Good news is coming

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:20-21

As a consequence of his disobedience, Adam and all to come must work for food and livelihood from the cursed ground. However, with God’s grace, there is good news; the curse is not permanent. There is hope (v 21). The day is coming when the created order will be set free from its curse. It will share in “the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” As Adam’s sin brought the curse of death to the universe, the day is coming when God’s glorious Kingdom will set (2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1).

Creation restored

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Romans 8:19

Paul tells us that creation itself eagerly waits the time when the glorious future of the sons of God is realized. Phillips’s translation states, “The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.” Throughout scripture we see the personification of nature; examples include reference to the rivers “clap their hands” and the mountains “sing together for joy” (Ps 98:8; Isa 55:12). Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden not only caused the fall of man, but also the earth as well (Gen 3:17–18; 5:29). When God’s redemptive work is completed, not only man will be restored, but creation will become all that God intended it to be.

Incomparable glory

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

Patience is something we struggle with in our society; we want what we want, and we want it now. This runs contrary teaching throughout scripture. Peter and Paul agree about suffering comes before glory (I Peter 4:12-13). Suffering for the sake of Christ is a great teaches us dependence upon Christ; however, the good news is that the glory to come far outweighs any suffering we may endure. Paul encourages three times in this chapter: (1) the glory that will be revealed (vv. 18–25), (2) the help of the Holy Spirit (vv. 26–27), and (3) the fact that all things work together for good (vv. 28–30). Paul tells us that our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20); and, that this earthly life is but a moment in time in comparison with eternity. If we allow the difficulties of life to absorb our attention, they will effectively blot out the glory that awaits us. Our focus needs to be on things above (Colossians 3:2), spiritual concerns of eternal significance (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Co-heir with Christ

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. Romans 8:17

What an incredible statement; as children of God, we are co-heirs with Christ. We will share in the inheritance of Christ, both his sufferings and glory. This is not a condition, (“if indeed”) it is actually a simple statement of fact. Sharing the sufferings of Christ leads to sharing his glory. While, we do not share the redemptive suffering of Christ, we do share the consequences in terms of opposition from the world (in the world you will face challenges John 16:33). We can take comfort, because Christ has overcome the world; and we can share in his ultimate victory.

I am a child of God

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." Romans 8:16

God enables us to cry out “Abba Father,” endorsing our assurance that we are children of God. Our spirit is strengthened by the powerful inward testimony of God’s Spirit. I used to sing the song that asks the question, “You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart.” I know that I am a member of God’s family because His spirit tells me it is so.

Spirit of sonship

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.” Romans 8:15

Being led by the Spirit does not enslave us; rather, God's spirit gives us the realization that we have become adopted sons of God. For that reason, we cry out “Abba, Father.” In adoption all previous relationships are severed. The new father exercises authority over the new son, and the new son enters into the privileges and responsibilities of the natural son. “Abba,” the Aramaic word for “father,” was used primarily within the family circle; it underscores the intimate nature of our relationship with God, which is so clearly the opposite of fear.

Child of God

“…because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Romans 8:14

In his book on Romans, Harrison writes that “the relation of the Spirit to the sons of God is presented as being much like that of a shepherd to his sheep. They are ‘led’ by him as their guide and protector.” This is an excellent answer to the question, “Who is a child of God?” We can debate doctrinally on this question; however, no amount of theological acuteness can substitute for the guiding presence of the Spirit. While God is the Father of all in the sense of creation, the only way for a person to become a child of God is through faith in Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 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.” Romans 8:12-13

Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated, "Grace is free; but it is not cheap." Paul reminds us that the assurance of resurrection by the indwelling Spirit places us under obligation. That obligation is not to the sinful nature and to live according to its demands; it no longer has any claim on us. Rather, we are to “put to death the misdeeds of the body.”

The lower nature does not automatically fade away when a person comes to Christ. Putting to death the evil practices of the body is an ongoing process. Freedom from our old nature only comes as we constantly rely on the active presence of the Spirit.

We must continually allow the Spirit to work in us with his instruction, exhortation, and discipline. By doing so, He will renew our lives, and at the same time,put to death our old sinful nature. Holiness is not only the standard and goal of Christians; it is also our divine calling.

“But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 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.” Romans 8:10-11

Death comes as a result of sin; life is the gift of justification. Therefore, whether we have the Spirit of God living in us is truly a life and death matter.

Paul drew a close connection between the resurrection of Christ and our ultimate resurrection. In II Corinthians he wrote, “The one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus” (4:14). The requirement for resurrection is the presence of God’s spirit in us. Not only has the spirit of the Christian been made alive, but ultimately the body will be resurrected as well. The indwelling Spirit is our guarantee of future life.

