Pastor Tom on Romans 6,7 & 8

Romans 6,7&8

Romans 6:1 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin (so) that grace may abound?" In chapter six, the Apostle Paul begins a new subject, that of sanctification. Sanctification is "the act of God by which He separates us from sin and its power to control us". God's sanctification is not a one-time "act", but is an ongoing process in our lives. Back in chapter 5:20, Paul said that "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more". What that means is that God has more grace than we have the capacity to sin. Praise God for His wonderful grace! God's grace will always cover and forgive our sin, because Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior died for our sin. But that does not mean that we should continue in sin, does it? I for one do not want to continue sinning, I'm sure you do not want to continue sinning either. So, the answer to the Apostle Paul's question "shall we continue to sin so that grace may abound" is a great big "NO". The Apostle Paul is going to spend the next three chapters (6-8) telling us how not to sin. None of us will become sinless in this life, but we can sin-less for sure. Understanding Romans chapters 6-8 will help us sin-less and become more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Sign me up. (also read Titus 2:11-13)

Romans 6:2 "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" When the Apostle Paul says "Certainly not" he is answering the question he asked in verse one: "Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound" absolutely not, and then Paul tells us why in the rest of verse two "How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?". Meaning that now that we are believers in Jesus Christ, and are "in Christ" we do not have to continue living in sin, in fact to do so would not be natural for us. Let that soak in for a minute. The rest of chapter six is an elaboration and explanation of verse two. For right now let's just focus on the fact that we do not have to continue to live in sin. We are now free not to sin, because of Jesus' death on the cross. May God grant us the understanding as well as the desire to no longer let sin reign in our lives. We have in fact died to sins control over us. Then why do we keep sinning? That's what Paul will explain in the rest of chapter six. But, for right now let's thank God for the freedom from sins control over us.

Romans 6:2 I want us to take another look at something the Apostle Paul said in Romans chapter six, verse two: "How shall we who DIED to sin live any longer in it?" In order to fully understand Romans chapters six through eight, we need to understand what it means, that "we DIED to sin". Notice carefully that it does not say that sin DIED, sin is still very much alive, it says that "we DIED to sin". By "sin" Paul is talking about the old sinful nature that every one of us is born with. Also notice that it is past tense, "we DIED to sin", it is something that has already happened, it is a fact. We DIED to sin when we received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Death and dying is mentioned thirteen times in the first eleven verses of chapter six. Death means "separation". When a person dies, their body is separated from their soul and spirit. When we believe in and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are separated from our old sin nature, for the first time in our lives. What that means is that our old sin nature no longer has the power to control our lives, we no longer have to obey its demands. We can now say NO! to it. It is clear that we still have a sin nature, but we no longer have to obey it, because we DIED to it. Please also read Galatians 5:24, Colossians 3:3 and First Peter 2:24. Praise God, we are "DEAD" to sin and its ability to control us. Please hang in there, we will get this.

Romans 6:3 "Or do you not KNOW that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?". The apostle Paul is not talking here about water baptism, but about the Holy Spirit baptizing us into Christ at the moment of our salvation (First Corinthians 12:13). The first key to having victory over sin, is to KNOW that when we who are believers were baptized into Christ, (which happens at the moment of salvation), we were also baptized into Christ's death. What that means is that, Just as Jesus Christ actually "died" on the cross, and His body was separated from his soul and spirit upon death, so too when we were baptized into Christ Jesus (at the moment of our salvation) we died to our old sin nature. We were separated from our old sin nature when we were born again and saved. Our old sin nature has been severed from us, so that we are no longer under it's control. Water baptism is a demonstration of the fact, that we died to sin, and are now free to live for Jesus Christ. Praise God! So, the first key to having victory over our old sin nature is to KNOW that we are dead to it, separated from it, and that the old sin nature no longer has the power to control us. (Also read Romans 6:6 and 6:9 where Paul uses the word KNOW again).

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, (SO) that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life". Whenever we see the word "therefore" we always ask the question, what is the "therefore" there for. The word "therefore" is pointing us back to what was said in verse three. In verse three, the Apostle Paul asked us the question: "Or do you not KNOW that as many of us as were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death? At the moment of our salvation the Holy Spirit placed us "in Christ", and just as Jesus Christ died a physical death, His body was separated from His spirit and soul, so too we were separated from our old sinful nature. But that's not all that happened, at the moment of our salvation, God also gave us His Spirit to dwell in us. We died to the old sinful nature (Romans 6:2) and at the same time the Holy Spirit of God took up residence in us (Romans 8:9-11). When we are saved, we share in Christ's death and are separated from our old sinful nature, we also share in His resurrection, and His divine life is imparted to us, actually living in us. Because we have His divine life living in us, we can now walk in "newness of life", a life no longer controlled by our old sinful nature but by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Also notice carefully the words "we were" which is past tense, meaning it has already taken place. We now walk in step with the Holy Spirit in us. Praise God.

Romans 6:5 "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection". We "believers" have been united together with Jesus Christ in his death and in His Resurrection. The word "if" in this verse can be translated "since", since we have been united together in the likeness of His death. Also notice the words "we have been" speaking of something that has already happened (a fact). What the Apostle Paul is saying is, that just as "death" is the separation of the body from the soul and spirit, we who are "in Christ" were separated from our old sinful nature. And Just as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead after His death, we too have been raised (not literally from the dead) but out of living after our old sinful nature in order to live a new life ("in newness of life" from verse 4). No longer living after our old sinful nature, but after our new nature, that is the Spirit of God in us. "Newness of life" here refers to a new source of ethical and spiritual energy by which we are enabled to walk with and please God. Thank God we no longer have to obey our old sinful nature.

Romans 6:6 "KNOWING this, that our old man was crucified with Him, (so) that the body of sin might be done away with, (so) that we should no longer be slaves of sin". The Bible teaches that we who believe in and have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are now "in Christ" (Romans 8:1, First Corinthians 1:30). As believers we are now, not only identified with Jesus Christ, but being "in Christ" we are also identified with Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. We need to "KNOW" this because there are corresponding spiritual truths that go along with each of those (His death, His burial, and His resurrection). Colossians 3:3 says "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God". When Jesus Christ died on the cross, we who are "in Christ" were crucified with Him. What that means is that our "old man" (the person we used to be, who lived after our old sinful nature) has been done away with, we are no longer that same person, that person was crucified and died with Christ, "so that we should no longer be slaves to sin" (our old sinful natures). Our "old man" has been "done away with" put out of business, rendered inoperative, meaning that our "old man" can no longer control us. That is great news, it is something that we absolutely need to "KNOW" so that we can then act on it (Romans 6:3, and 6:6).

Romans 6:7 "For he who has died has been freed from sin". We believers absolutely need to KNOW that we are dead to the old sin nature. We believers absolutely need to KNOW that our old sin nature no longer has the power to control our lives like it did before we got saved. The Apostle Paul has been hammering this point home in the first seven verses of Romans chapter six. In verse 2 Paul said: "we who died to sin", in verse 3, Paul said we: "were baptized into His death", in verse 4, Paul said: "we were buried with Him through baptism into death", in verse 5, Paul said: "we have been united together in the likeness of His death", in verse 6, Paul said that: "our old man was crucified with Him". In fact the Apostle Paul uses the words, (died, dead and death) thirty-five times in Romans chapters 6-8 in order to convince us of that fact. We ("died to sin" verse 2), we are ("no longer the slaves of sin" verse 6), and now Paul says, we are ("freed from sin" in verse 7). When Paul says: "he who has died has been freed from sin" the verb "has been" is in the perfect tense, meaning that it has already happened and is now a permanent condition. Because we are now dead to sin, it is impossible for us who have been saved to sustain the same relationship to our old sin nature that we had before we got saved. We who are saved can never go back to the way it was before we got saved, Praise God.

