Romans 8:1-3
[6-23-10]
Romans 8:1-3) [NIV] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
[KJV] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
QUESTION: What is this verse in reference to?
Romans 7:24-25) What a miserable person I am! Who will rescue me from my dying body?
25) [GW] I thank God that our Lord Jesus Christ rescues me! So I am obedient to God’s standards with my mind, but I am obedient to sin’s standards with my corrupt nature.
2) [NIV] because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
QUESTION: What does it mean to be set free “from the law of sin and death”?
QUESTION: What doesn’t it mean?
3) [NIV] For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
QUESTION: What does “he condemned sin in sinful man” mean?
[AMP] For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],
[NLT] The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
QUESTION: QUESTION: Now, with the help of the above two versions, what does “he condemned sin in sinful man” mean?
Romans 8:3-8
Part II
[7-7-10]
Romans 8:3) [NIV] {from last lesson} For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
[AMP] For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],
[NLT] The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
QUESTION: Considering the three translations above, what does “he condemned sin in sinful man” mean?
Romans 8:4) [NIV] in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
[GNB] not according to human nature.
[GW] who do not live by our corrupt nature.
[CEV] instead of our own desires.
QUESTION: What does “that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us” mean?
BBC: As we turn over the control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to love God and to love our neighbor, and that, after all, is what the law requires.
CLARK: That the guilt might be pardoned through the merit of that sacrifice; and that we might be enabled, by the power of his own grace and Spirit, to walk in newness of life; loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves: and thus the righteousness, the spirit, design, and purpose of the law is fulfilled in us, through the strength of the Spirit of Christ, which is here put in opposition to the weakness of the law through the flesh.
MY ANSWER: God did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. Jesus took the blame for our sins; then He gave us the credit for His obedience. The record of our sins has been wiped clean; the word “righteous” has been stamped in its place.
[MSG] And now what the law code asked for but we couldn’t deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.
QUESTION: What does “who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit” mean?
GOOD THOUGHT FROM THE BELIEVERS’ BIBLE COMMENTARY: In these first four verses the apostle has gathered together the threads of his argument from 5:12 to 7:25. In Rom_5:12-21 he had discussed the federal headships of Adam and of Christ. Now in 8:1 he shows that the condemnation which we inherited from our identification with Adam is removed by our identification with Christ. In chapters 6 and 7 he discussed the horrendous problem of sin in the nature. Now he announces triumphantly that the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. In chapter 7 the whole subject of the law was brought up. Now we learn that the law’s requirements are met by the Spirit-controlled life.
5) [NIV] Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
[NLT] Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
QUESTION: What is this verse saying to you?
PNT: To walk after the flesh is to obey the dictates of the flesh; to walk after the Spirit is to obey its dictates. It dwells in the believer to help him, but its dictates are found in the “words of the Holy Spirit.”
QUESTION: Is this a “one or another” deal? Do each of us live one way or the other?
6) [NIV] The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7) [NIV] the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8) [NIV] Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
QUESTION: What are these verses telling us regarding how we should walk out this Christian faith?
BARNES: A child may be obstinate, proud, and disobedient; and while in this state, it may be affirmed of him that he cannot please his parent. But whether he might not cease to be obstinate, and become obedient, is a very different inquiry; and the two subjects should never be confounded.
PNT: The result naturally follows that a “carnally-minded man,” one “in the flesh” and under its dominion, “cannot please God.” This is impossible while he continues to mind the things of the flesh.
MY ANSWER: When we attempt, through our own determination, as opposed to our fully trusting what God has done for us, to please God by living better WE CANNOT DO IT! Walking in the flesh, in human strength, will always cause us to “mind the things of the flesh” [KJV]. Our “carnal” mind cannot submit to God, no matter how hard it tries.
Galatians 3:2-3) [KJV] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[GNB] 2) Tell me this one thing: did you receive God’s Spirit by doing what the Law requires or by hearing the gospel and believing it?
3) How can you be so foolish! You began by God’s Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?
Romans 8:4) [KJV] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
NOTE: If “by the flesh” in Galatians 3 means a Christian trying to please God by human effort, then “after the flesh” means the same thing in Romans 8.
ANOTHER NOTE: Paul’s doctrine is that human effort failed under the Law, and it will always fail. The New Covenant was not put in place so we could live under the same strain of human effort that the Jews lived under in the Old Testament.
