, imperfect state which leads to temptation, sin, conflict, anxiety and death.  It destroys our peace, mars our happiness, and undercuts our faith.  It even subjects us to physical death. 

This state of bondage/servitude is in opposition to the state of life, liberty and freedom promised to creation through the gospel, which will fully manifest when Christ returns to earth. 

And obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God:  The overall sense of this verse is that sinners (creation) who are currently subject to futility, will find Jesus Christ through the gospel and thus be rescued from the paths of sin and corruption.  They will become the adopted children of God and enjoy the same freedom and inheritance given to all his children.    

Romans 8:22 – For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of child birth until now.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  All of creation travails in pain while waiting for their deliverance.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  For we know that the whole creation:  Again, your definition of creation determines the interpretation of this verse.  

Has been groaning together in the pains of child birth until now:  If you have ever given birth or been in the room when someone else did, you know that there is a lot of pain, work, discomfort and groaning during the process.  And that does not include all of the care a mother gives her child before it is even born!

If you define creation as the earth, plants and animals, then the meaning of this verse is that as the earth groans and travails in pain as it waits in expectation of the deliverance that is to come.  This travail has been in force from the fall of Adam until the present day, and it will continue until the return of Christ, which will be the day of deliverance.  This travail is neither vain nor futile, for deliverance is guaranteed to come.  

If you define creation as the Christian, then the sense is that Christians are always in a state of pain and discomfort as they toil through this life, expectantly waiting for the day when they will finally be freed from their bondage to the flesh/old man.  This labor/toil is not vain or futile because we have the hope/assurance that we absolutely will be delivered from our present state.    

If you define creation as the Gentile/heathen/sinner, the explanation of the verse is something like this: The grace of God is the ‘seed’ of salvation by which men are born again.  The seed is conveyed to unbelievers by means of the gospel.  Ministers (like Paul) are like spiritual moms – they nurture and eventually give spiritual birth to new believers.  All of these spiritual births were accomplished with toil, hardship and pain.

In the natural realm, a woman immediately forgets the pain of childbirth the moment her son/daughter is born.  Pain is replaced by joy that the child is now born.  In the spiritual realm, ministers immediately forget the pain and toil associated with spiritual birth because they are so glad that a sinner has come to Christ. 

The ‘groaning together’ that Paul speaks of in this verse refers to the collective efforts of not only ministers, but ordinary converts like you and I, as all of us earnestly desire and continually toil for more and more spiritual births.

Paul declares that these spiritual birth pains began the first time the gospel was preached to the Gentiles and they still continued until (and past) the writing of his letter to the Romans.  Although there had been many Gentile/heathen births by that point, there were many, many more children of God to come.

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

In today’s post, Paul tells us that our future hope as the adopted sons and daughters of God sustains us during our time on earth, when we are beset with trials and afflictions.  This gives us every reason to praise him.

But don’t forget, God has given us many, many amazing benefits right now: 

• We have access to the very presence of God 24/7!  That alone should bring a song of praise to our lips. 
• We have the word of God, which is a powerful weapon against our enemy. What a relief!  
• We have Holy Spirit dwelling within our lives right now.  He is here to walk through this life with us.  

The list goes on and on.  So, if you need some encouragement and/or relief today, consider your present benefits as well as your future privileges as the adopted child of the Most High God.  Then, begin to praise and worship him.  I guarantee you will be refreshed, relieved and encouraged!

Let me offer you some strength:

Today’s post shows that we can obtain strength for our Christian walk by looking at the bigger picture.   Our afflictions, troubles, persecutions and frustrations are all part of suffering with Christ.  And if we suffer with him, we will also be glorified with him when he returns to earth to escort us to heaven. 

As amazing as that is, there is even more good news – despite the adversity we face here on earth, we are victors through Jesus Christ our Lord!  

I Corinthians 15:57-58 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

You may run into snags and roadblocks in your ministry, but don’t let that stop you – God will provide a way around or through that obstacle, because he is going to make your ministry fruitful. 

Whatever you do for the Lord and his kingdom, do it with all your strength, because God will make sure we reap a 30, 60 or 100 fold harvest, even in the midst of adversity!

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Romans 8:12 – So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

In Romans chapter eight, Paul is calling attention to the things which were impossible under the law, but accomplished through the gospel.  

Of course, first and foremost among these is what we refer to as salvation.  Specifically, the law was only capable of producing condemnation which resulted in death.  The gospel, however, is capable of producing justification which leads to life.  We also noted the major role that Holy Spirit plays in our spiritual life.  He is our helper and guide; without him we could not live victorious Christian lives. 

In today’s post, Paul discusses another gospel advantage/blessing which was impossible under the law: The spirit of adoption and all the benefits we receive by being children of God.  Let’s dig in and take a closer look.       

GENERAL SUMMARY:  We were once slaves to sin, but we have been set free by faith in Christ.  Consequently, we have no obligation to our flesh/old man; we are no longer forced to indulge in our evil passions and desires.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  So then:  ‘So then’ (your translation may say ‘therefore’) is the same as ‘because’.  In other words, Paul is giving us reasons why we are under a solemn obligation to live lives that are committed to God and not our flesh/old man. 

Brothers:  At different points in his letter to the Romans, Paul uses the term ‘brothers’ to refer to fellow Jews, but that is not the case here.  This time, Paul uses it to mean Christians - all those who have the same spiritual relationship to God that he has, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 

We are debtors:  A debtor is someone who owes something to another person or institution.  In our society, we are very familiar with this concept.  Credit cards, home mortgages and car loans are all examples of the debtor/creditor relationship.

The creditor, often a bank, will loan the debtor money to buy something they did not have the resources/ability to obtain for themselves.  Once the debtor accepts their money, they are now under an obligation to the creditor.  Their life choices are influenced by the debt that is owed. 

For example, once you are a debtor, it is your responsibility to maintain steady employment.  Because of your debt, you may not be free to simply quit a job you suddenly don’t like.  Indeed, the opposite may be true - you may find yourself working overtime because of your debt. 

Another example would be a change to your self-control.  Because you have incurred a debt, you must control your future spending habits so you can repay your loan because failure to repay the debt can have serious legal consequences. 

In this case, Paul is saying that Christians are debtors to Christ.  He set us free from our enslavement to the flesh/old man and justified us in the sight of God.  These are benefits which were impossible for us to obtain with our own resources/ability. 

Obviously, I’m not suggesting that we can repay Christ for providing our salvation; we know salvation is not by works.  The point is that we are under a debtor’s obligation to Jesus (not our flesh/old man) and that obligation should influence/determine the choices we make and the way we live our lives.

Not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh:  Here Paul uses the word ‘flesh’ to mean the invisible flesh/old man which resides in all of us and causes us to sin. 

As we just mentioned, there was a time when we were slaves to the flesh/old man, but we were freed from that contract by placing our faith in Christ Jesus.  He paid our debt to sin - in full!  He nullified our legal obligation of an eternity in the debtor’s prison of hell. 

Because of what Christ has done, we do not owe our allegiance or our service to sin, the devil, or the world.  Make no mistake - the devil will still seek to place us under the debt of sin through oppression, lies and deceit.  But don’t be fooled - we owe him nothing!  He is not our creditor and he has no legal right to demand anything from us. 

God, on the other hand, is a just creditor in the life of a Christian.  We are greatly indebted to the Father, Son and Spirit as the author/producer of salvation and sanctification within our lives. 

Romans 6:22 – But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.  

There is no question that God has the absolute right to anything and everything within our lives; he is the source of all that we now have and all that we hope for in the future (resurrection from the dead, everlasting life in heaven, etc.).

Thus, we are debtors to God, not the flesh.

Romans 8:13 – For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

GENERAL SUMMARY: To live according to the flesh/old man is to willingly embrace sin.  If you live this way, the only possible outcome is spiritual death. 

However, if you embrace Christ, he will grant you forgiveness and salvation.  He will give you the gift of Holy Spirit who will work with you to mortify the desires of your flesh.  The only possible outcome for the Christian is spiritual/everlasting life.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For if you live according to the flesh you will die:  Those who live according to the flesh have rejected the offer of forgiveness and new life given to them by Jesus through Holy Spirit.  By default, this makes them debtors to sin as outlined in the law.  The only possible outcome for this person is physical and spiritual death.

But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body:  However, those who accept salvation by Christ through Holy Spirit as outlined in the gospel are free from the debt to sin.  Holy Spirit lives within them.  By his power and influence he assists them in destroying the corrupt desires of their flesh/old man: 

Colossians 3:5 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

This is something we could never do in our own power; neither could we obtain the ability to do it under the law.

Let’s pause here for a moment, lest we pass over this thought too quickly.  Notice that we are commanded to ‘put to death’ our sinful passions, much like we would put down a rabid dog who is trying to kill us.  Are we really doing that, or are we trying to keep that rabid dog as a pet?  

If we are honest, I think all of us would admit that we have certain sins or sinful propensities that we still enjoy.  These sins often occur within our minds, or if they are in the physical realm, we keep them secret. 

Our flesh/old man will do everything in his power to convince us that these sins/passions are harmless because they are either under our control, or they really don’t influence us.  If he can convince us that either of those things is true, we will mistakenly think we can indulge in these sins without being bitten, infected and dying (or enduring a very painful spiritual, emotional, social, financial and physical recovery). 

Just to be clear, let the record show that neither idea is true. Both are deceptive lies from our flesh/old man.

Let’s look at an example.  Some Christians secretly commit adultery or other sexual sins within their minds: 

Matthew 5:27-28 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  But I [Jesus] say to you, that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

As Christians, we should not make the mistake of thinking that the thoughts of our minds have no influence on our actions/choices.  If a person dwells on sinful sexual thoughts long enough, eventually they will have an opportunity to commit that sin, and they will take it.  This makes perfect sense, because they sowed the seeds of sexual immorality within their minds/hearts.  Eventually those seeds will spring up and produce the fruit of sin/death in the physical realm (James 1:14-15).

The same is true of all impure thoughts such as revenge, hate, greed, etc.  Those sinful thoughts cannot be allowed to exist in our minds because if we permit them to exist, they will eventually grow strong enough to overpower us.  They will manifest in the physical realm and we will be caught in their grip of death.  The bottom line is this:  Either we destroy them, or they will destroy us.

Also, do not make the mistake of thinking you can control or limit your sin.  In Romans chapter one, Paul systematically refuted that idea.  He proved that what started out as casual sin snowballed until it reached the point of depravity and eventually a reprobate mind.  If you indulge in sin, your flesh will encourage you to delve deeper and further, promising greater pleasures until you are completely ensnared and cut off from God.

So… we know we need to ‘put to death’ the deeds of our flesh, but let’s be honest - that’s easier said than done.  There are several reasons why:  

First, mortification of our flesh is not a one-time event – it’s a continual process.  It requires discipline.  It requires perseverance.  In fact, we will be engaged in this work as long as we live on earth.  The process is only completed when we physically die and become separated from our flesh.  Let me give you the truth:  you can’t be a lazy Christian and still hope to mortify the flesh.

Second, it’s not a simple, painless process.  Your flesh/old man isn’t going to give up without a fight because he absolutely loves and craves sin.  He will fight against the desires of your spirit/new man as violently as possible for as long as he can.  When you knock him down, he will get back up.  In other words, mortification of the flesh is an ongoing struggle. (It should be noted, however, that with time and consistency, it does get easier.)

Third, we must maintain a 24/7 guard over our hearts and minds because that is where sin is conceived.  By carefully monitoring and guarding the content of our minds, we can stop the enemy before he plants the seeds of sin.  (The less we have to mortify, the better.)   

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds…

The good news is that because of the work of Christ and empowerment of Holy Spirit, mortification of the flesh is a winnable battle – we CAN put to death the deeds of our flesh. 

You will live:  If you accept Christ and partner with Holy Spirit to sanctify yourself in holiness, you will have spiritual life.

Romans 8:14 – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Those who have accepted Christ and allow Holy Spirit to guide their lives are children of God.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For all:  Literally, everyone - Jews and Gentiles, men and women, rich and poor, etc.  Paul is talking about all who have accepted Christ as Savior and submitted themselves to the influence and control of Holy Spirit. 

Who are led by the Spirit of God:  We must be led by Holy Spirit because we cannot successfully navigate this life on our own.  Nor do we have the strength to walk in the way he leads, unless he supports us.

How do we know if we are being led by the Spirit of God?

• If you recognize the influence or tug of the Spirit drawing you away from sin and/or you despise the sins you used to enjoy, you are being led by Holy Spirit. 
• If you have a true desire to yield to that influence/tug and walk the paths of righteousness, you are being led by Holy Spirit. 
• If you cheerfully and without hesitation labor to destroy your sinful desires, crucify your pride, and abandon your love of this world and its riches, you are being led by Holy Spirit. 

Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A new heart also will I [God] give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them.

If you are led by the Spirit in this manner, you can conclude that you are a son or daughter of God.  

Are the sons of God:  Paul now begins to reveal another benefit of the gospel, which was impossible under the law – it ushers us into God’s family, making us his children. 