Romans 6:8 "Now if (Lit: "since") we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him". When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we died to our old sin nature, which means that our old sin nature no longer has the power to control us, but that's only one side of the equation, the negative side. The positive side is that at the same time we received Jesus Christ, God gave us His Holy Spirit, who now dwells inside us, a new old nature. God has made us partakers of his divine nature which compels us to hate sin and love holiness. We now order our lives after our new nature and not after our old sin nature. When we as believers do sin, the Holy Spirit in us is grieved, and that makes us very uncomfortable spiritually, convicted. What the Apostle Paul is saying here in verse 8 is that, Just like we died with Christ in respect to our old sin nature, we also believe that we shall now live in respect to our new nature. It is a matter of fact that we who are born again, will live in respect to our new nature. Doing right is now the rule of our lives, and sinning is now the exception to the rule. Praise God. And when we do sin, not only is there His forgiveness (First John 1:9), there is now "no condemnation" Romans 8:1. Praise God.

Romans 6:9 "KNOWING that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him". When Jesus Christ died on the cross in our stead and for our sins, He died once and for all. Death no longer has dominion over Him, Jesus Christ cannot and will not ever die again, and because we believers derive our spiritual life from Jesus Christ, our connection to His life is forever, it will never end. We believers will be sustained in spiritual life for time and eternity because our life is in His (Romans 6:8 and Colossians 3:3). We need to KNOW that we have been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3). We need to KNOW that we were baptized into His death (Romans 6:3-4). We need to KNOW that we were raised with Christ and can now walk in newness of life, His life (Romans 6:4). We need to KNOW that we are no longer slaves to our old sin nature (Romans 6:6). And we need to KNOW that our spiritual life and connection to Jesus Christ will never ever end. Praise God.

Romans 6:10 "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God". When the Apostle Paul says that "He (Jesus) died to sin once for all", he is not talking about the sins we commit or have committed, he is talking about the relationship that we believers have to our old sinful nature. Our Lord's death not only paid the penalty of human sin (the sins we commit or have committed), but it also broke the power of our old sinful nature over us. I.E. Jesus died for our sins (for our justification) our standing before God), and He also died unto sin (for our sanctification (our holiness before God). Because of this we can now live to God and no longer have to live after our old sinful nature. We are now free to live for God, in fact we are actually new creations in Christ (Second Corinthians 5:17). We are no longer who we used to be, Praise God.

Romans 6:11 "Likewise you also, RECKON yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord". It is not enough that we KNOW the truth of the word of God, we also need to RECKON the word of God to be true for us, and then act on it. In Romans chapter 6:1-10 we learned some truths about our relationship to and identification with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection. We need to KNOW that we have been baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3). We need to KNOW that we were baptized into His death (Romans 6:3-4). We need to KNOW that we were raised with Christ and can now walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). We need to KNOW that we are no longer slaves to our old sin nature (Romans 6:6). And we need to KNOW that our spiritual life and connection to Jesus Christ will never ever end. We absolutely need to KNOW those truths, and KNOWING those truths is a matter of the mind. But we also need to RECKON (believe) those truths to be true for us, we need to believe these truths in our hearts in order to be able to act on them. RECKONING these truths to be true for us is a matter of the heart. The truth of God's word is received in our minds, but it needs to move down into our hearts if it is to be played out in action. To RECKON is a mathematical term meaning to count it to be true, actually count it to be true for us. RECKONING is faith in God's truth which results in action. When we RECKON the truths in verses 1-10 to be true for ourselves, it's like endorsing a check that has been written to us. The money is there, but we cannot access it and enjoy its benefits until we endorse and cash the check. I highly recommend reading Romans 6:1-11 over and over again. God has written the check, let's endorse it and enjoy its benefits, Amen?

Romans 6:12 "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts". Whenever we see the word "therefore" in a verse of scripture, we should always ask ourselves what the "therefore" is therefore? In this case it is pointing back to the first eleven verses of chapter 6. In the first eleven verses there are two main facts which together give us believers both the desire and the power to say no! to our old sinful nature, with its sinful desires. Our old sin nature was rendered powerless against us, the moment we received God's salvation, and we also were given God's Holy Spirit. The phrase "do not let sin reign in your mortal body" is a present tense command. Literally, we need to quit letting our old sin nature have its way in our lives. We absolutely do not need to obey the sinful impulses of our old sinful nature. Upon our salvation God dethroned our old sinful nature, and because He has, we should no longer let our old sinful nature have its way, and rule as king. We can either trust the fact that we have died to our old sinful nature and now have God's divine nature imparted to us, or we can try not to sin in our own strength. The one who trusts God and His word (Verses 1-11) lives a victorious Christian life, the one who trusts in his own strength lives a mediocre Christian life. Who are you going to trust, God and His word or yourself and your own strength?

Romans 6:13 "And do not PRESENT (yield) your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but PRESENT (yield) yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God". Based on what we KNOW in our minds (Romans 6:6) and having RECKONED it to be true in our hearts (Romans 6:11), we now need put that truth into action. it now becomes a matter of our will. Because we are "dead to sin", we now have the ability to not let the old sin nature rule over us, it's been settled at the cross. We do not have to let sin reign in our mortal bodies, so that we should obey it in its lusts (Romans 6:12). The way we do that is by not yielding (PRESENTING) our members (the fleshly parts of our bodies, our eyes, our ears, our mouths, our hands and feet) as tools of unrighteousness to our old sinful nature. The word PRESENT also translated as YIELD means to place at one's disposal for their use. Armed with what we KNOW and have RECKONED to be true, we need to surrender ourselves and our members to God. We now dedicate ourselves and our body parts to do what is right and no longer to what is wrong. Instead of YIELDING to the desires of the old sinful nature, we now YIELD to the new nature in us, the Holy Spirit in us. For example, instead of lying, tell the truth, instead of cheating, be honest, etc. With God's help, Let’s stop putting our members at the disposal of our old sinful nature.

Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace". In Romans chapter six, verses one through thirteen, the Apostle Paul has been showing and telling us that once we are saved our old sin nature no longer has dominion over us, and we no longer have to obey it in its lusts. In verse fourteen, Paul gives us the reason, because we "are no longer under the law, but under grace". What that means is that we are no longer "under the law" as far as its penalty against us, and are now living "under" God's grace. We are no longer trying to please God by the keeping of rules and regulations, do's and don'ts, because we are pleasing God by grace. God is pleased to give us what we do not deserve, His unmerited favor. Our relationship to God is no longer based upon our performance, but upon His grace. His grace gives us what we do not deserve even when we blow it. Now that we are saved, we are now free from the law, and free not to sin. Thank God for his wonderful grace.

Romans 6:15 “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? certainly not!". In Romans chapter 6:1 the question was asked: "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?". The Apostle Paul answered that question in verses 2-14, by showing us that it is impossible for those who have been saved to maintain the same relationship they had to their old sinful nature that they had before they were saved. The reason is that we died to our old sin nature, and it no longer has the power to control us, and we now have God's divine nature in us helping us to say no to our old sinful nature. In Romans chapter 6:15 another question is asked "Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?". The Apostle Paul says, "certainly not" and he will answer that question in verses 16-23. Stay tuned.