Romans 8:9
Part III
[8-4-10]
Review:
GOOD THOUGHT FROM THE BELIEVERS’ BIBLE COMMENTARY: In these first four verses the apostle has gathered together the threads of his argument from 5:12 to 7:25. In Rom_5:12-21 he had discussed the federal headships of Adam and of Christ. Now in 8:1 he shows that the condemnation which we inherited from our identification with Adam is removed by our identification with Christ. In chapters 6 and 7 he discussed the horrendous problem of sin in the nature. Now he announces triumphantly that the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death. In chapter 7 the whole subject of the law was brought up. Now we learn that the law’s requirements are met by the Spirit-controlled life.
Romans 8:6-8) [NIV] The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
7) [NIV] the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8) [NIV] Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
QUESTION: What are these verses telling us regarding how we should walk out this Christian faith?
BARNES: A child may be obstinate, proud, and disobedient; and while in this state, it may be affirmed of him that he cannot please his parent. But whether he might not cease to be obstinate, and become obedient, is a very different inquiry; and the two subjects should never be confounded.
PNT: The result naturally follows that a “carnally-minded man,” one “in the flesh” and under its dominion, “cannot please God.” This is impossible while he continues to mind the things of the flesh.
MY ANSWER: When we attempt, through our own determination, as opposed to our fully trusting what God has done for us, to please God by living better WE CANNOT DO IT! Walking in the flesh, in human strength, will always cause us to “mind the things of the flesh” [KJV]. Our “carnal” mind cannot submit to God, no matter how hard it tries.
Galatians 3:2-3) [KJV] This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
[GNB] 2) Tell me this one thing: did you receive God’s Spirit by doing what the Law requires or by hearing the gospel and believing it?
3) How can you be so foolish! You began by God’s Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?
Romans 8:4) [KJV] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
NOTE: If “by the flesh” in Galatians 3 means a Christian trying to please God by human effort, then “after the flesh” means the same thing in Romans 8.
ANOTHER NOTE: Paul’s doctrine is that human effort failed under the Law, and it will always fail. The New Covenant was not put in place so we could live under the same strain of human effort that the Jews lived under in the Old Testament.
Onward To This Week’s Study:
Romans 8:9) [NIV] You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
[GNB] But you do not live as your human nature tells you to; instead, you live as the Spirit tells you to—if, in fact, God’s Spirit lives in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
QUESTION: Help me with this verse. What does “you do not live as your human nature tells you to” mean?
ANOTHER QUESTION: If I do something that my human nature tells me to do, does that mean I not a Christian?
Regarding verse 9,
“When a person is born again, he is no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit. He lives in a different sphere. Just as a fish lives in water and a man lives in the air, so a believer lives in the Spirit. He not only lives in the Spirit, but the Spirit lives in him. In fact, if he is not indwelt by the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” [BBC].
Consider This Passage:
Romans 7:5-6) [NIV] For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
6) [NIV] But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
The Just Shall Live By Faith (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38):
Hebrews 13:5-6) [GNB] Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”
6) [GNB] Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”
QUESTION: What does this passage teach us about faith?
ANSWER: We can make bold confessions that are based upon God’s Word!
II Corinthians 5:17) [GW] Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “I no longer live like I use to live, but I live a brand new way; a way of victory over sin.
Romans 6:6-7) [NIV] For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-
7) [NIV] because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “In Christ I have died to sin, therefore I have been freed from the power of sin.”
Romans 6:9-11) [NIV] For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
10) [NIV] The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11) [NIV] In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “I am in Christ! He died to sin once for all! In Him, I count myself to have die to sin once for all! I walk in the victory that says ‘I am dead to sin now!’”
Romans 6:22) [GNB] But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life.
John 8:36) [GW] So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “I AM FREE FROM SIN!! I am absolutely free from sin!”
II Peter 1:3-4) [GNB] God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own glory and goodness.
4) [GNB] In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “I stand on this promise and boldly say, “I partake in the very nature of God!”
I John 3:1-3) [TEV] See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God’s children — and so, in fact, we are. This is why the world does not know us: it has not known God.
2) [TEV] My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.
3) [TEV] Everyone who has this hope in Christ keeps himself pure, just as Christ is pure.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “I am God’s child now! When I see Him face to face I will be like Him, because I will see Him in His full glory!”
