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| Chapter 8 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, 7 because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so it be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. 10 ¶ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 for if ye live according to the flesh ye shall die, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God; 17 ¶ and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so it be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? 25 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 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. 30 Moreover, whom He predestined, those He also called; and whom He called, those He also justified; and whom He justified, those He also glorified. 31 ¶ What then shall we say of these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge against God's elect? It is God who justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemns? It is Christ who died, yea rather, who is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: "For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
8:1-25 True Sanctification 8:1-4 The New Law. These verses show us a new life, Col 1:27,29; Col 3:1-3 shows this new life principle. Christ lives in us, through the Holy Spirit, to control us. The Holy Spirit is mentioned over 20 times in this chapter, and "I" not mentioned once. The "law" referred to in these verses is not the Law of Moses but the basic control of the believer by the Holy Spirit. Phil 2:13. v1 "therefore" refers back to previous chapters, where we have seen that we are all under Gods wrath unless we know Jesus as Saviour, who took God’s wrath for us. "We are in Jesus," there is no condemnation (convict, find guilty, judgement) now, when we stand before God, all He can see is the blood of Jesus covering our sins, we are free from law of sin and death. v2. What happens if we commit wrong after this? 1 John 1:9 tells us what to do. We need to confess all our wrong life (sins) to Him, we are convicted but not condemned. v2 The Law(Spirit) of God has overcome all other laws. v3,4 Because of our weak nature the "Law" could not make us right with God, so He sent His Son, as a sinless God/Man, human, so that the demands of the Law - death, could be carried out and we could be made right through the Spirit. Phil 2:6-8; 2 Cor 5:21. v4 We have a new walk, "walking" may be ‘slow’ and even have stumbles, just like a child learning to walk, we need to learn to give our life over to the Spirit. Gal 5:16,17. 8:5-12 New Victory. The key to this is "in Christ Jesus" v2, but we need to do our part, we need to choose not to let the sins of the world reign in our life, and choose instead to hand it to the Lord. God will do all that is needed once you have handed it to God. v5-9 People who have the old nature are controlled by their old nature, they are not interested in pleasing God in any way. To be "carnally minded" (of the flesh) is actually against God. Eph 2:1,2. Paul had to address the Corinthians as "carnal believers" 1 Cor 3:1-4. though normally a ‘carnal person’ will be unsaved. The opposite is true,the born again is under the Spirit, so will want to have interests and habits which are pleasing to God. v9 This is an important verse, it states that the Holy Spirit lives in the saved person, therefore without the Spirit we are not His. The Father also lives in the believer through the Holy Spirit, John 14:20,22,23; John 17:21,23. v10 If Christ be in you the things of the world will not be attractive and gives way to things which are right in the eye’s of God (righteousness). Some people teach that the Holy Spirit comes into a believer after the time of salvation, "a second work of grace," these verse say, "no Spirit, not saved, not a Christian." The Spirit must enter at the time of salvation. However it might be a long time before the Spirit has full control as that depends upon us. v11 appears to looking to the future resurrection, but it can also be talking of a new life right now, a life he can use to glorify God. 2 Cor 5:17. v12 Our debt to the old life has ended, we owe it nothing. v13 "Through the Spirit," this shows a definite act of our will by us, a step of faith. What happens if we do not turn our temptations over to the Holy Spirit and so fail and do wrong? see 1 John 2:1 for the answer. v14-18 Tells us that we have been adopted into the family of God, heirs to all He owns. v14 refers to "sons," v16 to "children." The title ‘Son’s shows a position of grown up, maturity. Children, at the time of Paul’s writing, are part of the family, heirs, but are young and do not know all things, they need teaching. They are "led to be sons of God,"v14. This must mean "led to grow up spiritually, to mature" as the Holy Spirit does not lead you to salvation. Note that discipline may be different between a child and a son. God may deal differently to the two different levels of maturity on failure. v15 We do not have to fear the Law anymore, God has made us free, we can now talk to God the same way as we are able to talk to our earthly fathers. We will obey God because we love, not fear Him. 2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:18. v16 The Spirit confirms that we are the children of God when it comes in contact with our spirit, what a promise, what an assurance. v17,v18 "Suffering" does not necessarily mean physical suffering but other types of suffering such as ‘shame for Christ’s sake’ 2 Tim 3:12. But what ever we suffer for Him it will lead to victory, glory together. 2 Tim 2:11,12. 8:18-25 Victory surrounded by problems. v19-v22 Everything in nature (creature) is being held by corruption, because Man is still under the law of death. v21 tells us that nature will also be delivered from this corruption. This will all change into glory in the future when God sets up the eternal new world for His adopted children. Even though we have a corruptible body we have the first fruits of the Spirits power in us, Eph 1:13,14. We can have victory even now until He calls us home. 1 Cor 15:51-53; Phil 3:20,21. 8:26-39 God at work in us. These verses show how the three persons of the God head (Trinity) are involved in working in our life. The Holy Spirit intercedes in us v26,27, He knows our limitations, guides us in what we need to pray for and how we ought to pray. Showing us and making sure we seek the Will of God in all we pray for. Christ intercedes for us v33,34. 1 John 2:1; Heb 4:14-16; Heb 7:24,25. The Father provides for us v28-32. God the Father cares for us, note v28, God gives total victory"we know,"there are no conditions. Consider 1 Cor 10:13 James 4:6-8. v26-27 Power in True Prayer. v28 Refers to all born again Christians, they have been called for a part of God’s plan, that special purpose talked about in v29, to become the image of His Son. Note that all the actions listed in v28 are in the past tense, this means that in the eye’s of God His children are already glorified. It is difficult for us, who live in time, to understand that God knows the future, before we were born He knew we would choose to follow Him, we are already present in His heart and mind. God can not only see the beginning but the end as well. v29 "Predestinate," God has a plan for each and He will make sure we reach it, Phil 1:6; 1 John 3:1-3. v30 How God’s plan works, to Him it is already finished, nothing is overlooked or lost, Phil 1:6. 8:31-34 Assurance. Paul asks 4 questions, and gives the answers to each. v31 Who can be against us? v32 God enjoys giving us all things with Jesus. v33 Who shall lay anything to the charge against God’s elect? Satan cannot accuse, God has made us right. v34 Who is he that condemns? Christ has paid the debt, Satan has lost. v35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? NOTHING CAN. v32 God has invested everything in us, He sent His own Son to take the punishment. If He was willing to do this He will make sure it is not wasted in any way. What love has been and is still being shown for us. v34,35,37. Look at Numbers 23:19; Eph 1:13, sealed; John 10:27-29, not lost. v32 He will provide all things we need. v36,37 reminds us of what dangerous situations a Christian can be in but v37 tells us that we can be MORE THAN conquerors (winners) anything through our God. We should give glory to God for all the testing He sends, it will help us grow more like Christ, as God has planned. We can win any thing through God. v38,39 There is no way we can be lost from God’s hand. |
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