Romans 6:16 "Do you not know that to whom you present (yield) yourselves slaves to OBEY, you are that one's slave whom you OBEY, whether of sin to death, or of OBEDIENCE to righteousness?". When we choose to yield to our old sin nature we become slaves to our old sin nature, and the end is death. But when we choose to yield to God, the new nature in us, we become servants of Righteousness, which leads to life. A good example is a stray dog. If we feed a stay dog who comes to our door, that dog is going to come back for more. But if we do not feed that stray dog, that stray dog will not come back. So we start by KNOWING what the Bible teaches concerning our old sin nature, that we are dead to it, (that's happens in our minds (verse 6). We then RECKON that to be true (that happens in our hearts (verse 11). We then PRESENT (yield) our members (our minds, our eyes, our ears, our hands, our feet, our mouths) as members of righteousness, not unrighteousness (which is a matter of our wills (verse 13). And then we choose to OBEY God rather than our old sinful natures, because OBEYING our old sinful natures will bring us back under it's control (OBEYING involves the actual members of our body (verse 16). The key to victory over our old sin nature is to KNOW, to RECKON, to YIELD, and then to OBEY God. We can serve sin, or we can serve God. I choose to serve God.

Romans 6:17 "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered". Before we were saved we WERE slaves to our old sinful nature, but now that we have been saved we have been delivered from our old sinful nature and now by grace have become slaves (servants) of righteousness. All the thanks and praise goes to God for our salvation and deliverance from sin's grasp. We are now free to do what is right and good in God's eyes. We now do what is right and good, because we are free from sin and because we now live according to the divine nature (God's Spirit) in us and the teaching of God's word from the Bible. Thank you God.

Romans 6:18 "And having been set free from sin (our old sinful nature), you became slaves of Righteousness". The first thing to notice in verse eighteen is the phrase "having been set free from sin". The verb is a past tense passive participle, meaning that it has already happened, and it was something that God did to us and for us when we were saved, and is now true, a fact. The next thing to notice is the word "sin". Paul uses the word "sin" as a noun thirteen times in Romans chapter six, and in each case Paul is referring to our old sinful nature. In verse two, Paul said we died (past tense) to "sin" meaning we died to our old sinful nature. In verse six, Paul says that "we are no longer slaves of "sin", (slaves to our old sinful nature). In verse seven, Paul says that "we have been freed from "sin" (our old sinful nature). In verse fourteen, Paul says, "for "sin" (our old sinful nature) shall no longer have dominion over us. And now in verse eighteen, Paul says "having been set free (past tense) from "sin" our old sinful natures), we became (past tense) slaves of righteousness. We who are saved have been set free from our old sinful natures, and are now free to do what is right (which is righteousness). This is not something that we need to do or accomplish, it has already been done, God did it when we got saved. Let's enjoy what god has done for us, Amen?

Romans 6:19 "I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness". The Apostle Paul apologizes for using an illustration about slavery in verses 16-22, but it's one that we can understand. Before we came to Jesus Christ and were saved, we were slaves by choice to our old sinful, rebellious, lawless nature and that led to even more lawlessness. Now that we are saved, praise God, we are no longer slaves to our old sinful nature, we are now slaves of God and of His righteousness. What Paul is saying is, now that we are saved let's indulge ourselves in righteous living with the same gusto we used to indulge ourselves in lawlessness, which will actually result in more holiness. Amen? This makes such good sense.

Romans 6:20 "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness". Notice carefully the phrase "when you were slaves to sin", meaning that we who are saved are no longer slaves to our old sinful nature. We have been freed from our old sinful nature (Romans 6:2 "we died to sin", Romans 6:6 "we are no longer slaves to sin" / Romans 6:7 "we are freed from sin" / Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you"). Before we were saved, we were slaves to our old sinful nature, at the same time we were free in regards to righteousness, i.e. we were free from doing what was right. Now that we are saved, doing right is natural, and sinning is unnatural.

Romans 6:21 "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death". Before we were saved, not only were we slaves to our old sin natures, but the result of our sinful behavior, (the fruit of our sinful behavior was death). When the Apostle Paul uses the word "death" he is talking about spiritual and physical death. Spiritual death is separation from God and the life of God, and physical death is the separation of our soul and spirits from our physical bodies. What Paul is reminding us of is that, our past sinful behavior brought no good, in fact it brought death. Thank God for His salvation and deliverance from sin.

Romans 6:22 "But having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life". Notice the past tense of the first two phrases of this verse, meaning that those two things are now a fact in the present. We have been set free from our old sin natures control over us. We are no longer slaves (servants) of our old sinful nature, but are now slaves (servants) of God. And now the outcome of our loves is holiness, separation from sin and separation to God and doing what is right in God's eyes. Before we were saved the result (end) of our lives was death, now the end of our life is everlasting life. The fruit of our lives now that we are saved is holiness and eternal life. Thank God, for the great things He has done. Amen?

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Wages are something that we have earned and in fact deserve because of our sin, and what our sin has earned us is death. Death is not only the separation of our physical bodies from our souls and spirits at the end of this life, it is also eternal separation from our creator, from God. But thank God for the word "but". In English grammar the word "but" is a dis-associative conjunctive, meaning that it is related to what was just said, but it is in direct opposition to it. In spite of what we have earned because of sin, God in His grace has chosen to give us (as a gift) eternal life, the exact opposite of death. A gift, unlike wages is something that we have not earned and do not deserve, it is free. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. Why did God do this? Read John 3:16.

Romans 7:1 "Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those who know the law), that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives?". Romans chapters 6-8 form a unit of teaching about our sanctification. Sanctification is the act of God by which He separates those who have been saved from sin (our old sinful natures) and it's power to control them. Romans chapter six is all about our deliverance from sin (from our old sinful natures), in fact the Apostle Paul uses the word "sin" seventeen times in chapter six. God's remedy for our old sinful nature is our death. We died to sin (Romans 6:2) when Jesus Christ died and we became believers. Because we died to sin, sin no longer has dominion over us. Romans chapter seven is all about our deliverance from the law, in fact Paul uses the word "law" twenty-three times in chapter seven. God's remedy for the laws dominion over us is the same as it is for our old sin nature, our death. Just like our death with Jesus Christ delivered us from "sin" (Romans 6:2), so too our death with Jesus Christ also delivers us from the law and its dominion over us (Romans 7:4). It's a lot to take in, that's why we are taking our time. Do yourself a favor and read Romans chapter 6 and chapter 7 will make more sense.

Romans 7:2 "For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives. But if the husband dies, she is released from the law of her husband". The Apostle Paul now gives an illustration from marriage which demonstrates our relationship to the Old Testament law before and after we are saved. The Law says that "What God has put together let no one put asunder" i.e. marriage is "until death do us part". But a married woman is released from the law of marriage to her husband if her husband dies. She is no longer married to her husband, and is free under the law to remarry. In the same manner, once we are saved, because we have died with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:2-11) we are no longer under the law (Romans 6:14). Once saved, we are delivered from the law as a means of being right with God. We are delivered from the law as a means of bringing us to God, because we are with God. We are delivered from the law as a means of sanctification. And we are delivered from the law as a means of punishment. The Old Testament law has dominion over a person as long as that person is alive, but now that we have been saved, and have died with Christ, the law no longer has do minion over us. Amen?

Romans 7:3 "So then if, while her husband lives, she marries another man, she will be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law, so that she is no adulteress, though she has married another man". Romans chapter seven is all about our freedom from the law and its demands to try and be right with God, or as a means of sanctification. Just like a married woman is bound to the law as long as her husband is alive, but is free from the law, and can marry another man if her husband dies. So too, because we have died with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3), we are no longer under the law as a means of being right with God, we are now under grace (Romans 6:14).

Romans 7:4 "Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God". In the same way that a married woman is free from the law of marriage if her husband dies, we believers have become dead to the law through the death of Jesus Christ. Back in chapter six, we learned that we are dead to sin (Romans 6:2) and because of that we are freed from our old sinful natures control over us (Romans 6:7). The same thing is true concerning our relationship to the law. We are dead to the law (Romans 7:4), and because of that we no longer under the law's dominion over us (Romans 6:14, 7:1-4). Because we are dead to the law, our relationship to God is no longer based upon our keeping of the law, it is based on Love, and as a result we now bare fruit to God (good works).

Romans 7:5 "For when we were in the flesh, the passions of sins which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death". We who are saved are no longer "in the flesh", meaning that our old sinful nature no longer controls us. Before we were saved, the law instead of keeping us from sin actually enticed us to sin. There is something perverse in our old sinful natures that does not want to obey, that likes being rebellious. If we were told not to do something, that was the thing that we wanted to do. If we were told to do something, that is the thing we did not want to do. So the law rather that making us right with God, actually did the opposite, it stirred up our sinful passions to disobey and sin. Consequently the result of our relationship to the law before we were saved was not righteousness (right living), but "death". But now that we are saved, we are freed from the old sinful impulses, and we are freed from the laws ability to stir up the sinful impulses of our old sinful natures. We are now under the influence and control of the Spirit of God who lives and abides in us. Praise God.

Romans 7:6 "But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter". Before we are saved we were controlled by our old sinful nature and subject to the law of God as a means to be right with God, an impossible situation to be "held in". Now that we are saved we are no longer controlled by our old sinful natures and we are no longer under the law as a means to be right with God. Now that we are saved and have God's Holy Spirit abiding in us, we now serve God by the power of the Holy Spirit in us and not by the efforts of our old sinful natures to keep the law. Now we serve and obey God because we love Him and not because the law will condemn us if we don't. We now love and serve God because we want to and not because we have to, a whole different motive. We now serve God "in the newness of the spirit" (internally), and not "in the oldness of the letter" (externally) by rules and regulations written with letters on pieces of paper (via the O.T. law). What a difference. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for what He has done for us.

Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except for the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet". The problem that we have with sin is not the laws fault. The law of God is holy and good, it exposes our sin, but the law is not responsible for our sin, that's on us. Without the law of God we would never know that we were in the wrong. The example that the Apostle Paul gives here is from the Ten Commandments, "You shall not covet". Without the law we would never know that coveting is wrong. First John 3:4 says "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness". Sin is a transgression of God's law. The law is like a mirror. We can look into God's law, like we do a mirror and see our sin. The law exposes our sin. Also read Romans 3:19-20.

Romans 7:8 "But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead". The Apostle Paul here uses the word "sin" for the sinful nature we are all born with. The evil desire of our sinful natures is stirred up by the law. Like a person traveling in a car at 80 m.p.h. they are doing nothing wrong until they see a sign limiting their speed to 65 m.p.h. They were already breaking the speed law before they saw the sign, but the sign (the law) exposed their violation of the speed law. So too, we in our sinful nature are breaking God's laws, until God's law exposes us. The law of God exposes our evil desire and shows us our sin. The law of God removes our ignorance of sin. That's a good thing. Read James 1:14-15.

Romans 8:4 "That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit". God requires righteousness of us, a righteousness which is codified in the law. We can not fulfill the law and be righteous, so God meets all of the righteous requirements of the law for us, through His son Jesus Christ. Notice verse 4 says that the law was not fulfilled (by) us but "in us". What that means is that the law is fulfilled in us through the life of Jesus Christ dwelling in us. The spirit of Jesus Christ in us is constantly leading us, guiding us, correcting us, fulfilling the law of God "in" us. The last part of verse 4 "who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" is a statement of fact about every believer. Our natural bent now that we are believers (saved) is to walk in unison with the Holy Spirit who lives in us, in fact we delight to do so. Amen?

Romans 8:3 "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,". What was impossible for you and I to do for ourselves (have a right standing before God through the law) because of the weakness of our flesh, God did for us by sending His own Son Jesus Christ. God's condemnation of sin is expressed by His sending His own Son in our nature (flesh), who being connected with our sin through His flesh (though sinless Himself) died for our sin. Jesus Christ took God's condemnation of our sin upon Himself. And Jesus fulfilled the law (God's righteous requirement) for us. Thank You God, Thank you Jesus, Amen!

Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death". "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" is the question that the Apostle Paul asked in Romans 7:24, which he answered in verse 25 "I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord". Jesus Christ is the one who can "deliver us from this body of death". In Romans chapter 8:2 Paul tells us how Jesus is going to do that, it's through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The law of the spirit of life in every believer is stronger than and overcomes the law of sin and death in every believer. That's why there is now no condemnation (read Romans chapter 8 verse one and two together. Praise God.

Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit". The "no" in verse one in the grammar of the Greek text, is emphatic, which means that absolutely no one at any time can condemn us who are in Christ Jesus. The last part of verse one "who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit" is a statement of fact about us believers. As believers in Jesus Christ, the flesh no longer dominates us, and even if we do sin, there is no condemnation, because we are in Christ Jesus (read John 5:24 and Ephesians 1:13-14). Praise God. Also note that Romans chapter eight begins with no "Condemnation" and ends with no "separation" from Jesus Christ for us who are (in) Jesus Christ. Thank you God.

Romans 7:9 "I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died". What the Apostle Paul is explaining here in verse nine is his own experience with sin, in relationship to God's law. When he was young and innocent, he was alive, living life without care, unaware of sin in his life, but as he grew older and became aware of God's law, he realized that he was living in violation of God's law each and every day. Not only did God's law make Paul aware of the sin in his life, it actually enticed his sinful nature, because the more he tried to obey God's law, the more he realized he could not. When he was young and innocent he felt alive, but when he grew up and was exposed to God's law, he no longer felt alive, and realizing his failure to keep God's law, he sensed the guilt and death that sin brings. This is not only the Apostle Paul's experience, but this is the experience of everyone who thinks that keeping God's law will make them right with God. Let's be honest, there is not one of us who can keep God's law.

Romans 7:10 "And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death". The Apostle Paul grew up believing that obeying the Old Testament law made a person righteous in God's eyes. And so he set out to obey the law, and what he found out was that he could not keep it. That which he thought would bring life, if a person could keep it, actually brought death, because he could not keep it. When Paul got saved he realized that salvation ("life") was by grace through faith and not by the keeping of the Old Testament law (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:20). The Old Testament law is designed by God to show us our sin. The law is like a mirror, we look into it and we can see our sin, but the law has no ability to cleanse us of our sin. Just like a mirror can show us our face is dirty, but cannot clean our face. The law exposes our sin, but it was never designed by God to bring life.

Romans 7:11 "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and it killed me". The Apostle Paul's old sin nature deceived him, and our old sinful natures will do the same thing to us. Our old sinful natures deceive us into thinking that we can actually keep God's law, and become righteous as a result. Our old sinful natures deceive us into thinking that we can make it into heaven by our own efforts. The law was never given, so that by keeping it we could become righteous, (because we cannot keep it) it was given to show us our sin. The law can never justify us, only condemn us (because we cannot keep it). The law can never bring life, only death (because we cannot keep it), but our old sinful nature thinks it can (Read Romans 3:20). Let's not listen to our old sinful natures, let's listen to God's word, Amen?

Romans 7:12 "Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good". Romans 7:12 is the answer to the question of Romans 7:7 "Is the law sin?". The problem of sinful behavior which the Apostle Paul describes in Romans Chapter 7 is not with the law of God, but with us and our old sinful natures (sin). The law of God reflects the character of God, He is holy and Just and good, but we are not. The law is "holy" which means separate from sin, the law is "just" which means the right thing to do, and the law is "good" which means that it is beneficial. There is nothing at all wrong with God's law or God's commandments, there is something wrong with everyone of us, it's sin, our old sinful natures. Our old sinful natures deceive us into thinking we can keep God's law, when we can't. The problem is ours not God's. Therefore the law is holy and just and good. Now we're getting somewhere. We have identified the culprit in all of our sinful behavior, it's our old sinful natures. What God's law does is point that out. Stay tuned, there is more to come.

Romans 7:13 "Has then that which is good (the law) become death to me? Certainly not! But sin (the old sin nature in us), that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good (the law)", so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful (that we might see sin for what it really is)". Parenthesis are mine. The law, rather than making us righteous, actually arouses the old sin nature in us, with the result that we realize our failure to keep God's law, and see the real sinfulness of sin. The law of God shows us that the entire world is guilty before God, because none of us can keep it. All of this is in hope that we will see our sin and realize our need for the savior, Jesus Christ.

Romans 7:14 "For we know that the law is spiritual, But I am carnal, sold under sin". There is absolutely nothing wrong with the law of God. The problem that we have with keeping the commandments of God is not because of a problem with the law, but a problem with us, and our sin. The law of God is spiritual in nature, governed by the character and nature of God, but we are carnal, governed by the character and nature of our sinful flesh. The law of God, which is spiritual, only reveals our carnality, our propensity to follow our sinful nature, rather than God.

Romans 7:15 "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do". The Apostle Paul is explaining his own experience as a new believer, someone young in the faith. Paul had a difficult time understanding, why he did not always do the right thing, after being saved, even though he wanted to. He desired to do what was good and right, but he did not always do that, and the thing that he knew to be wrong and did not want to do, he found himself doing. This was the Apostle Paul's experience as a new believer, and it is our experience as well. Paul's problem was that he was trying to do the right thing in his own strength, which can only be done by the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. What is impossible with men, is possible with God (Luke 18:27). Like Paul "we, can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us" (Philippians 4:13).

Romans 7:16 "If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good". What the Apostle Paul is saying, is that his doing the opposite of what he wants to do (the right thing), is proof that he agrees that the law is good. He came to the conclusion that It was his sinful nature that was driving his sinful behavior. Have we come to the same conclusion?

Romans 7:17 "But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me". "Now" that the Apostle Paul was saved, he realized that when he sinned even though he did not want to, it was because of his old sinful nature. "Now" when Paul sinned, it was not "I" the new Paul, but the sinful nature which was a part of the old Paul. The same is true of those of us who are saved. As believers we have a dual nature. The old sinful nature which is after the flesh, and the new nature which is after the spirit. These two nature war against each other in us believers (Galatians 5:17). Jesus told His disciples: "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak". We still sin after becoming believers, but sin is not what you and I as believers want to do. "Now" that we are saved, sinful behavior is no longer the rule of our lives, it is the exception. "Now when we sin, it is not the new "us" but the old sinful nature in us. Praise God, It is no longer "I" who sin, but the old sinful nature in me, that is the culprit.

Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find". The Apostle Paul eventually came to the conclusion, that there was nothing good in him, nothing good about his old sinful nature, his flesh. We need to come to the same conclusion about ourselves that Paul did, that there is no good in us, meaning our flesh (Romans 3:10-12). Paul was constantly wanting to do what was right by God, God's will, but the ability or power to perform God's will was not in him. The same is true of us, even though we as Christians want to do right, the ability to always do so is not in us, not in our flesh. Eventually Paul cries out in verse 24 "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?". The conclusion that Paul came to was that the ability or power to always do God's will was outside himself. We too need to come to the same conclusion. The answer is and has always been, Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25).

Romans 7:19 "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice". This is a repeat of Romans 7:15 where the Apostle Paul said: "For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do". By mentioning this twice, Paul is reminding us that this is a very real dilemma that we believers all face. The new us wants to do right, but the old us does just the opposite. There is a civil war inside of us for control of us, the old sinful nature which used to control us wars against the new nature in us (read Galatians 5:16-17).

Romans 7:20 "Now if (literally: "since") I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me". When the Apostle Paul uses the word "now" he is talking about what is "now" true of him since he became a believer. The "I" is the new Paul with his new nature. But "sin" is the old Paul with his old sinful nature. The two natures are at war with each other, the same is true of us believers. Paul realizes that when he sinned, it was not the "I" his new nature that influenced him to sin, it was his old nature that influenced him to sin. Paul is not excusing his sin, only stating the fact, that when a believer sins, it is because they were influenced by their old nature ("sin") and not their new nature ("I"). The point that Paul is making is that if we as believers rely upon our own resources (our own resolve, etc.), sin is inevitable, but if we rely upon the Holy Spirit we will have victory over sin (Romans 8:1-4). God, help us.

Romans 7:21 "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good". The Apostle Paul's experience between his old nature and his new nature is the same as ours. Even though we are now saved and have a new nature after God, the old nature in us (which Paul calls "evil") works hard against our will to do good. There is a constant battle between us and our new nature and us and our old nature (see Galatians 5:17). Just like a drowning man can not be helped until he is utterly exhausted and has no fight left in himself to help himself, when we realize that we do not have the strength to win the battle over our flesh (the old nature) God steps in and rescues us (Romans 7:24).

Romans 7:22 "For I delight in the law of God according to the inner man". The word “delight” means to rejoice. The Apostle Paul rejoiced in God's Word. The "inner man" is the redeemed person that God has transformed, the new you and I. The genuine believer loves God’s Word and is diligent to apply it to his life. We rejoice in God’s Word even though it exposes the sinfulness of our hearts. For us who are saved, there is a real inward joy in studying the Word of God. Amen?

Romans 7:23 "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members". There are four spiritual principals, which the Apostle Paul calls "laws" in Romans chapter seven. The Law of the flesh (in our members), The Law of the mind, The Law of God and The Law of sin. These four spiritual laws describe the real dilemma that we Christians face, because we have both an old and a new nature. The law of the flesh is warring against The Law of the mind, and The Law of sin wars against The Law of God. The Law of the flesh serves the law of sin, and the law of the mind serves the law of God. That's our battle, there is a civil war inside us. The old us with it's sin nature, battles the new us with God's nature, for control. The sooner we realize that there is a real battle for control going on, the better off we are.

Romans 7:24 "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" What this is, is a cry for help. The Apostle Paul came to the conclusion that he needed outside help in order to be delivered from the sinful influence of his old sinful nature. He realized that victory was not possible by himself, he needed outside help, so he cries out to God. The answer to the dilemma we face with our old sinful nature, our flesh is "who" not how. The moment we realize, like Paul did that the answer to our dilemma is outside ourselves is the moment we will begin to experience victory. The answer as to "who" will deliver us is in verse 25 "Jesus Christ our Lord". Praise God for Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior, our deliverer.

Romans 7:25 "I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin". The Apostle Paul answers his own question from verse 24 "Who will deliver me from this body of death?". Paul thanks God, that his victory is through Jesus Christ. Our victory over our old sinful nature is through Jesus Christ our Lord. Both the Law of God and the Law of sin seek for control of us. In Romans chapter eight we learn to rely upon the Holy Spirit of God rather than our own resole. When we rely upon the Holy Spirit there is victory, when we don't there is failure. I too thank God through Jesus Christ my Lord!

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, the things of the Spirit”. When a person lives “according to the flesh” it’s because they are taking in, and being influenced by fleshly, worldly things. On the other hand when a person is living “according to the Spirit” it’s because they are taking in, and being influenced by the things of the Spirit of God (read Galatians 6:7-8). For us who are saved, it is no longer the habit of our life to live “according to the flesh”, but to live “according to the Spirit”. Being in or walking in the flesh is now the exception, and no longer the rule of our life. Are you walking in the flesh, or walking in the spirit?

Romans 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace". There are corresponding consequences to what we set our minds on. If we set our minds on and live according to the flesh (our old natures) it brings death. Physical death is the separation of the physical body from its consciousness. To be carnally minded is death because it is a consciousness separated from the consciousness of and life of God. If we set our minds on and live according to the Spirit of God in us (as believers) it brings life, a life which is connected to God, the giver of life. And it brings peace, because we are not at odds with and living contrary to God, our maker. Thank you God for the life and peace that comes with living according to the new nature in us, as believers.

Romans 8:10 "And if (literally: "since") Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness". The believer’s human body is dead in the sense that it has death in it because of sin, Adam's sin which brings physical and spiritual death to the entire human race. But the believer’s spirit is alive because the Spirit of Jesus Christ lives in us, energizing us with His divine life. We are now alive to God, and declared righteous by God, meaning justified. What a contrast between what Adam did to us and what Jesus Christ did for us.

Romans 8:11"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you". The Apostle Paul has the future resurrection of the believers physical bodies in mind here, which happens at the Rapture of the church (First Thessalonians 4:13-18). The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead guarantees our resurrection. God will raise us up to meet the Lord Jesus Christ in that air, and we will ascend into heaven with Jesus Christ in brand new glorified bodies, bodies suited for heaven. The Trinity of God is involved in the rapture. (God) will raise us up to meet (Jesus Christ) in the air, and He does so through the (Holy Spirit). The Rapture is going to happen, sooner than later. Are you ready?

Romans 8:12 “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors - not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh”. The Apostle Paul uses the word “Therefore” to show us that verse 12 is the conclusion of verses 5-11. The word that Paul uses for “debtors” means to be under obligation, or bound by some duty. What verse 12 is saying is that, since we now born again believers and no longer under the dominion of our flesh (our old sinful natures), but are now under the influence of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, we are no longer obligated to our flesh (our old sinful natures). We no longer have to obey our flesh. By the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we can now say no to our old sinful natures and it’s bent toward sin. Read Titus 2:12.

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". An unsaved person lives habitually under the dominion of their evil sinful nature. As a result, he unsaved will not only die a physical death, but are on their way to final death which is eternal separation from God in the lake of fire. But the saved person, who by the power of the Holy Spirit habitually puts to death the deeds of the old sinful nature will live. Once we are saved, sin is no longer the rule of our lives, but the exception. The key to living a life of victory over sin is by yielding to the Holy Spirit in us. (Read Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 5:18 and Romans 13:14).

Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God". When we are "born again", the Holy Spirit of God takes up residence in us, and with time we learn to become dependent upon His presence and influence in our lives. We overcome the flesh (our old sinful nature and its influence) by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. When that happens we are being led by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul is saying that, being led by the Holy Spirit is one of the ways we know we are God's children, "sons of God". When Paul says "as many as are led by the Spirit of God" he is saying that there are no exceptions. Are you being led by the Holy Spirit?

Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father". Before we came to Jesus Christ and were born again, we were slaves to our body appetites, we were in bondage to our old sinful nature, and not only that, but we were afraid to approach God, because of our sin. But now that we are born again, have been forgiven of our sins and the Spirit of Jesus Christ dwells in us, we are God's children and we cry out to God, our Father. The Hebrew word "Abba" means daddy. To us who have the Spirit of Jesus Christ, God is no longer just the creator of the universe, some impersonal being that is unapproachable, He is now our Father, literally our daddy. We are no longer afraid of God, we are accepted by God as His children and invited to come to Him whenever we want. What a difference being born again makes.

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God". When we are born again, the Holy Spirit of God living in us believers, bears testimony, not just to, but "with" our human spirit's that we are children of God, literally "little born ones" of God. The confirmation of our salvation is "more than a feeling", it is a fact which the holy Spirit of God confirms alongside of our spirits. We have a double testimony, (God's testimony and our testimony) so that we know, that we know, there is no question in our minds that we are God's children, we know it. And it is a Biblical principle that it takes the presence of two witnesses to establishes a fact (Numbers 35:30, Deuteronomy 17:6 and 19:15, Matthew 18:16, Second Corinthians 13:1 and First timothy 5:19). Our salvation is a fact. Hallelujah, Amen?

Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together". Romans 8:16 says that we are "children of God", and because we are "children of God" we are also God's heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ of all that God has. The identifying mark is that we suffer with Christ. And because we suffer together with Christ, we are also going to be glorified like Christ. Though we suffer now, because we are "in Christ" we are going to be glorified like Christ is. We are going to receive brand new glorified bodies, suited for eternity and for heaven. But suffering comes before glory, just like the cross came before the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus Christ. Now we share in Christ's sufferings, but then we will share in Christ’s Glory. Amen.

Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us". The word that the Apostle Paul uses here for "consider" means to arrive at a conclusion after careful consideration. Right now God's glory is being revealed "through" us to a small degree, but at the rapture of the church we will be transformed and God's glory will be revealed "in" us (Colossians 3:4 and First John 3:2). The glory of God which resides in us who believe because His Spirit lives in us will be unveiled "in" us in a mighty way. The word Paul uses for "worthy" is a word describing the balance scale. When you put all the sufferings we go through in this life on one side of the scale, and put the glory of God which will be revealed "in" us on that day, the glory of God far out weights all the suffering. It is the difference between the caterpillar and the butterfly. Right now we are like the caterpillar but then we will be like the butterfly, glorious. It will all be worth it on that day (Second Corinthians 4:16-18). Praise God.

Romans 8:19 "For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God". All of creation that was a part of man's fall (Genesis 3:14-19), animate and inanimate, the earth itself, all of nature is eagerly awaiting for the revealing of the "sons of God" (Colossians 3:4). Waiting for the day that redeemed mankind is glorified, the day that we believers get our new and glorified bodies and the curse that man's sin brought on himself and creation comes to an end. The entire created world, except those who reject Jesus Christ will be restored to glory. What a Glorious day that will be!

Romans 8:20 "For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;" The reason for the anticipation of creation for the glorification of the "sons of God" (verse 19) is that creation itself was subjected to “futility.” "Futility” means purposelessness. Because of man's sin and the subsequent curse, creation no longer measures up to the purpose for which it was originally created. The idea of “futility” is that creation has no use but is empty, hollow, and full of nothing. Creation lost its full purpose and became subject to decay and corruption. Diseased plants corrode the crop. Cancer invades the human body, etc. Creation’s hope to be delivered from decay is not unrealistic, because God gave the promise of “hope.” Hope is not a wish,but a confidence in future reality. “In hope” means literally upon the basis of hope. The hope of creation carries certainty like the hope of the believer. This commentary on Romans 8:20 is not my own, but is from Dr. Grant C. Richison's Verse by Verse Commentary.

Romans 8:21 "Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God". When man (Adam) sinned, man along with creation was cursed (Genesis 3:14-19) and was given over to "the bondage of corruption", (man to moral and physical corruption, decay and death, and the rest of creation to physical corruption, decay and death). Creation is presently in a state of entropy, men die, animals die, plants die, etc. Death and decay are working in our world because of the curse. But, when Jesus Christ, who is our life appears, He will deliver us from the "bondage of corruption" (Colossians 3:4), into the glorious liberty of "the children of God", and he will also deliver creation from "the bondage of corruption" (Isaiah 11:6-9, 55:12-13 and Revelation 21:1). Jesus Christ in us is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27-28). Can't wait!

Romans 8:22 "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now". There is no aspect of God's creation that is free from the pain and consequence of man's sin, and the subsequent curse because of sin. The whole of God's creation, animate and inanimate are in agony, presently groaning together in anticipation of being delivered from the curse by God, and to finally be in line with their creator, with God and his purposes. The good news is that the pain and agony is like that of childbirth, because there is coming a day in which the kingdom of God will be delivered and there will be no more agony, groaning or pain (Revelation 21:4). We Christians do not experience meaningless pain but meaningful pain like that of childbirth, groaning to be delivered. Praise God.

Romans 8:23 "And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body". In verse 22 the Apostle Paul says that "the whole of creation "groans". Well, not only does the whole of creation "groan" because of sin and the curse, but we who have the Holy Spirit in us, (God's guarantee that He is going to redeem and glorify us) also "groan" waiting for the redemption of our bodies. And in verse 26 we see that "the Holy Spirit in us also "groans". Our souls have been redeemed already, our spirits have been made alive by God's Spirit in us, but we are still caged in these bodies of flesh which are subject to sin and corruption. But, praise God He is also going to redeem our bodies (First Corinthians 15:42-54, Second Corinthians 5:1-5 and Philippians 3:21). When that happens, we will finally be able to enjoy all that God has done by adopting us as His children. It's going to be awesome. Thank you God.

Romans 8:24 "For we are saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?". The Apostle Paul is not saying that we are saved by hope, but that we are saved "in" hope, the hope of our final salvation. We are saved (past tense) by faith in Jesus Christ, but we have not yet received the entirety of our salvation, we are still waiting for, "the redemption of our body", "hoping" for our new glorified bodies from God (Romans 8:23). The entirety of our salvation is essentially in three phrases. We are already justified, and are presently being sanctified, yet we are waiting to be glorified, to receive our brand new bodies from heaven. We wait for our new glorified bodies in "hope". Our hope is two-fold, consisting of both desire and expectancy. Some things we can "desire" and not "expect", other things we can "expect" and not really "desire", but our hope has both "desire" and "expectancy", so we wait in "hope". We Christians live in a constant state of hope, hope in Christ's return, hope for heaven, hope in finally being glorified, that which we have not yet "seen". Amen!

Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance". We have not yet received our new, glorified and sinless bodies which are suited for heaven and for eternity, but presently we have the hope of those new glorified bodies. Our hope is both a desire and a confident expectancy. It is our hope (desire and expectancy) in God's promise that causes us eagerly wait to be glorified and to do so with perseverance. Our hope in God's promise always desires and expects something better that our present circumstances, and because it does we wait patiently in our current circumstance. We Christians endure our present trails with a sense of confidence about the future. We persevere because of what God promised in His Word. (Read First Thessalonians 1:13, Hebrews 6:17-19 and First Peter 1:3).

Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered". All of creation groans (Verse 22), we believers groan within ourselves (Verse 23), and The Holy Spirit in us also groans (Verse 26). All of this groaning (by creation, by us, and by the Holy Spirit in us) all in the hope of finally being delivered from the curse, and becoming all that God intended for us, His creation before man's fall. The Holy Spirit of God who lives in us who believe helps us in our spiritual weaknesses. In this case our weakness in not knowing God's will in a matter. The Holy Spirit knows the will of God for us at every moment of our lives, and intercedes for us. The Holy Spirit in us actually groans for us in our behalf. The Holy Spirit in us, helps us have a more direct connection to God in prayer than we can have on our own, so that God's will for us along the way is realized. Thank You Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:27 "Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God". God knows what is in our hearts, even when we don't, and God knows the mind of the Holy Spirit, what the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us is thinking. Who better to intercede for us than God who is in us and who knows our hearts and who also knows what the will of God is for us (Jeremiah 17:9, Hebrews 4:13 and 7:25). Thank you God.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according His purpose". Three things are said here about us believers, we love God, we are called by God, and God has a purpose for us. God's purpose for us, is to conform us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). And God in His Sovereignty (God's absolute control of all things) superintends everything that happens to us, so that everything that happens to us, works for our good, and fulfills His purpose for us. Knowing those things helps us along the way, because life is filled with trials and difficulties. As believers, we know that everything that happens to us, good or bad will work out for our good in the long run, because God in his sovereignty has a purpose, to conform us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ. Because God is absolutely sovereign, nothing can hinder or stop God's purpose for us. Rest assured, we are going to make it. Hallelujah.

Romans 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren". To "foreknow" means to know beforehand. God is omniscient, meaning He knows all things, and God knew beforehand ("foreknew") those He would have a personal relationship with. Think about that, God has known us from eternity. "Predestined" means to mark out a boundary beforehand. Those God knew beforehand He would have a personal relationship with (us believers), He also marked out a boundary beforehand so that we would be conformed into the image (likeness) of His Son, Jesus Christ. God's foreknowledge and predestination guarantees that we will become like Jesus Christ. God did this, because we could never become like Jesus Christ on our own. Jesus Christ is "the image and likeness" of God (Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3), and we are going to be like Jesus Christ, conformed into the "image" of Jesus Christ. It is God's will that there will be a new people ("brethren" one big family) of people glorified in the image of Jesus Christ. We Christians will someday Glorify God by becoming like His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:10 and First John 3:2).

Romans 8:30a "Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called;". Because there is so much here in verse 30 we are going to take it one piece at a time. As we learned in Verse 29, predestination has to do with God determining something beforehand so that, that something will in fact come to pass. God has determined that those who believe in and receive His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior will be conformed into the Image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). For that to happen God called us to Himself, and to His Son Jesus Christ. If God had not called us, we would never have come to Jesus Christ for salvation. In decreeing our eternal salvation, God left nothing to chance. "Salvation is of the Lord" from start to finish (Jonah 2:9). God "called" us to Himself and His salvation, and then gave us the faith to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved (Ephesians 2:8), and because of God's predestination, we are on the way to becoming like Jesus Christ. Praise God for our salvation.

Romans 8:30a Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; Romans 8:30b "whom He called, these He also justified". A part of our salvation is "justification". Justification is a theological term. Justification is the one time act of God, whereby He declares those who place their faith in His son Jesus Christ, righteous. We are "justified" (declared righteous) at the moment of our salvation. Justification is a one-time act of God, meaning that it never has to be repeated, at that point we are eternally righteous before God. Pastor Chuck Smith used to say: It's "just-as-if-we- never-sinned". Also read Romans 3:21-26. Thank God for Justification.

Romans 8:30c "and whom He justified, these He also glorified". God is going to transform our bodies at the rapture, into a body like the resurrected glorified body of Jesus Christ. Not only will out new glorified bodies be suited for heaven and for eternity, but we will finally become in practice what we are in position, absolutely righteous (body, soul and spirit). Though this is a future event, God speaks of it as already being true, because it will in fact happen. Read Romans 8:18, Philippians 3:20-21, Colossians 3:4 and First John 3:2). Our day is coming and it is coming soon.

Romans 8:31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? What can we say about the fact that the Holy Spirit of God lives in us? (Romans 8:9), That we have hope beyond the grave? (Romans 8:11),That the Holy Spirit prays for us according to the will of God? (Romans 8:26-27), That God works absolutely everything in our lives for good? (Romans 28), And that God has predestined, called, justified and glorified us, guaranteeing our salvation and ultimate glory? (Romans 8:29-30). All we can say is "if God is for us, who can be against us? Absolutely no one or nothing. Praise God, who has guaranteed our salvation from beginning to end.

Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" God has not held back from us the thing that was most precious to Him, His own Son Jesus Christ, what would He hold back from us that will work for our good? Absolutely nothing. God has and will supply every single thing that is necessary for our salvation, sanctification and ultimate glorification, and He left nothing out. If it is good for us, we will get it, if it's not good for us, we won't. It's one of the ways that we know God "is for us" from verse 31. Also read Psalm 84:11.

Romans 8:33 "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies". We believers are God's "elect" meaning He chose us. God also justifies us who believe, meaning that he has declared us righteous because of our faith in His Son Jesus Christ and what Jesus did on the cross for us (Read Romans 3:28 and Second Corinthians 5:21). Now, seeing that God has chosen us and has Justified us, who can really bring any charge against us? The answer is absolutely no one. How could they, when God, the only one who can bring a charge against us, does not? God cannot both accuse and justify at the same time. On top of that, in Romans chapter 8 we believers are called "sons of God", children of God", "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ", "saints", "the called", "those who love God", "brethren", and now God calls us His "elect". We could not be in a better position before God. Hallelujah.

Romans 8:34 "Who is he who condemns? Shall Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us?". In Romans 8:33 we saw that God the father does not bring a charge against us, in fact God is the one who justifies us. It would be impossible for God to condemn and justify us at the same time. And now in verse Romans 8:34 we see that Jesus Christ does not condemn us either, in fact after Jesus Christ rose again from the dead, and ascended back to heaven to sit at the right hand of God, He makes continual intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). Just like it would be impossible for God the father to condemn us and justify us, it would also be impossible for Jesus Christ to condemn us and to make intercession for us too. We who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:28) are like the "woman caught in adultery". Jesus said to her "woman where are your accusers? has no one accused you? Then Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more" (John 8:10-11). Thank God for His justification.

Romans 8:35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" The answer to the question; "who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" is no one or nothing. No outward or inward affliction, nothing physical or spiritual, not even death itself can separate us from Christ's love. The love of Jesus Christ for us is so great that no one can accuse or condemn us (Romans 8:31-33) and nothing can harm us. The Apostle Paul's point here is that God's love for us guarantees our salvation from start to finish. Praise God.

Romans 8:36 "As it is written: "For your sake we are killed all day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter". The Apostle Paul quotes Psalm 44:22 to show that we believers have in the past, presently and in the future will sometimes suffer physically, be persecuted and even killed just because we are believers. But none of those things or even all of those things combined can separate us from Christ's love for us (Romans 8:35), in fact we are "more that conquerors through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:37). Absolutely no one or nothing can pluck us out of the God's hand (John 10:28-29). Also read First Peter 4:12-13. Let's keep our heads us, we are almost home.

Romans 8:37 "yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us". We who believe in Jesus Christ are more than conquerors. More that conquerors means to gain a surpassing victory. Because the Holy Spirit is in us, because He makes intercession for us, because all things work of our good, because God has a purpose for us, because we are foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified by God, because God is for us, because no one can bring a charge against us, because nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, because the worse thing you can do to us is kill us, which just brings us into God's presence forever, we are more that conquerors (Romans 8:26-37). We are blessed above comprehension

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, Nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". Nothing created, which includes absolutely everything, nothing in time or space, nothing that will ever be created, not even God Himself who is un-created, can separate us from God's love. All of that to say that we who believe in Jesus Christ are eternally secure and our salvation is permanent. Romans chapter eight began with the fact that there is "no condemnation" to those who are in Christ Jesus" and ends with the fact that there is "no separation" from God's love for those who are in Christ Jesus. Our eternal security rests on God and not us. We are eternally secure in Jesus Christ. thank you God.

We at Calvary Chapel of Reno Sparks would like to hear from you and send you some materials to help you grow in your relationship with Christ. You can email us at: info@calvarychapelreno.org



Recent Messages

Pastor Andrew Morales - Paul's Charge to Timothy |   Wednesday, March 11, 2020 : 1 Timothy 1:1-11

Bible Prophesy - People Get Ready |   Sunday, March 8, 2020 - Matthew 25:1-13

Pastor Juan Rodriguez |   Wednesday, March 4, 2020 : Genesis 49 - 50
Listen to more Bible Studies by Pastor Tom here.

Revelation Verse-by-Verse

About Pastor Tom

Pastor Tom Luitwieler Tom Luitwieler grew up in Southern California, and graduated from high school in 1970. It was in 1980 that someone gave Tom one of Pastor Chuck Smith's books on Bible Prophecy called "End Times". He devoured the book in one evening and immediately knew that it was the truth, and that he needed to have Jesus Christ in his life.

It was then that Tom began to sense his need for Jesus Christ, but there was only one problem, he did not know what to say to Sandie, (the woman he was living with), they were not married, and he knew it was wrong.

What he did not know was that Sandie's sister and her sister's husband (who were Christians), and lived across the street from Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa had been praying for them. They would pray for them and when the opportunity presented itself, would share the Lord with them.
Read more here...




Contact Us

We at Calvary Chapel of Reno Sparks would like to hear from you.

You can email us at: info@calvarychapelreno.org or give us a call at (775)856-1110.

Join us for one of our services:
Sunday: 9:00am & 10:45am
or
Wednesday: 7:00pm

We are located at:
220 Edison Way, Reno, Nevada


Driving directions here
.


Steps to Knowing Jesus

1) Admit your spiritual need. We are all sinners...people don't always like that title. The one word that defines all sin is the Greek word "harmatia" which means, "to miss the mark." What is God's mark? Jesus said, "Be perfect as My Father in heaven is perfect." Unless a person is perfect, he has missed the mark; therefore, he is a sinner. Romans 3:23 states "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

2) What is the result of sin? In Romans 6:23 we read, "The wages of sin is death..." Every one of us has missed God's mark. Every one of us falls short of being perfect. We are getting only what we deserve, and we are bringing judgment upon ourselves. One thing we need to remember is that God never sends anyone to hell. We send ourselves there by rejecting His truth.
Read more here...