II Corinthians 3:18) [NASB] But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “The Holy Spirit is transforming me into the very image I see of Christ!”
Romans 8:29-30) [KJV] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30) [KJV] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “God’s eternal purpose for me is to restore me into the very image Adam was originally created in, the image of God’s son.”
Romans 8:10-14
Part IV
[9-1-10]
Review:
Romans 8:9) [NIV] You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
Hebrews 13:5-6) [GNB] Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”
6) [GNB] Let us be bold, then, and say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?”
QUESTION: What do these passages teach us about faith?
ANSWER: We can make bold confessions that are based upon God’s Word!
II Peter 1:3-4) [GNB] God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live a truly religious life through our knowledge of the one who called us to share in his own glory and goodness.
4) [GNB] In this way he has given us the very great and precious gifts he promised, so that by means of these gifts you may escape from the destructive lust that is in the world, and may come to share the divine nature.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: Because God said above, I can boldly say, “I stand on this promise and boldly say, “I partake in the very nature of God!”
On To This Week’s Study:
Romans 8:10-14) [NIV] But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
[GNB] But if Christ lives in you, the Spirit is life for you because you have been put right with God, even though your bodies are going to die because of sin.
[MSG] But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells–even though you still experience all the limitations of sin–you yourself experience life on God’s terms.
QUESTION: What is this verse telling us?
ANSWER: Our bodies aren’t saved, but we are spiritually alive because we have been made right with God.
QUESTION: What bold confession can we make based on this Word of God?
ANSWER: I can boldly say, “I am spiritually alive in Christ Jesus!
Romans 8:11) [NIV] And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
QUESTION: What is this verse telling us?
ANSWER: Our bodies aren’t saved yet, but He has guaranteed that He will save them! Once He saves them we will be completely redeemed.
Romans 8:12) [NIV] Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
[MSG] So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent.
Concerning this verse,
“We owe nothing to the flesh, to live according to its dictates. The old, evil, corrupt nature has been nothing but a drag. It has never done us a bit of good. If Christ had not saved us, the flesh would have dragged us down to the deepest, darkest, hottest places in hell. Why should we feel obligated to such an enemy?” [BBC]
Romans 8:13) [NIV] For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
[BBE] For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life.
QUESTION: What is this verse telling us?
ANSWER: We kill the “misdeeds of the body”/the sin in our lives by allowing the Lord Jesus to wash us in His blood. Sin had killed us all! We were hopelessly dead! There was no way we could pick ourselves up by our bootstraps; dead people can’t do that. However, Jesus raised us from the spiritually dead in the same way He raised Lazarus from the physically dead. When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus we completely “put to death” the very thing that had murdered us.
QUESTION: What can we boldly say as a result of this promise?
ANSWER: I can boldly say, “I have placed my faith in Christ; therefore, I am forever spiritually alive.”
Romans 8:14) [NIV] because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
John 14:15) [CEV] Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command.
QUESTIONS: What if we don’t do what the Holy Spirit, or Jesus, tells us to do? Does that mean that we don’t love Him and aren’t His children?
ANSWER: The subject of Paul’s letter to the Roman believers is:
1) The way to salvation is to trust in Christ because we can’t save ourselves.
2) We grow/mature spiritually the same way we get saved, by trusting in Christ, not in ourselves.
We have been led by the Holy Spirit to place our trust in Christ. We all obeyed the Spirit in this regard, and that’s the point Paul is making. The Spirit led us to Christ. Now that we are saved by virtue of following the leading of the Holy Spirit it makes sense that we should learn to follow Him in all other areas of our lives as well.
Jesus’ command was that we should love God and one another. We are doing that in ever increasing ways as we mature in our relationship with Him.
Romans 8:15-17
Part V
[10-6-10]
Review:
Romans 8:14) [NIV] because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
John 14:15) [CEV] Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command.
QUESTIONS: What if we don’t do what the Holy Spirit, or Jesus, tells us to do? Does that mean that we don’t love Him and aren’t His children?
ANSWER: The subject of Paul’s letter to the Roman believers is:
1) The way to salvation is to trust in Christ because we can’t save ourselves.
2) We grow/mature spiritually the same way we get saved, by trusting in Christ, not in ourselves.
