January 8 – Iron Men

Romans 8 

This is Tom Noyes (from our new group email group@ironmenrr.com).We have a new website with our schedule and messages like this www.ironmenrr.com. Your feedback is welcome.

This Thursday, January 8th, 7:30 we will be meeting IN THE WILDCAT. Note the room we usually have is not available. To make this time useful

• See Short Note on Context
• Read Romans 8 (see link and listed below)
• Look through the discussion questions (at end of this note)

Context

This is my all time favorite chapter in all of the epistles. 

Many scholars have spent years here, it is theologically rich and contains some of the most powerful statements of assurance for those that are in Christ. It starts with one of the most powerful truths we can hold onto: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  I picture myself as a condemned man on death row, and finding out that I’m no longer condemned, I’m no longer under judgement, nor are we on a “probation” with God. My debt is paid in full! My record has been cleaned!, 

This truth was a game-changer for Martin Luther. He wrestled with guilt and tried everything to earn God’s favor until he realized that righteousness comes by faith, not by works. That’s what Romans 8 is all about: freedom from guilt and the law, and the peace that comes from knowing Jesus did it all. Reading Romans 8 fills my heart with joy, and love.. It gives me desire to share this good news with others, and talk about this unbelievable gift. 

John Calvin discussed at length how the Holy Spirit is the one who assures us that we’re truly God’s children. Romans 8 says the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we belong to God. That means our relationship with God isn’t based on how I feel day-to-day or how well I perform. It’s rooted in what Christ has done and what the Spirit confirms. This chapter covers the how we move from this new gift of salvation to our sanctification; how the Spirit helps us kill sin, gives us hope in suffering, and reminds us that God is working all things together for good, even when life feels messy or hard.

The end of the chapter just takes it to another level. It says that nothing—literally nothing—can separate us from the love of God in Christ. Not our failures, not our pain, not even death. This assurance squashes any doubt on whether God is still with you or for you, Romans 8 says you don’t need to wonder. We are secure, not because we’ve got it all together, but because Jesus does. And that’s what makes this chapter such a source of hope and joy.

Romans 8 

Life Through the Spirit

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Discussion Questions

1. What has God put on your heart to share about the impact of Romans 8 in your life?
2. Romans 8:1 says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What does that mean to you personally? Have you ever felt guilt, shame or condemnation? How does that truth affect the way you view yourself and your past?
   
3. Paul talks about living by the Spirit versus living by the flesh (Romans 8:5–8). In your everyday life, what does it look like to set your mind on the things of the Spirit? Where do you feel the tension between the two?
   
4. Romans 8:15 says we’ve received “the Spirit of adoption” and cry out, “Abba, Father.” How does knowing that God is your Father shape the way you relate to Him? Is that something you struggle to believe or accept?
   
5. In verse 18, Paul says the sufferings of this present time aren’t worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed. How do you personally process suffering or hard seasons with that eternal perspective in mind?
   
6. Romans 8:28 is a well-known verse: “God works all things together for good…” Have you ever experienced a time when God brought good out of a difficult situation in your life? How did that strengthen your faith?
   
7. Paul says in verse 31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Do you believe God is for you? What’s one area of your life where you need to be reminded of that truth right now?
   
8. Verse 37 calls us “more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” What do you think it means to be more than a conqueror? How do you live that out in the face of temptation, fear, or failure?
   
9. Romans 8 ends with a powerful reminder that nothing can separate us from God’s love (vv. 38–39). What lies or doubts tend to challenge that truth in your heart? How can you hold fast to this promise this week?