“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.” Romans 8:9

Paul reminds us that we are not under the control of the sinful nature; rather, our lives are under the direction of the indwelling Spirit of God. The word “if” is better translated “since.” This is a confirmation of his words in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase (you cannot out sin God’s grace)? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” A person who has the Spirit of Christ belongs to Christ; and, God has given us his Spirit that “we know that we live in him and he in us” (1 John 4:13).

Why our best intentions fail

“…the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” Romans 8:7-8

Paul states a theological truth that is certainly not politically correct today; our old nature is antagonistic to all that God is and stands for. The old nature refuses to submit itself to the law of God; in fact, it cannot. James, who was never known for mincing words, wrote that “friendship with the world is hatred towards God” (James 4:4). That is why our best intentions fail when we try to change the old nature. The hostility between the sinful mind and the Spirit is diametrically opposed. Individuals, regardless of how good they are in the world’s eyes, who are controlled by their lower nature, cannot please God. Persons apart from Christ are “totally depraved,” and in their rebellious state cannot please God.

Eternal benefits

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” Romans 8:6

According to Barclay, “to allow the things of the world completely to dominate life is self extinction; it is spiritual suicide.” Paul tells us that we have good news; the Spirit-controlled mind leads to life and peace. Paul repeats the same contrast in Galatians 6:8: “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Lord, give me the grace today to choose to be controlled by your Spirit.

The choice is ours

“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.” Romans 8:5

We have a choice in the way we live our lives. The first is to follow our human nature; Paul states that those who choose this way of living set their mind and heart on what their sinful nature desires. The other way to live is to place ourselves under the control of the Spirit; our focus then is on the things that interest God’s Spirit.

The way we live determines how we think about things. It has been said that people do not think themselves into the way they act but act themselves into the way they think.

Christ accomplished what the law could not

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, 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. Romans 8:3-4

As good as the law was, it was powerless to conquer sin. This is not because the law was weak; rather it is because of our fallen nature. The New English Bible says that “our lower nature robbed it of all potency.” The law can reveal sin; even stimulate it; but when it comes to overcoming it, our sinful nature undermines its best efforts.

Thanks to God, because what the law could not do, God did by sending his very own Son with a nature that resembled our sinful nature. He came in the “likeness of sinful man.” His mission was to put an end to sin, to condemn its evil power that held the human race captive.

God’s redemptive work in Christ was so that what the law justly demanded of us might be fully satisfied. This righteous requirement is met “in us” not in the sense that we fulfilled its demands but rather that God met it through the sacrificial death of his Son. We no longer must be under the control of a sinful lower nature, but can now are guided and empowered by the Spirit of God.

Now, that is good news!

Living in the Law of the Spirit

“…because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

Why is there no condemnation? Because the law of the Spirit, that is, life in Christ Jesus, has set us free from the law of sin. Paul was contrasting two different laws (or principles); the old law is the power of sin that inevitably results in death and the new law, which sets the believer free from the power of the old, is the law of the Spirit. The new law of the Spirit says that only by living in union with Christ Jesus can believers break the power of sin in their lives. Sheer determinism or willpower will never be able to break the bonds of sin. It is the Spirit of God who provides victory, and that Spirit is the available to every true child of God.

When the freedom of the Spirit that is the theme of Romans 8 is compared with the oppressive power of sin in chapter 7, it seems strange that both could be operating concurrently in the same person. The believer has a choice to live by the old law of the flesh or the new law of the Spirit. We lose the battle when we engage the enemy without the resources supplied by His Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The difficulties of the Romans 7 experience are self-imposed; they show the natural outcome of failing to appropriate the Spirit of God. The victory of Romans 8 results from living in vital union with Christ Jesus, sustained and empowered by the Spirit of God.

Not guilty verdict for those whose trust is in Christ. Romans 8:1

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

One would think that after being a Christian for almost 40 years, I would understand the most basic of all Christian principles; that God’s sacrifice has fully compensated for all of my sin, shortcomings and inadequacies. However, I must admit I still struggle with the idea that I must somehow live a better life or be a better person to live up to Christ’s standard. Scripture is clear that the penalty incurred by the sins of the human race was paid by the death of Christ and the unfavorable verdict has been removed. All of us who are living in Christ are the beneficiaries of that forgiveness. My insistence on feeling guilty is nothing more that thinking that I can help God with my salvation. Lord, please free me from the deeply imbedded human nature that influencing my self-righteousness theology!