We have been led by the Holy Spirit to place our trust in Christ. We all obeyed the Spirit in this regard, and that’s the point Paul is making. The Spirit led us to Christ. Now that we are saved by virtue of following the leading of the Holy Spirit it makes sense that we should learn to follow Him in all other areas of our lives as well.
Jesus’ command was that we should love God and one another. We are doing that in ever increasing ways as we mature in our relationship with Him.
On To This Week’s Lesson:
Romans 8:15) [NIV] For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
(KJV) 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.
QUESTION: What does Paul mean when he says “you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear”?
ANSWER: Paul recognized grace as a deliverance from living under the Law. He seen life under Moses’ Law as a type of slavery, where the Law was the master, and it would severely punish lawbreakers, the subjects of the Law. Consequently, the slaves/children of Israel would live in fear of the Law. They feared that they would suffer severely for breaking the Law.
QUESTION: What does he mean by “the Spirit of sonship”/“the Spirit of adoption”?
ANSWER: “Adoption is the taking and treating a stranger as one’s own child. It is applied to Christians because God treats them as his children; he receives them into this relation, though they were by nature strangers and enemies” [Barnes].
QUESTION: “Father” is Greek for “father;” “Abba” is Aramaic for “father.” Why does Paul use both words?
ANSWER: “Abba is an Aramaic word which suffers in translation. It is an intimate form of the word father—such as ‘papa’ or ‘daddy’” [BBC]. Most commentators don’t mention this, but if this commentator is correct, then Paul is telling us that “the Spirit of adoption” causes us to cry out, “Daddy! Father!”
Romans 8:16) [NIV] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
(CEV) God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children.
(GNB) God’s Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children.
(MSG) God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children.
(NLT) For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.
QUESTION: How does the Holy Spirit do this?
ANSWER: Consider the following:
John 14:26) [GNB] The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.
John 15:26) [GNB] “The Helper will come—the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God and who comes from the Father. I will send him to you from the Father, and he will speak about me.
John 16:13) [GNB] When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, he will lead you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own authority, but he will speak of what he hears and will tell you of things to come.
1 John 4:6) [GNB] But we belong to God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever does not belong to God does not listen to us. This, then, is how we can tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
QUESTION: What are your thoughts on these verses?
ANSWER: There is a “still small voice” Who speaks to us, but the most reliable way that the Holy Spirit speaks to us is through the Word of God that He spoke to us through the apostles.
Romans 8:17) [NIV] Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
“he is not making heroic suffering a condition for salvation. Neither is he describing some elite inner circle of overcomers who have endured great afflictions. Rather, he sees all Christians as being co-sufferers and all Christians as glorified with Christ. The if is equivalent to ‘since.’ Of course, there are some who suffer more than others in the cause of Christ, and this will result in differing degrees of reward and glory. But all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior are seen here as incurring the hostility of the world, with all its shame and reproach” [BBC].
QUESTION: What does it mean to be “heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ”?
ANSWER: We’ll talk more about it next time, but let me leave you with 4 verses:
Romans 8:18) [GNB] I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
John 17:24) [GW] “Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.
1 John 3:2) [GW] Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is.
Romans 8:29) [GNB] Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers.
Romans 8:18-28
Part VI
[11–03-10]
Review:
Romans 8:17) [NIV] Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Concerning this verse,
“he is not making heroic suffering a condition for salvation. Neither is he describing some elite inner circle of overcomers who have endured great afflictions. Rather, he sees all Christians as being co-sufferers and all Christians as glorified with Christ. The if is equivalent to ‘since.’ Of course, there are some who suffer more than others in the cause of Christ, and this will result in differing degrees of reward and glory. But all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior are seen here as incurring the hostility of the world, with all its shame and reproach” [BBC].
QUESTION: What does it mean to be “heirs of God, and co-heirs with Christ”?
ANSWER: We’ll talk more about it next time, but let me leave you with 4 verses:
1) John 17:24) [GW] “Father, I want those you have given to me to be with me, to be where I am. I want them to see my glory, which you gave me because you loved me before the world was made.
2) Romans 8:18) [GNB] I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
3) Romans 8:29) [GW] This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children.
4) 1 John 3:2) [GW] Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is.
On To This Week’s Lesson:
Romans 8:18) [NIV] I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
NOTE: We’ve discussed verse 18 in our review section, but following are some questions are the above 4 verses:
QUESTION [on the 1st verse]: What is this glory of Christ that He wants us to see?