Nothing but the gospel can make us children of God; only by being his children can we inherit/receive the benefits of heaven.

Galatians 3:26 - For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Every Christian has been adopted into the family of God; we are his children and we can call him Father:

Galatians 4:5-7 – [Jesus came] to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Therefore, you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Romans 8:15 – For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Christians did not receive the spirit of a slave, who lives in terror/fear of punishment from his overseer (the law).  Christians can approach God with the peace and confidence of a son/daughter because we have received Holy Spirit who makes us a child of God (through the gospel).

DIGGING DEEPER:  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery:  Your translation may say ‘spirit of bondage’.  In either case, Paul describes a frame of mind that binds or enslaves you and causes great fear, just like the slave feared the wrath and temper of his master. 

We would expect to see this fear in anyone who is under the law, because their conscience has been awakened to the guilt of their sin, but they have no way to remove it.  The good news is that Christians have been set free by Jesus:

Hebrews 2:15 - …and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

To fall back into fear:  Paul implies that before we were saved, we had much to fear from our master, the law.  And he was right – we had every reason to be alarmed and full of fear because God was angry with us, our consciences troubled us, we had no way to pay our debt to sin and eternal death was our assured outcome.

But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons:  When a person places their faith in Christ, the spirit (frame of mind) of fear/bondage is replaced by a spirit (frame of mind) of adoption.

Adoption involves taking the offspring of a stranger as one’s own child.  As sinners, we by nature belonged to the devil.  We were the enemies of God.  But now, through the work of Christ, God the Father has accepted us as his children.  By virtue of our relationship to God as his child, there is no fear as we approach him.  We experience affection, love and confidence when we approach God. 

Our status as the adopted children of God implies the following:

• Because of our forefather Adam’s rebellion against God (and our own subsequent sin), we had no claim to God as our Father. 
• It was a pure, sovereign act of God’s love and mercy which welcomed mankind into the family of God as his children: 

Ephesians 1:5 – He [God the Father] predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…

• Now that God has welcomed those who place their faith in Christ through Holy Spirit, we are under his protection and care. 
• In light of these circumstances, we are bound/obligated to function as his children by obeying his commands. 

The spirit of adoption results in a child-like love for God, a child-like hope, a child-like trust and dependence (and lack of worry) and a child-like obedience to God’s commands.

By whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’:  ‘Abba’ is the Hebrew word used by the Jews to mean father.  By saying both ‘Abba’ and ‘Father’, Paul shows the inclusion of both Jews and Greeks into the family of God (Romans 3:29, I Corinthians 1:24).

Children who need love, protection, provision, deliverance or help cry out to their parents.  In the same way, Christians who experience need can cry out to God with the feelings of a child, addressing him in a language of affection and confidence, knowing that he will answer.

Thus, we see that it was and is vitally important for Christians to have the confirmation of Holy Spirit regarding their adoption as God’s children. 

Here is why: The Father who has adopted us cannot be seen with the mortal eye.  The adoption transaction is an invisible, spiritual one that takes place in heaven.  Therefore, it can only be known by God’s supernatural testimony/guarantee of it.  In God’s great mercy, he provided this confirmation within our spirit/soul so that we never have to assume or depend upon mere reasoning to know that we belong to him.  He communicates this confirmation directly to each one of us, so that no critic can cast doubt upon our salvation.  Thank you, Father!

Romans 8:16 – The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Holy Spirit directly communicates with our spirit to provide assurance that we are God’s child.

DIGGING DEEPER:  The Spirit himself: That is, Holy Spirit, one of the persons of the Trinity.

Bears witness with our spirit:  To bear witness is to testify or give evidence.  Scripture tells us that it takes 2-3 witnesses to confirm a matter:

Deuteronomy 19:15 - … at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

II Corinthians 13:1 – This is the third time I [Paul] am coming to you.  In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

Here in verse 16, we find the two witnesses which give evidence that we are God’s children – Holy Spirit and our own spirit (heart/mind/understanding).

The evidence given by our own spirit is that we are changed: 

• We now love and delight in God and we greatly desire to obey his laws, just as a true child loves and obeys their parent.  
• We walk after the Spirit not the flesh.
• We mortify the deeds of the body.
• We can cry ‘Abba, Father’. 

Holy Spirit gives his evidence/witness to each believer individually in their heart/mind/understanding.  The fact that he is our constant companion, comforter, guide and teacher assures us of our adoption by God.  It is his witness that gives us the confidence to call on God as our Father.

That we are the children of God:  The purpose of the witness/evidence of Holy Spirit is to furnish evidence to the mind of every Christian that they are adopted into the family of God.  This effect/inward witness is a common practice of Holy Spirit: 

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

(See also I John 5:10-11, I Corinthians 2:12). 

Romans 8:17 - …and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Natural children are heirs of their parents and co-heirs with their siblings.  In the same way, we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ because we are the spiritual children of God.  We can expect to suffer trials and tribulations in this life because of our relationship to Jesus and we can expect to be glorified with him as well.

DIGGING DEEPER:  And if children, their heirs:  God has not only welcomed us into his family, he has made us heirs!  The meaning is that if we continue in the relationship of a child of God, we will be treated as such; we will have a share in his favor and blessings.

Note:  As children of God, we inherit the estate he as provided for us, though obviously we do not obtain it by his death.  Rather, our inheritance is much like the Promised Land given to the children of Israel.  It was given to them by God himself, and then divided by the children of the family.

Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ:  Think of it!!  We are heirs of God himself! 

Not only do we have God’s favor now, we have the promise of heaven - an eternity of discovery, meaningful work, amazing relationships and complete satisfaction.

Even better, we will be admitted into a secure, never-ending relationship with God where we can abide in his presence.  We will share in his love, grace, mercy, wisdom, power, truth and faithfulness.  We will experience the riches of his glory, the splendor of his kingdom and the joys of salvation.  God is indeed our portion and exceeding great reward.

We are also co-heirs with Jesus.  Christ is by eminence THE Son of God.  As such he is heir to the full honors and glory of heaven; whatever belongs to the Father is his.  Christians are sons of God by adoption.  We obtain our inheritance through Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:10-11 - That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:

We receive the blessing of having a share in an eternal inheritance.  This is SOOO much better than anything of this world.  Everything here loses value, gets broken, goes out of fashion or just simply wears out.  But the inheritance we receive from Father God incorruptible and eternal.  It is always valuable, always enjoyable, always relevant.  In comparison to our eternal inheritance, why chase earthly riches?

Provided we suffer with him:   Again, we are put in mind of the children of Israel inheriting the Promised Land.  It was theirs, but only through a relationship to God.  It was theirs, but they suffered many trials and battles in order to possess it.

We will not be treated as co-heirs with Jesus unless there is evidence to show that we are united to him.  That evidence or proof is our suffering.  If we suffer in the cause of Christ, or for his sake or if we bear afflictions as Christ did, then we can surely say were suffered with him. 

2 Corinthians 1:5 - For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.

This does not necessarily mean that we suffer to the same extent that Jesus did.  It means that we may experience some of the same types of suffering that he did, and that we should bear that suffering with the same spirit that he did.

Now let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Nobody likes to suffer.  Most of us avoid it at all costs.  Nevertheless, God uses all things for our good and if we are honest, we will admit that suffering can be beneficial to a Christian:  

• Depending on how we handle the situation, suffering can lift up the name of Jesus and glorify God.  When it does, it draws sinners to Christ.  Wouldn’t you agree that suffering is good if it causes someone to avoid eternity in hell? 

• Suffering improves our spiritual walk.  It causes us to automatically draw closer to God.  When we are actively seeking God in this manner, we are better able to hear the voice of Holy Spirit speaking to us, which is always beneficial.

• Sometimes we get caught up in the things of this world.  Suffering reminds us that it is the spiritual things that truly matter.  Suffering aids us in forsaking worldly things and directing our attention to the eternal world.

• Suffering increases our longing for Christ and for heaven.    

Plus, there is more good news – If we suffer for him, we will also be glorified with him.

In order that we may also be glorified with him:  If we suffer with Christ, we will also be glorified with him.  Not with equal glory, obviously, but with the same kind of glory. 

God supports us during suffering, gives us benefits from our suffering, and glorifies us once the suffering has ended. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Life is tough at times.  We all have seasons where things don’t go as expected or we suffer disappointment and loss.  But in the midst of those times remember – you are a child of God!  He has a plan for your life down here, and a plan for your life in eternity.  He has adopted you as his child and made you a co-heir with Jesus. 

So don’t let your current circumstances steal your joy.  You have every reason to rejoice!

Let me offer you some relief:

Has Satan ever tormented you by trying to convince you that you are not a child of God?  If so, you know that this accusation is usually followed with a list of your current and former mistakes/sins. 

If this happens to you, let me give you some relief:  Satan always has been and always will be a liar and a deceiver.  Don’t ever listen to him!

You can be certain that you are a child of God because Holy Spirit confirms it in your heart/mind.  Just reach out to him, and he will confirm your status as a child of God.    

Let me offer you some strength:

As we mentioned in today’s post, the Christian life contains suffering.  It also requires discipline.  While these may not be our favorite past times, they are essential in preparing us for eternity.  

So don’t give up.  Embrace the Christian disciplines.  Endure suffering in ways that glorify God.  In the end, you will surely reap an eternal reward.

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Romans 8:7 – For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot.

Welcome back to our study of Romans chapter eight.  In verses 5-6 Paul mentions the two groups of people found in the world: Those who are after the flesh and those who are after the Spirit. 

He then gives us the final outcome of each group: 

• Those who are carnally minded (those who submit themselves to the flesh/old man) will eventually experience the only possible outcome of sinning under the law – condemnation, physical death, judgment, then spiritual death for eternity.
• Those who are spiritually minded (who submit themselves to the spirit/new man) will eventually experience the outcome of life under the gospel – forgiveness/justification, physical death, rewards, then spiritual life for eternity.

This is part of Paul’s overall emphasis in chapter eight, which is to show believers things the gospel does, which the law cannot do.  Now let’s continue with our study.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  When you are an unbeliever, your mind is focused on the flesh/old man.  As a result, you will naturally seek to fulfill your lusts and evil desires.  It is impossible for such a person to obey or to submit to the commands of God.  Therefore, the unbeliever is in rebellion to God; they are God’s enemy.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  For:  Our translation says ‘for’, yours may say ‘because’.  This indicates that Paul is drawing a conclusion based on his point in verse six.  In that verse, he declared that to be carnally minded was death.  Now he is telling us why this is the case.  

The mind that is set on the flesh:  Just as a reminder, to set your mind is to fix your thoughts in a certain direction; to use your mind to pursue a specific outcome or course of action in your thoughts, words and deeds.  It includes your reason, your understanding and your affections.  Here in verse seven, Paul is talking about people who have set their minds on evil (flesh).

Is hostile to God:  To fix your mind on things that are sinful and evil is to set yourself in opposition to God, who is perfectly righteous and holy.  As shocking as it seems, there are people who choose to live this way!  They are enemies of God.  As you can imagine, things will not end well for these individuals, unless they change their ways.        

For it does not submit to God’s law:  ‘It’ refers to the mind that has chosen to pursue the things of the flesh.  This kind of a mind cannot submit itself to God.  Here is why:  Your mind cannot be divided against itself.  If you give your focused attention to the lusts and desires of your flesh, you cannot simultaneously submit yourself to the commands of God, because these two things are opposites.  This might be clearer if we look at a couple of specific examples:

• You can’t focus your attention on lying and simultaneously submit to the command of God to tell the truth. 
• You can’t focus your attention on sexual sins and submit to the commands of God regarding chastity and marriage. 
• You can’t focus on pride and submit to God’s command to be humble. 

It is fairly easy to understand that if you are setting your mind on evil, you are unable to submit to the commands of God; you can’t be in submission to him at the same time you are in rebellion against him.  

1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.   

In fact, the carnal mind (the mind set on evil and rebellion) actually hates and despises the commands of God.  It will fight against or contradict God’s commands at every opportunity.  In so doing, the carnal mind disputes God’s sovereignty, mocks his character, disgraces his image and opposes his kingdom.   

Indeed it cannot:  It is a literal impossibility for the flesh/old man to be reconciled to the laws of God.  They are opposite systems with opposite goals and can never exist in harmony with each other.    

Thus, Paul shows that to be carnally minded is death because those who are carnally minded are enemies of God.  As such, they are excluded from grace; they are subject to the law.  They will be found guilty of breaking God’s commands and sentenced to eternal spiritual death.  

Romans 8:8 – Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul has just explained that the carnal mind is hostile towards God; it is in rebellion against him.  It logically follows that those who allow themselves to be ruled by their flesh/old man cannot please God.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Those who are in the flesh:  This refers to sinners; to people who allow their flesh/old man to reign in their hearts and minds. 

Cannot please God:   Sinners cannot please God.  Their thoughts, desires, actions and words are all rooted in evil, which God loathes. 

The following four things are true of the person who is carnally minded:   

• One, they are in a state of total depravity; they cannot please God.
• Two, as long as they remain in that state, they will never be accepted in God’s sight. 
• Three, anyone in that state should turn from it and seek God without delay. 
• Four, if that person fails to change/chooses to continue in their ways, they will remain an enemy of God and will reap eternal death.

It all boils down to this:  Those under the control of their flesh/old man will never be justified in God’s sight.  Since the law has no power to kill or otherwise subdue our flesh/carnal nature, we are in need of something else – the grace and forgiveness of the gospel.  It is the only remedy for sin. 

In the next three versus, Paul will contrast the death brought about by our flesh/old man with the life-giving work of Holy Spirit.  Without the work of Holy Spirit, men would not have any desire or inclination to make peace with God and even if they did, they would have no way to do so.  Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus Christ.  Only through him can we obtain peace with God.

Romans 8:9 – You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The Christian is different than the unbeliever.  He or she has placed their faith in Christ Jesus and as a result, Holy Spirit/Spirit of God/Spirit of Christ lives within them.  You are not a child of God unless Holy Spirit lives within you.  He is the confirmation/guarantee of your salvation.

DIGGING DEEPER:  You however, are not in the flesh:  Notice that Paul does not say ‘the flesh is not in you’, but ‘you are not in the flesh.’  That’s because there is a big difference between the two.

Even in the case of the Christian, Paul cannot say ‘the flesh is not in you’.  The truth is that the flesh/old nature still resides within the Christian to a degree.  There is nothing we can do about that.  We will never be fully free of him until we literally die physically.

Rather, Paul truthfully says ‘you are not in the flesh’.  This is because Christ has broken the overwhelming power of the flesh/old man in the life of every believer.  We are no longer slaves to sin; it no longer tricks/misleads us, carries us away into evil, or governs our every thought/action.  Instead, believers are now in the Spirit.

But in the Spirit:  When we placed our faith in Christ Jesus, we received the gift of Holy Spirit.  We are illuminated, motivated and empowered by Holy Spirit to walk in newness of life, to be conformed to the image of Christ, and to do that which pleases God.  Our minds are set on the spirit/new man, who desires to live in righteousness and holiness.  Now we are children of God; we delight in obedience to all his commands.

If in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you:  In scripture, Holy Spirit is often represented as dwelling in the heart of Christians:

I Corinthians 3:16 – Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Galatians 4:6 – And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

‘Dwelling in’ denotes an intimate connection and fellowship that brings us multiple benefits:

• A permanent residence.  This means that Holy Spirit never leaves us; he is our constant companion, guide and helper. 
• Continuous operation/activity.  This means that Holy Spirit is always at work in our lives.  At all times he leads us into truth, warns us of danger, assists us in prayer, quickens the word to our hearts, grows fruit within our lives, makes us bold witnesses for Christ and many other things.  
• Ruling power.  True faith in Christ is inevitably followed by the reigning influence of Christ’s Spirit within our hearts.  Holy Spirit makes our ongoing sanctification possible.  He produces in us the desire to live lives of purity and holiness, then he empowers us to do exactly that.   

Again, we cannot help but notice that the gospel does what the law could never do!

Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him:  The apostle’s message is very clear:  Those who do not have Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts have no spiritual relationship with Christ.  Their sins have not been forgiven.  They are not justified in the sight of God and cannot expect to be admitted to heaven for eternity.  In our modern vernacular, we would say that unless Holy Spirit dwells in your heart, you are not saved. 

There are no exceptions.

Ephesians 4:30 - And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, by whom you are sealed unto the day of redemption.

How do we know if someone does or does not have the Spirit of Christ?

We will know by the way they live their lives.  Jesus tells us that a tree is know by its fruit:

Luke 6:43-46 – “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit.  For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouths speaks.”

When we were unbelievers (without Holy Spirit) our invisible spiritual state was revealed to the world by our sinful thoughts, words and actions.  In other words, we produced fruits of evil which were easily identified by others.   

Likewise, when we became Christians and Holy Spirit began to dwell in our hearts, our invisible spiritual state was revealed to the world by our pious thoughts, words and actions.  In other words, we produced fruits of righteousness, which were easily identified by others.  These fruits prove that Holy Spirit (Spirit of Christ) is dwelling within us.  

Romans 8:10 – But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Even though we are Christians, our mortal bodies are subject to death because of sin which entered the human race through Adam.  Therefore, we can say that our physical body is dead because of sin.

However, as Christians, we are spiritually alive right this moment.  This is not because we are perfect or sinless, but because of the newness of life produced in us through Christ and Holy Spirit. 

DIGGING DEEPER:  But if Christ is in you:   If Jesus dwells in your heart through his Spirit or simply stated, if you are a Christian.

Although the body is dead because of sin:  When Adam rebelled against God, he was corrupted by sin.  Sin allowed physical death to enter the world. 

Since Adam passed his corrupt nature to all his offspring, all people have sinned and all will experience physical death, regardless of whether they are Christians or unbelievers:   

Hebrews 9:27 – And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment…

(See also Genesis 3:19, Romans 5:12.)  In fact, at this very moment, even though we are alive our bodies are aging/actively dying right now.

The good news is that while death entered the world through sin, sin exits the world through death.  So what Satan meant for evil, God uses for good – our physical death frees our spirit/soul from our flesh and our old sinful nature.    

The Spirit is life:  Unlike the body, the spirit/soul of every person is immortal.  Therefore, the spirit/soul of every person is always alive. 

When a Christian is separated from their physical body at death, their spirit/soul (which has been sealed by Holy Spirit – Ephesians 4:30), travels to paradise where it lives with Christ until the time comes for all believers receive a new body.  This takes place during the rapture:  

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   

At that time, God instantly (in the twinkling of an eye) changes our bodies to new bodies that do not die.  Our new bodies are not subject to death (or pain or sickness, etc.) because they are not corrupted with sin.  They are fit to serve us in the eternal kingdom of heaven, where we will be actively employed in service to God. 

Sadly, the person who does not embrace the gospel will continue in slavery to their flesh/old man which will eventually result in spiritual death after they physically die and are judged by God. 

Because of righteousness:  In this case, righteousness either refers to the gospel/plan of salvation or the imputed righteousness of Christ which he places in our spiritual account when we trust in him as our Savior and Redeemer. 

1 Corinthians 15:22 - For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

In either case, the point is that when we trust in Christ as Savior, we are justified or made righteous in the sight of God.  Our spirit/soul will live in the presence of God forever, because of this righteousness.

Romans 8:11 – If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  If you are a Christian, Holy Spirit lives in your heart.  If Holy Spirit lives within your heart, you will be resurrected from the dead by the Spirit, just as Jesus was.  Thus, all lingering power of death is removed from us.    

DIGGING DEEPER:  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you:  As we will see in greater detail below, Paul acknowledges God the Father as the one who raised Christ from the dead.  His Spirit is the Holy Spirit.  So the question is, does Holy Spirit dwell within us?

For the believer, the answer is ‘yes’.  Scripture tells us that as Christians, our bodies are the temple of Holy Spirit:

I Corinthians 3:16 – Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Because we are his temple, he lives within us.  You might think of it this way:  A house is a place you live in.  Since a temple is a spiritual house, we would expect Holy Spirit to live in a temple.  Because we are the temple of God, we can be assured that God’s Spirit (Holy Spirit) lives within us.     

He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead:  There is only one, true, living God (Yahweh), but he is a Trinity.  In the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal persons.  They are the same in substance, yet they are three distinct Persons – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  Scripture actually credits all three in the resurrection of Christ:

Acts 10:39-40 – …They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day…

John 10:18 – No one takes my [Jesus] life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

I Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit…

However, in this particular instance, Paul references God the Father as the one who raised Jesus from the dead, through the power and work of Holy Spirit.

Will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you:  After our mandatory death, God will raise our physical bodies from the dust of the earth and give them new life in the same way he resurrected Jesus – through the power and work of Holy Spirit.

Scripture tells us that Jesus was the first fruits of all who will be raised from the dead:

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Therefore, the resurrection of Christ is a promise or pledge that we (the faithful saints) will also be raised from the dead to eternal life.

Paul is very clear - those who have Holy Spirit living inside them can expect to be raised from the grave, just like Jesus was.  Christians are raised to life by virtue of our union with Christ and by our relationship to the Spirit as his temple. 

Our resurrection is both desirable and beneficial; we rise to an eternal state of joy, peace, fulfillment and happiness.  Such is not the case for the unbeliever.  The wicked are raised from the dead, but not with the saints.  They do not rise to life; they rise to face the judgment and a sentence of eternal damnation.

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

In Romans chapter eight, Paul begins to show believers things the gospel does which the law cannot do.  First and foremost among them is to justify people in the sight of God. 

When you place your faith in Christ Jesus, he forgives your sin and sends Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart.  The power of the flesh/old man is broken in your life; you will experience peace with God.  

Holy Spirit will lead and guide you into a life of joy, discovery, satisfaction and personal growth.  In the end, he will raise you to life again, just as he did Jesus.  You will spend eternity in heaven with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

If you are ready to place your faith in Christ Jesus, simply say a prayer and ask him to be your Savior.  You don’t need any special terms; just speak to him from your heart.  If you are having trouble coming up with the words, you can use the prayer below.  

Dear Jesus,

I admit that I am a sinner who has broken your laws and lived in rebellion against you.  I do not want to continue this way.  Right now, I repent of my mistakes and sins.  I’m sorry I broke your laws.  I acknowledge that you are the Son of God.  I believe that you died on the cross and rose again on the third day.  I ask you to forgive me of my sins, cleanse me with your blood, and send Holy Spirit to live within my heart. 

If you prayed this prayer from your heart, you are a new creation in Christ Jesus; you have passed from death to life!  As a next step, you should find a bible believing church and begin attending.  You also need to be baptized in water.

Congratulations!  This is the beginning of your new life in Christ Jesus.  You will never be the same!     

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Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

In chapter seven, Paul pointed out that the law was rendered ineffective because of the fallen nature of mankind.  The devout Jews (and Gentiles) who had their hearts awakened to righteousness by the law soon fell into despair when they realized that the law could not produce true peace with God (justification) or give them the power to overcome the flesh/old man (sanctification).  

In fact, the application of the law to their lives produced an awareness of sin that caused their flesh/old man to rise up and sin even more!  The law also caused agitation and conflict because it placed them under the inescapable curse of death.  So even though the Jews acknowledged the law as divine and perfect, it left them with a sense of hopelessness because it could not give them peace with God.  Chapter seven ended with the deep distress and conviction experienced by the penitent sinner. 

But now comes the good news!  In the eighth chapter of Romans, Paul teaches us that the gospel is powerful and effective; it is capable of doing all that the law could not! 

In this chapter, Paul shows us the transition from darkness (condemnation) to light (pardon).  This change is available to every person through the atonement of Christ, which means that there is hope for the person who desires to know and obey God!

Romans chapter eight is a very precious portion of scripture that has brought comfort and joy to Christians of every generation.  In it, Paul gives us at least six amazing things that the gospel does, which the law could not do.  Let’s look at them together.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The law placed mankind in a prison of condemnation where he hopelessly waited for judgment and death.  But when Jesus Christ came to earth in the flesh, he provided a way for sinners to be pardoned.  Now, all those who have been set free walk by the Spirit instead of obeying their flesh/old man.

DIGGING DEEPER:  There is therefore now:   Paul has proven that the law places all men under condemnation the moment we break any of its commands.  Worse yet, the law does not contain any provision that would allow us to escape the judgment of eternal death which results from that condemnation.

Into this darkness comes the light of the gospel.  It can do what the law could not do - it can pardon and sanctify mankind.  It can free us from the bondage of sin, discharge the debt we owe to the law, dismiss the penalty of death we are under, and assist/empower us in a life of ongoing holiness and righteousness.  All of these benefits are available to us because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

As if that were not enough, there is even more good news - Christians are free of condemnation right now!  Right now, we are forgiven.  Right now, we are free from condemnation.  Right now, we have passed from death to life:

John 5:24 - Verily, verily, I [Jesus] say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

No condemnation:  Do not misunderstand the words of Paul.  He does NOT mean that Christians no longer sin.  Obviously, that is not true.  Perfect holiness is what we strive for in this life, but we will not achieve it until the next. 

Paul does NOT mean that sin no longer results in condemnation – it still does.  Remember, God never changes.  He is still perfectly holy, perfectly righteous and perfectly just.  He does not simply ignore sin.  In God’s economy, every sin brings a penalty which must be paid.  This is true under the law AND under the gospel.

The difference is that while the law cannot provide any relief or deliverance for mankind, the gospel can.  Jesus came to earth to shed his blood as our Passover lamb.  If we embrace his sacrifice as outlined in the gospel, he pays the price for our sin, which makes us free from condemnation and death.  Hallelujah!  This is the first amazing thing that the gospel does for us.  

For those who are in Christ Jesus:  What does it mean to be in Christ Jesus?

This phrase describes the mystical, spiritual union between Christ and believers.  Scripture sometimes presents it as Christ being in us (II Corinthians 13:5) and at other times as us being in Christ (I John 5:20), but essentially it amounts to the same thing.  We might think of it this way:  Christ is in believers by his Spirit while believers are in Christ by faith.

The best description of this union is found in John chapter 15 where Jesus describes our relationship this way:

John 15:5 – I [Jesus] am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

We are ‘in Christ Jesus’ when we place our faith in him as our Redeemer/Savior, obey him as the Head of the church, abide in him as our Lord, and serve him as our King.  In other words, we are not in Christ due to mere profession or by the accomplishment of good works.  We are in him when a true relationship exists between us.  

Who walk not after the flesh:  This particular phrase (who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit) does not appear in verse one in most ancient biblical manuscripts.  For this reason, your modern-day version may not include it, or it may be referenced in the footnotes.  Interestingly, the phrase DOES appear in the ancient manuscripts at the end of verse four.   

A couple of different explanations have been offered to account for this discrepancy. 

One theory says that the duplication of the phrase in verse one is an error of the copyist.  Remember, back in ancient times there were no word processors, copy machines or even typewriters.  Copies of the scriptures were made by hand and even though the copyists were very careful, mistakes were no doubt made. 

The second theory says that the copyist intentionally inserted the phrase into verse one as an explanatory comment, or to make a smoother transition from verse one to verse two.

Regardless of the circumstances, we will go ahead and comment on this phrase now.

The term ‘walk’ is frequently used in scripture to mean the way we conduct ourselves or the way we live our lives.   

To walk according to the flesh/old man is to willingly sell yourself to sin; to actively embrace or gratify every form of evil that your flesh desires.  This describes the life that every sinner lives.    

But after the Spirit:  To walk according to the Spirit is to willingly dedicate yourself to a life of holiness which is pleasing to God.  To walk after the Spirit is to crucify your sinful desires, striving to walk in the paths of righteousness and obedience that God commands (Galatians 5:24). 

Obviously, we are not perfect.  We may stumble or falter on occasion, but the overall course of the Christian is grow/mature in the faith and become more like Christ every day.  This process of sanctification is led by Holy Spirit, our constant comforter and guide.

Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

GENERALMMARY:  Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life.  When we hear the gospel message, he convicts us of sin and then leads us to salvation in Christ which frees us from the law of sin and death.    

DIGGING DEEPER: For the law:   Law is used in the sense of an inward principle of action, operating with fixed regularity (like gravity).

When we place our faith in Christ Jesus, Holy Spirit immediately enters our heart.  He creates a law or a standard within us which rules/governs our lives.  In this passage, Paul speaks of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ as being the opposite of the law of sin and death.  

Of the Spirit of life:  Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life.  He is the Spirit of God and so he has life in himself, just as the Father and Son do:

John 5:26 - For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself;

Holy Spirit produces spiritual life in mankind by convicting them of sin and leading them to redemption in Christ.  He then gives life by indwelling our hearts, and aiding us in the process of sanctification and Christian maturity.  The Spirit of life stands in opposition to the law of sin and death which brings hopelessness, condemnation and death.

Has set you free in Christ Jesus:  Holy Spirit is gift given to the believer by Christ Jesus.  

Acts 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

He sets the believer free by breaking the power and control of sin which our flesh/old man exercised over us.  He removes its influence from our hearts and empowers us to say ‘no’ to sin. 

The gospel produces this amazing freedom in the life of every believer.  Breaking the power of our flesh/old man is the second amazing benefit which is ours exclusively through the gospel; the law could never provide this for us.  

From the law of sin and death:  The law of sin and death refers to our fallen nature, our flesh/old man; the controlling influence of sin which invariably leads to death and condemnation.

In this verse Paul once again shows us that the gospel produces life, while the law produces death.

Romans 8:3 – For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.  By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh…  

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The law could not justify us before God.  This was not because of any fault within the law; it was due to the fact that our fallen nature prevented us from living according to its commands. 

God did what the law could not do by sending his Son to earth as a human being to be the perfect sacrifice for sin.  When Jesus died and rose again, he defeated/destroyed the power of sin forever.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh, could not do:  In this verse, the law means the commands of God as revealed to mankind.  As we mentioned several times in our study of chapter seven, the law itself was perfect and divine. 

Nevertheless, the law was rendered weak or ineffective in justifying us before God because of the strength of our fallen natures (flesh/old man).  

Here is the problem:  In order to justify us in the sight of God, the law requires perfection – perfect adherence to all of God’s commands, all of the time.  Because of our flesh/old man, we are not capable of delivering that kind of perfection.  In fact, it is a forgone conclusion that we will sin/break God’s laws.  Because every single person since Adam has sinned, the law was rendered totally and universally weak in the realm of justification.

Galatians 3:21 - Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Furthermore, once we sin, the only power the law has is to condemn us and sentence us to eternal death; it has no way to make amends for our failure or to deliver us from the curse of death.   

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh:   But thankfully, God has done the impossible; what the law could not do, he accomplished through his Son, Jesus:

Luke 18:26-27 - And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?  And he [Jesus] said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Have you ever been caught off guard by a situation?  Maybe something happened or someone reacted in a way that you didn’t see coming?  When that happens, we are forced to react to a situation instead of controlling it.

For example, let’s suppose you got all dressed up and went to a church for a wedding.  But after a while it became apparent that the groom wasn’t going to show up.  We could say that he reacted in a way no one expected.  Before that happened, the bride and her family were in control of the situation – they had everything prepared and planned for their guests.  But after the groom failed to show, they were forced to react to the new situation without any time to make a new plan.

Some people mistakenly believe this is what happened to God when sin came into the world.  They think that God was caught off guard when Adam and Eve sinned and he was forced to abandon his plans (the law) and that sending Jesus to earth was a last-minute reaction to a situation he didn’t plan for.  In reality, nothing could be further from the truth!

Remember, God is not bound by time.  He exists outside of it.  He sees the beginning from the end; NOTHING catches him by surprise.  God gave mankind the law to fulfill his specific purposes – to reveal his holy commands for living, to identify sin, etc.  But he knew from the beginning that we could not be justified by it.  It was ALWAYS his plan to send Jesus into the world at the right time in order to fulfill the requirements of the law and become the only perfect, sinless sacrifice for our sin. 

And so, at the exact time appointed by the Father, Jesus was born of the virgin Mary. His mother was human, but his father was God/Holy Spirit, which meant he was a man without the fallen nature of Adam (Matthew 1:20).  He did not have the sinful propensities, desires or corruptions of our fallen nature.  He and he alone was capable of fulfilling the role of the Redeemer of mankind. Only he could become the Mediator between God and man.

Hebrews 9:15 - And for this cause he [Jesus] is the mediator of the new covenant, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant [the law], they who are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

By living a perfect life according to the law, sacrificing himself on the cross and rising again on the third day, Jesus did what the law could not do – he purchased pardon for the sinner.  His blood pays the debt we incur for sinning against God.  Jesus broke the power of sin and made it possible for every man, woman, boy and girl to be reconciled to God.  Praise the Lord!     

As a side note, it should be pointed out that this scripture (verses 3&4) supports our understanding of the Trinity.  God is actually a triune being consisting of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit who are all co-equal.  Jesus was not created by God when he came to earth in the flesh; he was sent by God which clearly shows that he existed before. 

Now let’s return to our text.  What does Paul mean when he says Jesus was sent “in the likeness of sinful flesh?” 

By all outward appearances, Jesus was no different than all other human beings.  He started out as a baby and grew into manhood.  He had two hands, two feet and one head.  As a human, he had to eat and he had to sleep.  He experienced emotions.  Because he was fully human, everyone would expect him to also have the fallen nature of Adam, even though he did not (Hebrews 7:26).  In this way, he can be described as having the likeness or close resemblance of a sinful person.

And for sin:  Jesus came to earth to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin.   

Acts 13:38-39 – Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man [Jesus] forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he has made him [Jesus], who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

He condemned sin in the flesh:  In this case, ‘condemned’ is used in the sense of destroying, overcoming or subduing.

As we have seen previously (Romans 7:18-20), the flesh is regarded as the source of sin.  Until Jesus came to earth, the flesh was the scene of sin’s unlimited triumphs.  Because the flesh is the seat of our transgressions, the atoning sacrifice was made in the same arena.  Thus, the flesh of Jesus became the scene of sin’s defeat – by rising after his crucifixion, Jesus met sin on its own ground, destroyed its power and broke its hold on us.  Through Christ we have obtained forgiveness; we have been justified in God’s sight.

Romans 8:4 - …in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The reason God sent Jesus to be our Savior was so the demands of the law (obedience to God’s commands) could be fulfilled in the life of every person who places their faith in Christ and walks according to the leading of Holy Spirit.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  In order that the righteous requirement of the law:  What are the righteous requirements of the law?  In a general sense, we can say they are perfect obedience to the law in thought, word and deed.  As we have discussed in prior posts, this is an impossibility for any human being – except Jesus.  He has completely fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law:   

Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Because of the union of Christ and the believer, our Savior is able to impute or credit this righteousness to us, while simultaneously discharging any punishment that was due to us (I Corinthians 1:30-31).

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he [God the Father] has made him [Jesus], who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Might be fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh:   God has provided a door to forgiveness through Christ.  However, he will never force anyone to cross that threshold.

Those who choose to remain a willing slave to sin will forfeit the pardon offered through Christ. They will receive exactly what they desired and spent their life pursuing – the pleasures of sin which result in eternal death.

Those who choose to accept God’s invitation are granted freedom from sin. They will receive exactly what they spent their lives pursuing – righteousness and holiness which result in eternal life in heaven with Jesus.  

So we find that Christianity is not mere lip service.  It requires a change of heart and mind which in turn result in outward actions/works which are pleasing to God.  Christianity is not always a life of ease or comfort, but it is always full of joy, peace, satisfaction and hope.  What could be better than that?   

But according to the Spirit:  If we are to stop walking in the paths of sin (after the flesh), and begin to walk the paths of righteousness like Jesus did, we are going to need some help!

Help has been provided for us through the gift of Holy Spirit.  The same Spirit which dwelt within Christ also dwells within our hearts.  He empowers us to walk in newness of life, loving and obeying God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.  He also makes it possible for us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Thus, the design and purpose of the law is fulfilled in us through the strength of Holy Spirit provided through Christ Jesus.  This stands in opposition to the weakness of the law through our flesh, which cannot produce these results.

Romans 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 set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The mind is the rudder of life; it determines what direction we take.  Those who choose to serve their flesh/old man have their minds fully devoted to sin.  Those who choose to follow their spirit/new man have their minds fully devoted to righteousness and holiness through the work of Holy Spirit.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For those who live according to the flesh:  This phrase describes unbelievers or people who are still under the control of their corrupt and sinful flesh/old man.

Set their minds on the things of the flesh:  Your mind is the control center of your life.  It determines your motives and your intentions.  With it, you form your plans and make your day-to-day decisions.  To set you mind on something is to choose that thing and to purposefully pursue it on a constant basis. 

For example, a person might think about their health, assess their ability and make plans to start an exercise regimen.  Once their mind is set on exercise, it will impel them to follow the new exercise plan.  They will watch exercise videos, read exercise related posts and talk about exercise with other people.  The bottom line is that because their mind is set on exercise, they will consistently pursue it in different ways.

In the same way, the person who sets their mind on the flesh has chosen to willingly serve their flesh/old man.  Their mind and thoughts are centered on all the different ways they can satisfy their lusts.  They consistently and eagerly pursue every opportunity to engage in the sin they desire.  This is a natural result of choosing to live according to the flesh.   

John 3:6 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

But those who live according to the Spirit:  This phrase refers to believers or Christians.  When a person chooses to trust in Christ as Savior, their flesh/old man is no longer the dominating force in their lives, because Christ broke the power of sin. 

Now they are ruled by their spirit/new man.  They are willing and eagerly devoted to living lives of holiness and righteousness under the direction of Holy Spirit. Grace is the governing principle in their lives.  

Set their minds on the things of the Spirit:  Believers in Christ have set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  Their minds guide them in the relentless pursuit of holiness, righteousness and obedience to all that God commands.    

Romans 8:6 – For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  In the prior verse, Paul shows that there are two groups of people – carnal and spiritual.  Now he reveals the final outcome of each group.   

Those who fix their minds on sin (flesh/old man) will eventually experience spiritual death.  Those who fix their minds on the Spirit (spirit/new man) will reap peace now and eternal life in the next age.

DIGGING DEEPER:  To set the mind:  Again, this means to fix your thoughts in a certain direction; to use your mind to pursue a specific outcome or course of action in your thoughts, words and deeds.  It includes your reason, your understanding and your affections.  

On the flesh is death:  If your mind is fixed on your flesh/old man, you will pursue sin.  If you willingly choose to make yourself a slave of sin, you will experience the only possible outcome – eternal spiritual death.

In the original Greek, the meaning is not just that the flesh will lead you to death, but that to follow this path is death itself; there is woe and condemnation in the very act of being supremely devoted to sin/corrupt passions.  That path will, with 100% certainty, result in spiritual death in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15, 21:8).     

But to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace:  Those who fix their minds on the Spirit of God and strive to live by their spirit/new man will pursue the things of God.

When you are spiritually minded, you lay a foundation of peace in your life - peace with God, peace with your conscience, and peace with the world around you.  You also experience the abundant life that Jesus provides for his children (John 10).   

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today’s post, we noted that Jesus answered the demands of the law for us.  He did this because it was impossible for us to do it.   

However, it is important for us to understand that he will NOT fulfill the demands of the gospel for us.  We must do this ourselves.

Now don’t panic – we don’t have to do this our own power.  That would be just as impossible as keeping the demands of the law!  Instead, we are to rely on Holy Spirit to empower and aid us in this process.

With his help, we can:

• Renew our minds with the word of God (Romans 12:2). 
• We can forgive, as we are forgiven (Luke 17:3-4). 
• We can put on the armor of God and successfully wield the sword of the spirit and the shield of faith (Galatians 6). 
• We can exercise faith that moves mountains (Matthew 21:21).
• We can circumcise our hearts (Romans 2:28-29). 
• We can resist the devil and watch him flee (James 4:7). 
• We can spread the gospel message to the lost (Mark 16:15). 
• We can forcefully advance the kingdom of heaven on earth (Matthew 11:12).

Jesus already won the battle, but we must stand up and claim victory in our own lives; we must do the work ourselves, by the power of the Spirit.  I strongly encourage you to fix your mind on the things of Christ right now, and begin to do all that he has commanded!

Let me offer you some relief and some strength:

Have you ever noticed that some people try to spiritually ‘sit on the fence?’  In other words, they claim they want to live Christian lives, and they may even attend church once in a while, give some money to charity, or say a quick prayer when they eat.  But they also consistently engage in their sinful urges.

They are trying to set their minds on two opposing things - they want to engage in the sins of this world, but still do enough to ‘earn’ a place in heaven.  I can’t imagine how confusing and exhausting that must be!  Not only that, it is a lost cause.    

If this describes you, let me just set the record straight – there is no spiritual fence; there is no middle ground.  You are either a Christian or a non-Christian, a saint or a sinner, a person of the spirit or a person of the flesh.  Your name is either written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, or it isn’t. 

So today, take the advice of Joshua, son of Nun.  Stop messing around and decide who you are and what you want to pursue:

Joshua 24:14-15 - Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, and in Egypt; and serve you the LORD.  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.   

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Romans 7:20 – Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

Welcome back to our study of Romans.  In the latter part of chapter seven, Paul is discussing the relationship between man and the law.  He is showing us that while the law is perfect and is not the cause of sin/death, neither can it make us justified or sanctified in the sight of God.

The apostle is also showing us that every Christian has two natures existing within them.  There is the spirit/new man which has been made new by the work of Christ.  There is also the flesh/old man which continues to reside in our lives and constantly provokes us to sin.  These two natures are in a constant battle for control of our hearts, minds and wills.  

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Verse 20 is another repetition of verses 16-17.  Paul declares that the desire of his new man is to love the law and do what is righteous in God’s sight.  He does not want to sin.  However, it occasionally happens.  When he does fall into sin, it is because he is coerced (manipulated or forced against his will) to do it by the sin which still lives in him through his flesh/old man.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  Now if I do what I do not want:  As a Christian, Paul does not want to sin or do anything that brings shame to God.

It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me:  As we noted last week, Christians have two natures within them. 

When we are born again (when we trust in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sin) we have a new nature.  This nature is referred to as the spirit or the new man.  The overwhelming desire of the spirit/new man is to serve God in righteousness and in truth. 

However, we still retain the sinful nature we inherited from our forefather Adam.  This nature is referred to as the flesh or the old man.  The desperate desire of our flesh/old man is to engage in all manner of sin, rebellion and depravity.

Clearly, sin does not originate in the law or in the spirit/new man.  The flesh/old man is both the source and the driving force behind our sin (the things we do not want to do).    

Romans 7:21 – So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul has discovered a general principle within his own life that is true for all Christians – when he seeks to do the right thing, evil is instantly present to thwart or hinder him.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  So I find it to be a law:  In this case, Paul is not talking about the written law of God.  He uses the term ‘law’ in the sense of a principle – a fundamental truth; a universal, invariable statement of order that holds true under specific conditions. 

For example, we are all familiar with the law of gravity.  It is universally and invariably true that within the earth’s atmosphere, atoms exert force on one another in such a way that objects automatically fall to the ground. 

In this case, Paul is telling us that he has discovered a law or principle which holds true in his life.  We might say that this law controls or binds him, because (like gravity) he is subject to it automatically.  It happens without his consent.  

That when I want to do right:  As a Christian, Paul consistently desires to obey God and do what pleases him.

Evil lies close at hand:  This is a truth that all Christians have no doubt experienced - each and every time the apostle seeks to do what is good or righteous, his flesh/old man rises up and does everything within its power to stop or impede him.  He describes this as a law or principle because it automatically occurs whenever he seeks to do good.

We might think of it this way:  Whenever we walk in sunlight, we cast a shadow.  Our shadow shows up automatically – we don’t do anything to produce it.  In fact, it lies hidden or dormant most of the time, but the moment we walk back into the light, it automatically appears once again.

So it is with our flesh/old man.  When we desire to walk in the light of God’s righteous ways, it shows up like a shadow that aggressively works to stop our progress.

Romans 7:22 – For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being…

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The spirit/new man within every Christian delights in the ways of God.   

DIGGING DEEPER:  For I delight in the law of God:   In this verse, the law of God refers to all the commands, precepts and communications of God to mankind.

This is synonymous with the law of the mind, which Paul mentions in the next verse.  It is called the law of the mind because it belongs to and resides in the mind; it is the law of God because it comes from him and is implanted in our minds by Holy Spirit.

The Greek word translated ‘delight’ properly means to rejoice.  We might use the term ‘approbation’ which means approval, praise or official sanction.  It describes the state of feeling favorable towards something, while expressing our satisfaction with it, or our endorsement of it.

Delight in the law indicates two things:

• An intellectual agreement – we affirm that the law of God is divine, holy, pure and good.  It communicates the principles of God’s economy to us; it is a roadmap for living a full and blessed life.  To fully conform to the law is the highest perfection of human nature and the highest honor we can hope for.

Once we accept Jesus as Lord, Holy Spirit writes the law of God upon our minds, and we are fully convinced of their truth and perfection.

Hebrews 8:10 – For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

• An emotional pleasure in the contemplation of the law - to delight in the law of God is to love it for its purity and spirituality; to take genuine pleasure in the knowledge of it by meditating on it and putting its principles into practice.

Psalms 119:97 – Oh how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day.

In other words, we delight in the law when we are glad to know it, excited to do it/live by it, cheerfully submit to the authority of it, and are pleased when our lives conform to it.

In my inner being:  The expression ‘inner being’ or ‘inward man’ is typically used to denote the rational part of man (the mind) as opposed to the sensual part of man (the physical body). 

II Corinthians 4:16 – So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  

In this case, the phrase is used to distinguish the spirit/new nature of the Christian as opposed to the flesh/old nature that still dwells in us.

Romans 7:23 - …but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul is again describing the war that wages within every Christian.  His spirit/new man delights in the law of God, but at the same time his flesh/old man wars against that desire by tempting him to sin.  If he surrenders to the urges of his flesh/old man, he will be the captive of sin.

DIGGING DEEPER:  But I see:  Paul perceived or experienced another law or principle (fundamental truth) at work in his life.  This is the principle of the flesh/old man.

In my members another law:  The word ‘law’ means the same as it did in verse 21 – an inward principle of action operating with the consistency of a natural law, like gravity.

By members, Paul means the corrupt and sinful propensities of his flesh.  The human body is composed of many members (hands, feet, back, neck, etc.).  Because our body/flesh is regarded as the source of sin, ‘the law in my members’ is the same as the law of sin a.k.a. the flesh/old man. 

Waging war against the law of my mind:  The law of the mind was defined in the prior verse.  It refers to the law of God which is written on our minds by Holy Spirit when we are born again.  It is found in our spirit/new man.  It stands in opposition to the desires of our flesh/old man or corrupt nature.

These two natures do not peacefully co-exist.  They are in a constant state of warfare. They wage war for control of our hearts, minds and actions. 

Galatians 5:17 – For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Think of it like a civil war, but instead of the North against the South, it’s the spirit/new man against the flesh/old man.  The spirit/new man desires to do what is righteous; he wants to take ground for the kingdom of heaven.  But the flesh/old man viciously opposes him.  He assaults the new man with arrows of temptation, spears of deception, and swords of covetousness/lust.  The old man uses all of his knowledge, resources and experience to attack the new man, just as a literal army would attack its enemy.

If the new man loses the battle (or surrenders) he becomes the captive of his adversary – sin (or the law of sin).  

I Peter 2:11 – Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Thus, the state of the Christian is nothing less than continuous civil warfare within our own minds, hearts and wills.  Flesh battles spirit, old man battles new man, sin battles grace.

And making me captive to the law of sin:  A soldier taken captive in war is under the authority of his enemy.  In the same way, when a Christian is overcome by (or surrenders to) the flesh/old man, he is made an unwilling captive to his enemy - the evil inclinations of his heart.

This sounds like a hopeless situation, but it is not.  Let’s take a closer look.  

When a war is waged and a soldier is taken captive against their will, they are often carried off to the conquering nation.  They may be living in the conquering nation, but that does not make them a citizen of that country.  They are still a citizen of their native land and at some point, they will no doubt return there.

In the same way, a Christian can fall into sin and when they do, it is equivalent to a soldier who is taken captive by his enemy.  For a time, we are prisoners of our old man living in the realm of sin.  However, that is not our permanent home/country.  Very shortly we will be rescued by grace and returned to our native soil – the kingdom of God.

That dwells in my members:  The headquarters or center of command for sin is the flesh/old man which is on high alert, ready to take full advantage of every opportunity to sin.

Romans 7:24 – Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul is miserable because his struggle between the new man and the old man is painful and distressing.  He asks an important question: Who can deliver him from this situation?

DIGGING DEEPER:  Wretched man that I am:   How or in what way was Paul a wretched man? 

• He was not wretched in Christ, because as a Christian he had every reason to be happy – he was blessed with all spiritual blessings; he was safe from all condemnation and wrath. 
• He was not wretched with respect to his inward man, which was being renewed day by day, and in which he enjoyed true spiritual peace. 
• He was not wretched with regard to his future state; his name was listed in the Lamb’s book of life and the joys of heaven awaited him.

2 Corinthians 4:16 - For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

As a Christian, there is only one way that Paul could be wretched – he was at war with his flesh/old man.  As with any war, the agonizing conflict between good and evil produces pain and distress.

Who will deliver me:  Paul uses himself as an example (me), but his experience is typical of all believers.  He represents any Christian who is in a state of captivity to sin and whose mind is in deep distress, being aware of its own weakness and failure.  The Christian in this situation needs deliverance and relief.   

Consider your own Christian walk for a minute.  How many times have we earnestly wished that we could have a ‘do over’ in life so we could avoid falling into the pitfall of temptation?  Wouldn’t you agree that it is both humbling and degrading to a Christian to be taken captive by sin?

When this happens, our minds are in a state of remorse and humility.  We are in need of deliverance from the captivity of sin and relief from our failure.  Can the law provide it?  No, it can only condemn.  Can man provide it?  Obviously not or we wouldn’t need God. 

And so we reach the main point that Paul wants his readers to fully grasp:  The only remedy is repentance and forgiveness through Jesus Christ as described in the gospel.

The picture Paul paints for us is that of a soul who is bound by chains of sin and corruption which were threatening him with the bitter pains of eternal death.  Naturally, the soul looks for deliverance and relief (help in overcoming his flesh/old man which is dragging him down to eternal damnation in the fires of hell). 

The soul soon discovers that the law cannot deliver him; it can only pronounce death.  Neither does mankind have a means to rescue him (if that were so, he could rescue himself).  Then he turns to the gospel message and is set free by the blood of Jesus Christ. 

From this body of death:  ‘Body of death’ is yet another euphemism for the flesh/old man and all his evil propensities.  This is what the apostle was struggling against, and the thing from which he wants to be delivered. 

It should also be noted that Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in this process.  It is Holy Spirit who brings us to a true understanding of our sin, which in turn leads to conviction/remorse and the desire for forgiveness:

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 - Now I [Paul] rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance: for you were made sorry after a godly manner, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be regretted: but the sorrow of the world works death.

Once Holy Spirit leads us to repentance through the gospel of Jesus Christ, he then resides within our hearts, being our constant helper in life.  He aids us in the struggle against our flesh/old man by opening up our understanding of the scriptures, by helping us to recall God’s word during times of temptation, by growing spiritual fruit within our lives and in many, many other ways. 

In short, he not only leads us to salvation, he guides us in sanctification once we are forgiven.  As we partner with Holy Spirit, he provides us with the strength, resources and power to defeat our flesh/old man.

Romans 7:25 – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  First, Paul expresses heartfelt thankfulness to God for providing deliverance through Jesus Christ and the power of Holy Spirit. 

He then reaches a conclusion: There are two natures within the life of every Christian.  The spirit/new man willingly serves God, but the flesh/old man still remains within him attempting to make him an unwilling servant/captive of sin.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord:   Paul recognizes that God is the source of the ONLY means of deliverance and relief from sin.  That which was impossible by the law or mankind was accomplished in Christ through the plan of the gospel.  In him and him alone are deliverance and relief found.

I Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So then:   As the result of Paul’s whole discourse a conclusion can be reached.

I myself serve the law of God with my mind:  I myself, the spirit/new man, serves the law of God with my heart and mind.  This includes my understanding, conscience and will.  I recognize and honor God’s law as a just and holy law; I take delight in it and strive to obey it.

But with my flesh I serve the law of sin:   The flesh/old man refers to the corrupt sinful nature we all inherited from Adam.  The flesh/old man has no tendency toward holiness; it eagerly desires and works to obtain all that is rebellious, corrupt and sinful.  The flesh/old man and its corruption can only be overcome by the grace of God.

Thus we find:

• There is a painful inner conflict in the life of the Christian.  Sin (the flesh) and righteousness (the spirit) are opposed at all times, in all things.
• The effects of the war against sin bring the Christian to a state of misery and humility.
• We realize that the law is utterly incapable of delivering us or offering us comfort in this situation.  It merely produces more woe, because it sentences us to death.
• God has devised a perfect plan of complete deliverance.  What could not be accomplished through the law was done through Jesus Christ.  Only the gospel can overcome sin and deliver us. 
• Salvation through Jesus Christ should be a cause of never-ending thankfulness in the life of every believer.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Today’s post talks about a continuous war that happens within every Christian.  The flesh battles the spirit, the old man battles the new man, sin battles grace. 

If you are really feeling the struggle today, let me offer you this encouraging word:  God NEVER sets you up for failure.   I encourage you to memorize the following important verse:

1 Corinthians 10:13 - There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Think about that for a minute… God will never allow the enemy to exceed the threshold of your spiritual defenses.  He will always provide a means of escape for you, if you will take it (the choice is yours).

• Sometimes escape comes in the form of quoting scripture, like Jesus did during his wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:4). 
• Sometimes it comes in the form of an opportunity to remove yourself from a situation where temptation shows up unexpectedly (II Timothy 2:22). 
• Other times, it comes by simply saying ‘no’ or standing firm and resisting sin (James 4:7).      

When you partner with Holy Spirit in your daily Christian walk, you have more than enough resources and strength to be victorious in your situation. 

So I encourage you:  Be on the lookout for sin and ways to avoid or escape it!    

Let me offer you some relief:

Today’s post talks about the two natures that reside in the life of a Christian.  Some folks might argue that you can’t serve two masters.  They are correct (Luke 16:13). 

But don’t be discouraged or confused.  Christians willingly serve only one master – the divine Trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit.  There are certainly times when our corrupt nature rears up and temporarily captures us, making us unwilling servants of sin.  Nevertheless, sin is NOT our permanent master.  As soon as we realize our mistake and turn to Christ, he will forgive us and release us from the captivity of sin, so we can continue to willingly serve him.

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   

Let me offer you some strength:

Yes, all Christians struggle against their fallen nature.  But the outcome of our struggle is already decided.  In other words, the war is already won. Victory is possible through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Savior and King has already conquered our enemy and we will share in his victory (Romans 16:20).  Satan may have bruised the heel of Jesus, but Jesus has crushed his head (Genesis 3:15).  The indwelling presence of Jesus/Holy Spirit within us is far, far greater than the god of this world (I John 4:4).  At the proper time, even death will be swallowed up in the victory of Christ Jesus (I Corinthians 15:54-57).

So do not allow yourself to be weary in the struggle of this life.   

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus; in due time we will be released from the bonds of our flesh, leaving that old man behind and entering into eternal life with Christ Jesus our Lord!

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Romans 7:14 – For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

In our last post, Paul pointed out that the law was holy and pure.  It is not the cause of our sin; rather it identifies our sin and pronounces judgment against it, which results in a sentence of eternal death.  The truth is that our sin springs from our fallen and carnal nature. 

Now that he has proved that point, Paul begins to do a closer comparison between the law and the nature of man.  In so doing, he will make it even more clear that sin and evil come from us, not the law. 

In the remainder of this chapter, Paul will argue that the law, even though it is holy and pure, is not capable of producing justification or peace within our lives.  He will describe the fruitless struggles and difficulties encountered by anyone who has a sinful nature and yet seeks to secure his or her salvation by the law. 

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The law is not merely a system of external rites and ceremonies.  It is spiritual; it requires purity of the heart, mind and life; it demands conformity in both the inward and outward man.

However, human beings possess a fallen nature and therefore, at our very core, we are carnal.  These two factors (the spiritual law and the carnal nature of man) are in constant opposition to each other.  This makes it impossible to find justification or peace through the law.  

DIGGING DEEPER:  For we know:  We are already aware; we recognize the following as a true principle of the law.

The law is spiritual:  The law is spiritual and holy in nature, because it comes from the Spirit of God.  Since it is divine, it can never be the cause of sin or death.

God’s law reaches into the deepest depths of our hearts.  It searches every nook and cranny of our minds, seeking out our hidden thoughts, dispositions, desires and motivations.  It reproves and condemns everything that is inwardly and outwardly contrary to God’s truth and his commands.

There can be no doubt that the law requires not just external conformity to God’s commands, but inward conformity as well.  It requires us to serve God in spirit and in truth, with all our hearts and minds. 

John 4:24 – God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

The spiritual nature of the law stands in opposition to the carnal nature of our flesh. 

But I am of the flesh:  Scholars adamantly disagree on Paul’s use of the phrase ‘I am of the flesh’.  There are basically two positions/interpretations to choose from.

One says that Paul is referring to his state BEFORE his conversion to Christianity, or in other words, when he was still an unrepentant sinner.  The other claims that Paul is referring to his state AFTER his conversion to Christianity, or in other words, after he has been born again. 

In this particular case, we are not going to spend time examining both positions.  Frankly, there isn’t a lot of benefit to an in-depth examination of both sides.  Plus, there is a real possibility of getting bogged down in minute details and losing sight of the main truth Paul is giving us.  So, for the purposes of our study, we will assume the latter position – that Paul is referring to himself as a Christian who still struggles with his fallen human nature.   

At this point, we are going to establish some basic truths regarding this position (that Paul is speaking from the perspective of a Christian).

First, Paul uses himself as an example throughout today’s passage, so we can (and will) often substitute ‘Christian’ in places where he references himself. 

Second, we are well aware that each of us was born with a fallen nature which we inherited from our forefather, Adam.  However, after our salvation experience, each of us became a new creation in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). 

Now we have two forces at work in our lives: 

• We have the old man which is also called the ‘flesh’.  This refers to our inherent human nature, which is tainted by sin. 
• We have the new man which is also called the spirit.  This refers to the part of our being which the Spirit of God has renewed and purified from corruption.

Ephesians 4:22-24 - …to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

So, we find that as Christians, both the old man and the new man are part of our lives.  These two forces are locked in an ongoing battle for our hearts and minds.  It is this inward struggle that Paul is speaking of in today’s post.

Now let’s circle back to our text.  Paul says that he is of the flesh or fleshly (your translation may say carnal).  In other words, he has worldly appetites, sinful desires and lusts.  There is a part of his nature that urgently wants to gratify all the selfish, evil cravings of his senses.  

In other words, even though he has accepted Christ and been made a new creature, he still battles against his fallen nature which continues to desire whatever is sinful.  These corrupt passions still had a strong and distressing influence on his heart and mind. 

Paul does not mean that he is completely under their influence (as is the case with an unbeliever), but his sinful nature still prompts him to indulge in his lusts.

The main point he is making here is that whatever is fleshly/carnal is the opposite of what is spiritual.   

Sold under sin:   The word ‘sold’ implies a person who is sold into slavery.  This was an example well understood by the Roman church because in their culture, slaves of all kinds were bought and sold on a daily basis.  

If we look at history, we find there are actually two ways in which a person could become a slave. 

In ancient times, there were circumstances in which a person would willingly sell themselves into slavery.  For example, people who had insurmountable debt would voluntarily enter into slavery in order to avoid prison time or simply in order to survive.  The reasons why they did it aren’t important; Paul is simply making the point that they willingly sought out slavery with full knowledge of what they were doing.

In the same way, sinners knowingly and willingly sell themselves into the bondage of sin.  Like wicked King Ahaz, they desire and even strive to do what is evil:

I Kings 21:20 – Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?”  He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord.”

Other people were forced into slavery against their will.  For example, when an army defeated a foe, it was common for the victors to either kill their opponents, or sell them into slavery.  These slaves were forced to do the bidding of their new masters whether they wanted to or not.  Freedom could only be found in death. 

In the same way, Christians sometimes find themselves captives of sin.  They are never a willing servant but rather an unwilling prisoner of their own corrupt nature.  (Fortunately, one day death will fully separate our renewed spirits from our sinful flesh.)

Romans 7:15 – For I do not understand my own actions.  For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul now describes the struggle common to every Christian – the battle between the flesh and the spirit.

Paul tells us that as a result of this struggle, he does not do what he wants to do (live a holy life pleasing to God in every way).  Instead, his fallen nature prompts him to do what he hates (sin/break the commands of God or imperfectly do what is right).

DIGGING DEEPER:  For I do not understand my own actions:   Again, we find an instance where scholars do not agree on the meaning of this phrase.  Here are the most common interpretations:

• Some commentators believe that Paul means the effects of sin were so sudden, they caught him unaware and he sinned before he even had a chance to understand what he was doing.
• Other scholars believe Paul is saying that he did not have a full or complete knowledge of the depth of evil within his heart.
• Still others believe Paul is saying that he does not approve or acknowledge his sin as the product of his new nature; they are alien to him and he detests them.
• Yet another interpretation says that in obeying the impulses of his carnal nature, Paul is forced into slavery and unable to serve his renewed life.  

For I do not do what I want:  As a Christian, Paul wants to live a pure and holy life.  His desire is to embrace righteousness and do what pleases God at all times.  But the corruption of his nature rears up like an uncontrollable beast, relentlessly and strongly urging him to choose the path of sin. 

This is not to say that Christians never do the righteous and good things they want to do.  Paul’s point is that there are times when we fail; we do not succeed in doing the righteous thing 100% of the time. 

He is also saying that there are times when we will/desire or strive for a particular level of righteousness (to be holy as God is holy), but because of our sinful nature we don’t achieve the level we desire. 

Simply stated, he presents us with a clear picture of the Christian life, which we all recognize – the constant tension of being pulled two ways.  Our spirit/new nature desires to seek God and live in obedience to his commands, but our flesh/old nature works to draw us back into sin.  This is the conflict Paul references in his letter to the church of Galatia:

Galatians 5:17 – For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

But I do the very thing I hate:   Like all Christians, Paul hates anything that is sinful, evil or against the holy commands of God – vain thoughts, unclean desires, selfish lusts and all the secret sinful motivations of his heart.   But even though he loathes sin, Paul found that he sometimes obeyed the prompting of his fallen nature and did the very things he hates and disapproves of.  When this happens, Paul is very much aware of his sin, and it troubles him.

At this point, I want us to take a quick detour.  Personally, I feel like Paul has made his point – we have two natures that war against one another in an epic battle that does not end until we die.  So why does he continue to discuss this same issue for another ten verses?

He does it for the benefit of his Jewish readers.  He is addressing a concern or an objection that they will no doubt have as a response to his doctrine.  It might be stated this way:  The Jews would readily admit that the law is holy and spiritual.  They would argue that they believe it is good and excellent and that it is truth.  As such, it should be observed at all times.  Considering all of this, doesn’t this make the law capable of producing sanctification in our lives?  Because if it does, there is no need for the gospel.

Paul’s answer is an emphatic ‘no’, the law cannot produce sanctification.  His discourse in today’s post shows that a man may know and approve what is just and righteous as revealed in the law, but he is still under the dominion (slavery) of sin/his old nature.  The law cannot deliver him from that bondage.  Only the power of Christ, as revealed through the gospel, provides the way to justification and sanctification in God’s sight.

Romans 7:16 – Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.

GENERAL SUMMARY: This is a strangely worded statement.  (Personally, I feel that if Paul was aiming for confusion, he hit the mark!)  The idea he wants to convey is that when we struggle against sin, it proves that we do not want it, love it or approve of it.  Think about it - if we loved sin, there would be struggle - we would simply embrace it. 

Therefore, the opposite must be true – Christians love, desire and approve of the law, which condemns sin.

DIGGING DEEPER: Now if I do what I do not want:  In other words, if I sin.  

I agree with the law that it is good:  As Christians, we should all be feeling the effects of the struggle within us.  We should be experiencing intense grief and misery because of sin.  We should have an overwhelming desire to be free from it.  We should be completely devoted to the goal of overcoming it.  When these signs are present in our lives, it proves that we do not love sin. 

So, the question is, do we really feel that way?  Or do we have a lackadaisical, carefree attitude towards sin and personal holiness?  Take a few minutes to examine your own life.  How much do you hate sin?  How much work are you putting into personal holiness?

