Romans 8:1-17
Romans 8:1-17
Background
Over the last few weeks in Romans 6-7:6, Paul’s been discussing our relationship between the Law / flesh and the Spirit / faith. In a nutshell, we had an old nature under the law, enslaved to sin that’s been put to death and replaced by a new life under grace, enslaved to the Spirit who’s at work in us to bear good fruit. There’s a clean break and a call to walk differently in light of Christ’s death and resurrection for us.
In the rest of Romans 7-8, Paul’s gonna take the opportunity to describe from a personal angle what striving in our own strength looks like, compared to living the life we now have empowered by the Spirit, under grace, and alive to God. He tees this up in Romans 7:5-6:
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions aroused through the law were working in us to bear fruit for death. But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.
God Did What the Law Couldn’t
Paul ended Romans 7 in a bit of despair over trying to live in the strength of his own flesh, Now, in Romans 8, he releases himself from the condemnation of the law and finds freedom, power, and life in the work of Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” There are few more powerful words in all of Scripture!
What in your life prompts you to feel condemnation? Why does that particular sin, failure, etc. seem to be more powerful than God’s pardon of your sin? What makes it hard to believe?
What does Paul mean when he says the law “was weakened by the flesh?” What couldn’t it do?
Likewise, how did God - through Jesus! - do precisely what the law couldn’t do? How is that our grounds for knowing there really isn’t any condemnation for us?
What’s the difference between the Spirit’s conviction over sin versus the law’s condemnation because of sin? How do you know the difference between the two in your own life?
From One Law to the Next
Paul says that Christians are now out from under the law of sin and death because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free. He then goes on to contrast life in the Spirit with life in the flesh.
Remember, the old law outlined for the Jewish people how to live, what to do, and all the ways they were to be set apart from the world. With that in mind (and having read Romans 8:1-17), what do you think this new law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus really is? How is it different from the old law? Consider…
…what it calls us to set our minds on. What’s it mean to set your minds on “things of the Spirit” instead of “things of the flesh?”
…our ability to make God happy. How do we move from not being able to please God to being able to please him? By what power or ability do we live?
…our obligation to live a certain way. Not only are we able to please God by the Spirit, but we no longer have to live according to the flesh. What does that kind of freedom mean for your life?
Reflect: While all three of these things are true for those of us in Christ, which one is the most surprising / challenging / life-giving one to you? Why? What does that truth look like practically if / when you live it out in your life?
The Significance of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the life of the believer. Throughout this whole section, it’s the presence and power of the Spirit that makes all the difference. United to Christ’s death, our bodies are dead to sin at best. But indwelt by the Spirit who rose Christ from the dead, we now live!
How mindful are you of the Holy Spirit in your day-to-day life? What does it look like when he goes to work in you and through you? What do you think it should look like?
What does Paul say about the Spirit’s role? Consider…
…that the Spirit is someone who receive. What does that mean?
…that we can put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. How can the Spirit help us overcome your sin? How are you led by the Spirit?
…that receiving the Spirit is a sign of adoption. How does the Holy Spirit make us adopted children of the Father? How does he testify in your life you are children and heirs with Jesus?
Paul is very clear that fear and suffering are things we’ll be confronted by throughout the course of our life. Hard circumstances aren’t signs that the Spirit’s not at work. That said, how does the Spirit carry us through without having to fear, with the hope of glory, and the ability to please God no matter what?
Very practically, are there hard circumstances in your life in which it feels impossible to be faithful, bear fruit, or suffer well?
How do you need the Holy Spirit’s supernatural help? What promises do you have from this passage alone that give you confidence in the Spirit? What would He want you to set your mind on, do, and believe?