ANSWER: He wants us to see Him the way He really is, not just His human side.
QUESTION [on the 2nd & 3rd verse]: What “glory” “will be revealed in us”?
ANSWER: We will be restored to the image of God man was originally created in, but sin marred.
QUESTION [on the 4th verse]: How will this happen?
ANSWER: When we see Him “we will be like him because we will see him as he is.”
QUESTION: Does this mean that Adam and Eve were “like him” in His glory?
ANSWER: We don’t know, but it appears that, since they knew God in His glory that they bore a greater resemblance to Him than we do. However, the argument could be made that we don’t know to what extent the Lord revealed Himself to them in His glory.
Genesis 3:8) [NIV] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
NOTE: I believe we will be more “like him” than Adam initially was because we will see Him in His full glory.
Romans 8:19-22) [NIV] The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
20) [NIV] For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
21) [NIV] that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
22) [NIV] We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
QUESTION: What are these verses telling us?
ANSWER: Creation is groaning for the day when God will reveal His children in the full glory that He has intended for them forever past. Why? Because when we are brought to the place of God’s intended purpose for us then creation will be restored to its original self, and more. The original creation didn’t include the New Jerusalem!
Romans 8:23-25) [NIV] Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24) [NIV] For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?
25) [NIV] But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
QUESTION: What are these verses telling us?
ANSWER: We are also inwardly groaning for that day. That day includes the salvation of our bodies, which are not currently saved. That day is not yet here, but we are waiting “for it patiently.”
Romans 8:26) [NIV] In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
QUESTION: In context, what is this verse telling us?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit inside of us is interceding for us to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. We don’t know how to pray as we should because we don’t see the eternal picture, but the Spirit does.
Romans 8:27) [NIV] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
QUESTION: What is this verse teaching us?
ANSWER: God, the Father, will answer the intercessory prayers of God, the Spirit, because the Spirit always prays according to the will of God.
Romans 8:28) [NIV] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
QUESTION: What is this verse not telling us?
ANSWER: This verse is not telling us that everything that happens in this life is good, or that it’s the will of God.
QUESTION: In the context of Paul’s discussion in Romans 8, why is everything working together for our good?
ANSWER: Even though bad things happen to us, and around us, God, by His grace, works His will in us in the middle of those events. He is preparing us for His eternal glory, and moving us a little further along the path of becoming like His Son.
Romans 8:29-30
Part VII
[11–24-10]
Review:
Romans 8:26) [NIV] In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
QUESTION: In context, what is this verse telling us?
ANSWER: The Holy Spirit inside of us is interceding for us to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. We don’t know how to pray as we should because we don’t see the eternal picture, but the Spirit does.
Romans 8:27) [NIV] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.
QUESTION: What is this verse teaching us?
ANSWER: God, the Father, will answer the intercessory prayers of God, the Spirit, because the Spirit always prays according to the will of God.
Romans 8:28) [NIV] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose
QUESTION: In the context of Paul’s discussion in Romans 8, why is everything working together for our good?
ANSWER: Even though bad things happen to us, and around us, God, by His grace, works His will in us in the middle of those events. He is preparing us for His eternal glory, and moving us a little further along the path of becoming like His Son.
On To This Week’s Lesson:
Romans 8:29) [GNB] Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers.
(KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
(CEV) and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children.
(GW) This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children.
(NLT) For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters.
(TLB) For from the very beginning God decided that those who came to him-and all along he knew who would-should become like his Son, so that his Son would be the First, with many brothers.
(MSG) God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.
QUESTION: Why is everything working together for our good?
ANSWER: God saw us always, He knew we would put our trust in Him, and He is now working His character in us through every circumstance, good or bad, that we encounter.
QUESTION: What is God up to in our lives?
ANSWER: God is always working towards conforming us to the “image of his Son” [KJV].
Genesis 1:26-27) [GW] Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.”
27) [GW] So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.
Romans 3:23) [GW] Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory.
Concerning “God’s glory,”
“The glory of God is used of the aggregate of the divine attributes” [Vincent].
“The glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God” [Easton].
“The glory of God is what He is essentially. — The glory of God must mean His unchanging essence. The true glory of man, on the other hand, is the ideal condition in which God created man. This condition was lost in the fall and is recovered through Christ and exists as a real fact in the divine mind. The believer waits for this complete restoration” [Word Study].