Honestly, there appear to be many lazy, undisciplined Christians today.  They do not seem to feel strongly about sin.  Rather than actively fighting against their sinful desires and bringing them under control, they look for ways to justify them, so they can have their cake and eat it too.  This results in spiritual immaturity and ineffectiveness in the kingdom of God.

We would do well to remember that we are soldiers in the kingdom of God.  As such, we should be living lives of discipline and holiness, which require work on our part.  

Romans 7:17 – So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul is again referring to the struggle between his two natures – the flesh (old man) and the spirit (new man).  It is not the spiritually renewed part of him that breaks God’s law, but rather, the flesh/old man who sins. 

DIGGING DEEPER:  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin who dwells within me:  As a Christian, Paul is a new creature in Christ.  He has a new nature which hates sin and seeks to be righteous in God’s sight:

I John 3:9 – No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.

Nevertheless, he still sins.  That is because his old man, his carnal nature is still present with him, and it uses all of its strength to lure and then trap him in sin.

It is important to understand that Paul is not denying that he is responsible for his own sin.  God has given each of us an astonishing opportunity – to choose whether or not we will serve him.  Think about that for a minute – the omnipotent God, the one who created you and breathed the breath of life into you – allows you to choose whether or not to serve him!  It’s incredible.

Given this, it isn’t surprising that we have the old man and the new man both fighting for control of our minds and wills (and by default our actions, because the mind and will determine them).  It is true that Holy Spirit is active within our lives and he will assist us if we choose righteousness, but he will not make that choice for us.  If he did, it wouldn’t be a real choice.  God allows us to choose which path to follow and therefore we are responsible for our own choices.  

Romans 7:18 – For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul acknowledges that as far as his flesh/fallen nature/old man was concerned, there was nothing good to be found.  It is purely evil.  This is evident by the fact that he wants to do what is right but is either hindered or unable to do so.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For I know:  Paul, who speaks for all Christians, fully realizes the true nature of his flesh.

That nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh:  Specifically, he knows that the flesh/old man of every Christian is completely devoid of righteousness.  It contains nothing but seeds of sin. 

For I have the desire to do what is right:  Like every Christian, Paul has an inner turmoil in his life.  He has been touched by the Lord; he has a new nature which desires to honor, obey and bring glory to God. 

But not the ability to carry it out:  Even though Christians have the desire to do good, we are sometimes prevented from doing it by the corruption of our flesh/old man which still abide within us. 

James 1:14-15 - But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.  Then desire, when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Alternatively, our old nature stifles or slows us down.  It places roadblocks and detours in our way, which causes the good that we do accomplish to be imperfect or to fall below the goal we were striving for.

Think of it this way:  Do you like coffee?  I love it!  Those who sell coffee make a big deal about the kind of beans that are used in their brew.  Why is that?  It’s because each type of bean has a different property.  Some are very strong, while other varieties of beans have a very mild quality. 

You can’t take a handful of extremely mild beans and hope to produce a rich, dark, robust cup of coffee… regardless of what you do, it simply won’t work because of the nature of the beans.

In the same way, as Christians we very much desire to do what is perfect and righteous and holy at all times, but we simply cannot live perfect lives because of our fallen natures.

That being said, there are things we can do to substantially improve our performance.  They are called Christian disciplines.  They train us to ignore our old man while actively following our new man:  

• Memorize the word of God and hide it in your heart that you might not sin against him (Psalms 119:11). 
• Work with Holy Spirit to train yourself to say ‘no’ to your fleshly desires.  As you resist the devil, he will flee from you (James 4:7).
• Avoid people, places and things that cause you to stumble (II Timothy 2:22). 
• Put on the whole armor of God, that you might be able to stand in the day of trouble (Ephesians 6:13). 
• Keep regular/consistent times of prayer (Luke 18:1, Matthew 6:5-15). 
• Fast regularly (Mark 9:29).
• Engage in true worship.
• Maintain habitual church attendance/fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).
• Establish a goal for your own personal holiness.  If you aim at nothing, you will succeed every time!

When we make these disciplines a regular part of our lives, it will be much, much easier to make choices that lead to the righteousness we desire.

Romans 7:19 – For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Here we find a repetition of what the apostle said in verse 15.  Specifically, Paul did not always do the good which he desired to do.  Sometimes he was overpowered or caught off guard by his flesh and as a result, he broke the law (sinned) which is not what he wanted to do.

DIGGING DEEPER:  For I do not do the good I want but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing:   Paul once again repeats the point he made in verse 15.  Specifically, he has the will/desire to do what is right in God’s sight, but he lacked the power within himself to do this. 

Nevertheless, we should not despair.  Though sin may win an occasional battle in the life of a saint, the outcome of the war is already determined – grace will be victorious in the end!  As true saints of God, we will never give up; we will continue the fight against our fallen natures until the day we die (literally).

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

In today’s post, Paul speaks about a knowledge of his own sinful nature.  For the next few minutes, consider your own sinful nature.

There are hundreds of different sins, but some affect us more than others.  For example, you might have a real problem with lying but never experience a desire to steal.  Other people might feel an intense urge to steal but have no interest in committing sexual sin. 

 Take this opportunity to be honest with yourself – what are the three or four sins which entice you the most?  Where are you most likely to hear the roaring of your old nature?

Once you identify those areas as danger zones, you can take additional steps to protect yourself.  If you have a strong tendency to gossip, then you might want to memorize scriptures that deal with that issue.  You might want to avoid situations or people who also like to gossip.  You might think of some ways to steer your conversations into words that encourage or heal rather than tear down.  

If you are prepared for battle, you have a much greater chance of success.

Let me offer you some strength:

We should always keep in mind that we do not fight this battle on our own.  Yes, God gives us a true choice to follow him or not, but once we have determined to walk in the new life he provides for us, we do not walk alone!  Holy Spirit resides within our hearts.

John 14:16 – And I [Jesus] will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with your forever…

He is our constant companion and guide.  He empowers us for kingdom service.  He reveals the scriptures to us, he helps us pray, he leads and guides us, and he shows us the future.  He helps us grow in spiritual maturity and produces spiritual fruit within our lives.

With his help, we will be victorious!

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Romans 7:7 – What then shall we say?  That the law is sin?  By no means!  Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.  For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Welcome back to our study of Romans.  The apostle has been stressing the fact that justification in God’s sight (salvation) comes through faith in Christ, not in observance of the law. 

This teaching was very difficult for the Jews to accept.  They knew that the law was the divine word of God.  From the moment they were born, they were instructed to honor and keep the law for it was the sacred covenant between themselves and God. 

If they now believed Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith, what was their exact relationship to the law?  Were they still bound by it?  If it couldn’t justify them in God’s sight, then what was its purpose?  Was there any advantage to having it?  These were legitimate and important questions in the minds of the Jews. 

Here in chapter seven Paul goes into more depth on the law.  In our last post, he showed that Christians are dead to the law which means they are no longer bound to trust in it as their means of salvation.  Instead, they are free to enter into a new covenant with Christ, who gives us salvation through grace.

In today’s post, Paul defines the relationship between the law and sin.  He will prove:

• The law itself is holy, pure and perfect. 
• The law does not produce sin within us; it defines and identifies it. 
• Sin is the cause of eternal spiritual death.  It springs from our own fallen natures.
• Sin works through the law to trap us in condemnation.  Nevertheless, this does not make the law evil; it makes sin evil. 

Now let’s examine these points in greater detail.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Based on Paul’s assertions in the first six verses of this chapter, the Jews were likely to have objections about his doctrine. 

If they were speaking to Paul in person, their objection might be stated this way: “You’ve already said that the divine, holy law is insufficient to justify and sanctify us in the sight of God.  Now you are saying that the law stirs up our sinful passions. If that is true, then doesn’t that make the law the cause of sin?  And if the law is the cause of sin, doesn’t that make it evil?”

Paul answers their objections by showing that the law itself is divine, holy and pure (just as they had been taught from birth).  The point they needed to understand is that the law does not cause sin; it identifies and defines it.  Evil does not originate in the law, but in the sinful nature of man.

DIGGING DEEPER:  What then shall we say?  That the law is sin:  In other words, since we have proved that Christians are ‘dead’ to the law so they can now embrace salvation through faith, what conclusions can we come to about the law?  Is it evil?  If the law stirs up sinful passions in people, is it the cause of sin?

By no means:  Paul is horrified to think that the Christians of the Roman church might conclude that the law was sinful or evil.  He most emphatically denies that assumption and goes on to prove why it can’t be true.

If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin:  First off, it is interesting to note Paul’s use of the word ‘I’ in this verse.  It is a very strategic choice of words.  Throughout his epistle, he has been making a subtle effort to avoid offending or alienating his Jewish readers. 

Notice how he frames his argument:  In verse one, he refers to “you who know the law’.  His readers know this includes all Jews and therefore it includes them.  In verse four, he includes himself in their number by saying ‘we’.  But now, when he discusses the power of sin and the inability of the law to control it, he leaves them out altogether and refers only to himself (‘I’).  The context clearly indicates he still means all the Jews, but by using himself as the example, he makes his statements less abrasive and offensive to rest of the Jews.

His first point is that the law essentially defines sin.  Because of our fallen natures, we had no clear, definitive basis within ourselves which we could use to identify sin.  In other words, we had no way to correctly understand what was sin and what was not.    

But thankfully, when God gave the Law, we had a precise, unchanging standard which we could compare our lives to.  There was no longer a need to guess or speculate about sin because the law defined right and wrong for us.  Therefore, we can conclude that the law is NOT sinful. 

For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet’:  Paul uses the sin of covetousness as an example to help his readers understand his point. 

Covetousness is a strong or inordinate desire to obtain, possess or indulge in something, especially something forbidden.  As such, covetousness can function as an example of all sin. 

Paul explains to his readers that before the law, he could have experienced covetousness for something (like money or power or someone else’s wife), but he would not have had any way to know that his desire was evil.  However, once the law was revealed, it became clear that coveting was a sin:

Exodus 20:17 - You shall not covet your neighbor's house, you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any thing that is your neighbor's.

So we see that the law gives us a full, distinct, clear knowledge of what sin actually is.  Paul uses this truth as a springboard for another logical conclusion: That which defines sin cannot be the cause of sin.  Since the law identifies sin in the conscience of the sinner, it cannot be sin nor can it be the cause of sin.  

Now let’s look at an example of this new conclusion (i.e., that which defines sin cannot be the cause of it).  I have a big picture window in my living room.  First thing in the morning, I look out the window while drinking my coffee.  I can clearly see the trees, flowers, birds, cars and the occasional squirrel.  The view is crystal clear.  It seems like I am practically outside! 

But about 20 minutes later, when the sun fully comes up and hits the window I can see just how disgustingly dirty it really is!  The whole window is covered with a layer of dirt.  There are white spots caused by the rain.  There is a spiderweb in the corner with a dead fly in it, and there is a smear of bird saliva and some small feathers in the middle of the window where a bird flew into it.  (I know what you’re thinking, but before you judge me, take a look at your own windows in the direct sunlight!)

All joking aside, think about this truth:  The dirty film, the water spots, the spiderweb and the bird smear were not caused by the sunshine - they were on the window the entire time.  I just couldn’t see them until the sun fully illuminated them.

In the same way, the law does not cause us to sin; it simply illuminates the sin that is already within our lives. 

Romans 7:8 – But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.  For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  In this verse, the apostle shows the effect of the law on the minds of people. 

When the law defines sin, it also automatically forbids us to indulge in it.  The problem is that there is a natural tendency found in mankind which makes us desire to do what we know is forbidden.  In fact, when we discover something is ‘off limits’ to us, we desire to do it (or have it) even more.  Thus, we might say that when the law is present, our desire to sin is awakened.  Conversely, when the law is absent, sin is dormant or dead.

DIGGING DEEPER:  But sin taking occasion by the commandment:  Sin is the corruption of our nature; it includes any thought, inclination, word or action that is contrary to the known law of God.

In this verse, Paul personifies sin – he describes it as a person who ‘takes occasion’ or seizes an opportunity that is presented to it.  In this case, the opportunity comes when an individual becomes aware of the law (commandment). 

Worked in me:   When we become aware of the law, it is an opportunity for sin to operate in our hearts/minds (work in us) in the most powerful and efficient manner possible. 

Here’s how it works:  Suppose you see a million-dollar diamond watch in a jewelry store window.  You like the watch and you wouldn’t mind having it, but you walk away without buying it.  By that evening, you forget about it altogether. 

But the next day, you discover that your next-door neighbor bought it.  Now that your neighbor has the watch, you’re mad that you didn’t buy it.  Because you can’t have it, you want it more than ever.  At this point, you experience an urgent, compelling, uncontrollable lust to have the watch.  In fact, you are ready to do anything to get it.

In the absence of the law, your thoughts and desires are considered normal and acceptable.  However, when you become aware of the law which stipulates ‘you shall not covet’, now things have changed.  Now your thoughts, intentions and actions in regard to the watch are not normal/acceptable, they are sin. 

So we see that two things are at work here – the perverseness of human nature, which desires what it cannot have (aka sin) and the illumination of the law which now defines your thoughts and actions as sin.  Again, let me stress that the law was not the cause of the sin, it simply defined the sin.  Sin originates in the fallen nature of man.

For without the law sin was dead:  Now we understand what Paul is saying - without knowledge of the law sin is undefined and therefore, in a sense, it is dead.  Sin can only come alive when the law is there to define it.  Otherwise, it remains hidden in our corrupt nature.    

At this point, we should backtrack for a minute.  Just to be clear, when Paul says sin was dead without the law, he does not mean that sin did not exist prior to the law.  That is obviously not the case - people sinned and death reigned from Adam until the law was given on Mount Sinai.    

Rather, he is speaking on an individual or personal level.  He is saying that when he was personally unaware of the spiritual nature of the law (before Holy Spirit touched his heart in power and awakened his conscience to sin), it was in a sense dead because it did not affect him.  Before Holy Spirit caused the law to illuminate his understanding, he believed that he was free of sin and perfectly righteous. 

Our sinful natures lie dormant in our dark hearts.  We might describe them as ‘playing possum’ – they appear to be as good as dead, but when the law brings illumination/light into our lives, our sinful desires are awakened.

Romans 7:9 – I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul tells us that when he was a Pharisee (when he trusted in the law for justification), he lived according to the letter of the law - he did his best to outwardly observe all its commands.  He did not experience any guilt; he believed he was accepted in the sight of God and that he was spiritually alive. 

But when he came to a spiritual understanding of the law, that is, when Holy Spirit showed him that the law condemned not just his actions, but the thoughts, intents and motivations of his heart, everything changed.  At that point, he experienced guilt and conviction.  His conscience told him that even the hidden inward lusts/desires of his heart were sin.  Now he found himself guilty in the sight of God and spiritually dead.

DIGGING DEEPER:  I was once alive apart from the law:  Paul speaks of his own personal experience, but his situation mirrors that of all unsaved people who are depending on their own righteousness to justify them in God’s sight.  He uses himself as an example to avoid offending the Jews.

Naturally speaking, Paul was never apart from the law because he grew up in a devout Jewish household.  The law was an integral part of their everyday lives. 

Like all those under the law, he focused his attention on external conformity to its commands – being circumcised, performing the prescribed sacrifices, participating in feasts and holy days, reading the law, etc.  He did not feel the spiritual pull of the law upon his inward heart and mind.  Despite all his efforts, he was essentially a self-confident sinner.

Paul does not give us the exact details of his own case in his letter to the Romans, but we can see a partial picture in scripture.  In Acts 8-9, we find Paul acting in a state of confident self-righteousness in the law.  He was clearly impetuous, angry and unrestrained.  He did everything in his power to persecute any Jew who converted to Christianity:

Acts 8:3 – But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.   

He didn’t mind a little murder either – we know he fully approved of the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1). 

At that time, he had a certain amount of spiritual peace, i.e., he believed he was accepted in God’s sight.  He was not experiencing any guilt or conviction of sin.  Although he did not know it, he was full of vain hope, false satisfaction and presumptuous confidence.

But when the commandment came:  But all that false confidence vanished when Holy Spirit quickened his heart and mind.  When the Spirit touched Paul during and after his experience on the road to Damascus and caused him to spiritually understand the meaning of the law (that it condemned all sinful lusts, affections and inclinations), he became aware of his own sin and his inadequacy to remove it.

1 Timothy 1:15 - This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I [Paul] am chief.

Sin came alive and I died:  The phrase ‘came alive’ refers to resurrection. In other words, Paul says that sin was lurking in his heart from birth, but it was dormant because he did not understand the true meaning of the law.  He did not feel or recognize his sin.

But when Holy Spirit gave him a true understanding of the spiritual meaning of the law (when the command came), sin was instantly resurrected/made alive.  Like every sinner, Paul was placed under the guilt and misery of sin.  All of his carnal joy, self-confidence, pride, satisfaction and peace suddenly died.  Paul realized his true spiritual state of death.  (As with all sinners, this is a good thing because it causes us to seek life through the atonement of Jesus Christ.)  

Romans 7:10 – The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  The law held the promise of life because it could justify anyone who fully and perfectly kept it.  However, for anyone who did not keep the whole law perfectly, it was a source of condemnation and eternal death.

The law brought a duty to obey it and outlined the punishment for failure, but it did not provide any strength or assistance to resist sin or deny evil propensities.  Therefore, the promise of life that it held proved to be death in the end.

DIGGING DEEPER:  The very commandment that promised life:  As we noted in our prior studies, the law was capable of giving life to everyone who could perfectly keep it. 

Leviticus 18:5 – You shall therefore keep my statures and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

The problem is that no one could do that.

Proved to be death to me:  Because no one could perfectly keep the law, the law did not bring us life.  It put us under the sentence of eternal death. Nevertheless, the fault is not with the divine commands of God, but with the sinfulness of our own natures.  

Romans 7:11 – For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Sin plays the role of a tempter.  It promises us everything we desire, but when we act upon it, the law is triggered - it judges us, condemns us as sinners, and sentences us to eternal death.  In this way, sin deceives us and brings us death.   

DIGGING DEEPER:  For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me:  This verse is essentially a repeat of verse 8.  Sin draws us into disobedience by promising us gratification, control, independence and impunity (much like it did to Eve), but all of its promises are lies which seduce us from the path of righteousness. 

And through it killed me:  Once we sin, the law is automatically activated.  It judges and condemns us.  At that point, we are wretched and miserable, with no way of escape from the penalty of our sin – death.  Thus, it was sin that brought us death, not the law. 

As Paul is about to tell us, the law itself is holy and good.  It couldn’t be anything else because it is divine, coming from the hand of God himself.  Sin, on the other hand, is the perpetrator of death.  The law was simply the passive instrument used by sin to bring destruction on mankind. 

But there is also good news.  When sin trapped us by the law, it was fully exposed.  It could no longer hide in the shadows.  Mankind was able to see what a heinous, vicious, evil entity sin truly is.  Once mankind was aware of its presence, we sought a way of escape, which was provided to us by God through the atonement of Jesus and the revelation of Holy Spirit.

Romans 7:12 – So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul concludes that God’s laws are holy, righteous and good.  The law is NOT the source of our sin, as the Jews supposed. 

DIGGING DEEPER: So the law is holy:  In this instance, ‘so’ is a word that introduces a conclusion for the last five verses (7-11).  

The conclusion is this - God’s commands are holy:

• They identify the paths of righteousness. 
• They instruct us how to live holy lives that are pleasing to God.   
• They teach us to imitate God’s purity, submit to his providence and live in obedience to him. 
• The law is holy because God is its author and nothing unholy can ever come from him. 

The commandment is holy:   The law resembles God; it is a picture of his holy nature and a declaration of his holy will.  It lays out the requirements of a holy heart and life.  It teaches us our duty to God - to live holy, righteous, self-controlled and godly lives which are pleasing in his sight.  Clearly, his commands are holy and they should be honored and revered.

And righteous:  God’s commands are righteous and just.  They treat each person impartially, demanding perfect obedience to all God’s laws and handing down honest and equitable judgement to all.  His righteous and just commands also define our duty to others:     

Mark 12:21 – The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.

The bottom line is that because God’s commands are righteous and just, they cannot be the source of anything wrong or deceptive.

And good:  God’s laws are pure and free of anything that causes harm.  They are blameless and do not cause us to sin.

God’s law is good because God is good and nothing evil can come from him.  His law is good because it works good in those who adhere to it, leading them to both earthly and eternal good.  

Romans 7:13 – Did that which is good, then, bring death to me?  By no means!  It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

GENERAL SUMMARY:  Paul has clearly proven that the law is good.  But a question still remained in the minds of his Jewish readers – how could it be that a good gift from God (the law) brings about death?

Paul answers this question by showing that it was not the law which caused death, but sin.  The law reveals sin for what is really is – vile, heinous and evil.  It is absolutely necessary for the atrocity of sin to be revealed, otherwise it would not appear as sin.

DIGGING DEEPER:  Did that which was good bring death to me:  Paul now asks a question that would surely spring into the minds of his Jewish readers.  If the law is indeed good, did it bring death to me?  Can that which is good be deadly?  Is that even possible?

By no means:  Paul’s answer is a resounding ‘NO!’.  He then goes on to reiterate once again that the cause of death is not the law, but sin which springs from our own depraved natures.   

It was sin, producing death in me through what is good:  Sin is sneaky.  It secretly flowed through the conduit of what is good (the law) in order to bring us death.  But once we gained a true understanding of the law through Holy Spirit, sin could no longer remain hidden.  It could no longer ‘play dead’.  It was forced to reveal its true colors and ultimate goal – to bind us under the penalty of eternal death and separate us from God.  

In order that sin might be shown to be sin:   Paul has already shown that the purpose of the law was to reveal God’s commands and ways so we could walk in obedience to him.  Now he reveals yet another purpose found in the law – to reveal the true evil nature of sin.   

When people are sinners, they are ignorant of the sin within their lives and the fatal penalty which they will derive from it.  In order for them to desire and seek repentance, they must fully understand the nature, scope and outcome of sin.  

This is done by Holy Spirit when he reveals the exceedingly hateful, destructive and malignant evil of sin to the conscience of the sinner.  Once that is done, the sinner experiences conviction and seeks the mercy of God.

And through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure:  Thus, we find that the relationship between sin and the law is this: 

• The law of God is holy, righteous, good and perfect. 
• Sin hides in our hearts/minds waiting for an opportunity to incite us to break God’s law.
• Sin goads us into breaking the law of God by promising us everything we desire.  But the moment we reach out and take what is offered, the law is activated and we are found guilty of transgression.  As a guilty defendant, we are under a sentence of spiritual death.
• While the law condemns us for our sin, it simultaneously does something beneficial – it reveals the true scope and intent of sin.  It fully illuminates sin and shows it for what is really is – exceedingly pernicious, foul, poisonous, despicable and utterly evil.
• A true knowledge of sin brings Holy Spirit conviction, which points us to Christ for deliverance.    

Based on the facts presented, we can be certain that the cause of spiritual death is not the law, but our own actions.  We are influenced by sin, which has one single overriding goal – to bring about the death and destruction of every human being by separating them from God, the giver of life. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Today’s post gives us an understanding of the basic principles of sin: 

First, it deceives us.  Sin always entices us with what we desire or what we hope for, but it never presents a full picture.  It shows us only good and desirable outcomes; it never reveals the evil consequences that we will experience here on earth. 

For example, sin may tempt you to have an affair.  Working through your mind and imagination, sin will only show you how desirable and exciting that will be.  It tells you that you deserve to have the pleasure you crave.  It assures you no one will find out, which makes your secret pleasure all the more enticing.   

Once sin convinces you to take its bait, it springs the trap of death.    

Only then do you discover the true consequences/destruction of sin - the death of your own marriage, the breakup of your family, the ruin of your finances, the embarrassment you will suffer, the loss of your ministry, the smear of your good name, or even the disease you may contract.    

Here is a fact:  Sin seeks only our destruction, never our good.  All of its promises are false.  Sin is evil and so by default it can only steal, kill and destroy, bringing debasement, humiliation and spiritual death.

So let me offer you this encouragement – DO NOT PLAY WITH SIN.  You cannot control it.  It is as dangerous as a viper hidden in a box of candy.  If you dare to put your hand in the box, you will be bitten!    

Let me offer you some relief:

You have, no doubt, been caught in the trap of sin.  I know this because I have too.  In fact, Paul tells us that ALL have sinned (Romans 6:23). 

If you find yourself in the midst of a terrible situation where you are dealing with the destructive consequences of sin in your life, let me offer you some relief – all is not lost; there is still hope:

• God is still with you. 
• When you repent, his forgiveness is guaranteed (I John 1:9). 
• God specializes in restoration. 
• What can’t be restored can still be used for his glory.   

After a major catastrophic sin, restoring your relationship with God is the most important thing.  Once that is done, you can seek him for some measure of restoration.  That process may be a long and painful one, but he will walk through it with you.  Even if restoration doesn’t look like you hoped it would, your testimony can still bring him glory and be useful in his kingdom.   

Let me offer you some strength:

In today’s post, we noted that sin is vile, heinous and evil.  It brings destruction into our lives.  The best defense we have is to shut the door before it enters!

Many Christians today are weak and undisciplined.  They do not regularly read the word, spend time in prayer or practice fasting.  But perhaps worst of all, they do not strive to control the throughs of their minds. 

Your mind is like a farmer’s field.  Whatever you plant there will grow and produce fruit.  Satan continuously bombards us with opportunities to sin.  If we let those pictures, thoughts, desires, ideas or feelings stay in the field of our minds, destructive crops of sin will grow.  Eventually, they will bear fruits of destruction and death.

James 1:15 - Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death.

So be a disciplined Christian - it’s one of your best defenses against sin!  When Satan throws the seeds of sin into your mind, weed them out immediately.  You can do this by changing your thought patterns, by reminding yourself of what the scriptures say, or by engaging in praise and worship.