QUESTION: What do we learn when we look at Genesis 1:26-27 and Romans 3:23, while considering Romans 8:29?
ANSWER: God created man in His image, but when we sinned we fell short of the Who God is. His image was marred in us. But, God’s eternal purpose is to restore all who love Him to that image.
NOTE: We groan for this restoration, the redemption of our bodies [vs. 23], and the Holy Spirit, living in us, intercedes for the fulfillment of this eternal purpose of God to come to pass in us [vs. 26].
Romans 8:30) [GNB] And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them.
(MSG) After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
(NIV) And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
QUESTION: What three things has God done to bring about His eternal purpose in us?
ANSWER: God called us/drew us to Him. God then declared us to be in a right relationship with Him, and He the “glorified” us. God, Who sees past, present, and future simultaneously, already sees us glorified, i.e., He already sees the image of His Son restored to us.
I John 3:2) [GNB] My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.
(MSG) But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him–and in seeing him, become like him.
QUESTION: What are your closing thoughts?
Romans 8:31-39
Part VIII
[12–1-10]
Review:
Romans 8:29) [GNB] Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers.
Romans 8:30) [GNB] And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them.
(MSG) After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
(NIV) And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
QUESTION: What three things has God done to bring about His eternal purpose in us?
ANSWER: God called us/drew us to Him. God then declared us to be in a right relationship with Him, and He the “glorified” us. God, Who sees past, present, and future simultaneously, already sees us glorified, i.e., He already sees the image of His Son restored to us.
I John 3:2) [GNB] My dear friends, we are now God’s children, but it is not yet clear what we shall become. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is.
(MSG) But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him–and in seeing him, become like him.
QUESTION: What are your thoughts when this passage is added to the discussion on Romans 8:30?
On To This Week’s Lesson:
Romans 8:31) [GNB] In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Genesis 15:1) [GNB] After this, Abram had a vision and heard the LORD say to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I will shield you from danger and give you a great reward.”
Psalm 27:1-3) [GNB] The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.
2) [GNB] When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall.
3) [GNB] Even if a whole army surrounds me, I will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust God.
Psalm 118:6) [GNB] The LORD is with me, I will not be afraid; what can anyone do to me?
QUESTION: Does God really shield us from “all danger” in this life?
ANSWER: No! But He certainly protects us from spiritual danger when we trust Him.
Romans 8:32-33) [GNB] Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son—will he not also freely give us all things?
33) [GNB] Who will accuse God’s chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty!
QUESTION: In context, in what way is God “for us” [vs. 31]?
ANSWER: God is “for us” in the sense that He is committed to conforming us to the image of His Son! He will take the worst that the world throws at us and utilize it to work to that end.
QUESTION: Since God gave His Son for us, what are the “all things” He will “freely give us”?
ANSWER: He will give us the nature/image of His Son. We will become like Him. That truly fits, and then some, the description of “all things.”
QUESTION: Who “will accuse” you?
ANSWER: 1) Certainly the devil will, just as he did Job. 2) Certainly those who don’t like you, don’t understand you, will. 3) And most certainly you will! BUT GOD WON’T!!
QUESTION: To what avail is it for the devil, for others, or for you to accuse you?
ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY NONE! God will hear none of it! He’s the One Who declared you justified/right-with-Him!
Romans 8:34) [GNB] Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us!
QUESTION: Christ paid dearly for your sins. Will He condemn you?
ANSWER: ABSOLUTELY NO! He is constantly pleading your cause to His Father!
Romans 8:35) [GNB] Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?
36) [GNB] As the scripture says, “For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered.”
37) [GNB] No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
QUESTION: Again, does God really shield us from “all danger” in this life?
ANSWER: NO! We will confront trouble, hardship, persecution, hunger, poverty, danger and death. But, we have “complete victory” through Christ regardless of the obstacles! We will get to Heaven, and we will be like Him when we see Him as He is!
Romans 8:38) [GNB] For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future,
39) [GNB] neither the world above nor the world below—there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
QUESTION: What does Paul conclude in all of this?
ANSWER: In spite of all the world/life throws at us, in spite of the fact we will get sick and die, or we will grow old and die, nothing can prevent God from doing what He set out to do before He ever created this universe. What was that? HE WILL CONFORM YOU TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON!