[𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘖𝘋 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰. 𝘞𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘡𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴”, 𝘣𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘥. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘗𝘢𝘶𝘭’𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦.]

I really appreciated how The Gospel Coalition set the stage for this lesson:

“Romans 8 summarizes and drives home to the human heart the implications of our salvation presented in Romans 1-7 and prepares the way for Paul to discuss the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in GOD’s plan (Romans 9-11, and 15) and the practical outworking of life in the Spirit (Romans 12-14).

The Big Picture: If we are united with CHRIST, adopted by GOD, and indwelt by the Spirit, then we are as secure as CHRIST Himself is.”

Paul closed chapter seven almost despairing, defeated by the battle with his sinful nature.  His one, huge glimmer of hope was the sure rescue he found in JESUS, our Savior.  In chapter eight, the reality of that rescue started to sink in and buoyed him to confident, even jubilant, declarations of victory!

He began with a reminder to his own discouraged heart: “There is no condemnation for those who belong to CHRIST JESUS!” (8:1).  Our standing before GOD (in CHRIST) is neither determined nor derailed by our own sinful tendencies.  We belong to CHRIST.  He paid the price to claim us as His own, justified in GOD’s sight.  

“The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.  So GOD did what the law could not do.  He sent His Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have.  And in that body GOD declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins” (8:3).

Paul went on to explain that not only is our standing secure, but we are granted staying power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:

• we no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit (8:4)
• controlled by the Spirit, we think about things that please the Spirit (8:5)
• letting the Spirit control our minds leads to life and peace (8:6)
• the Spirit of GOD lives in us, giving life to our mortal bodies (8:11)
• we have no obligation to do what our sinful nature urges us to do (8:12)
• through the power of the Spirit we can put to death the deeds of our sinful nature (8:13)
• the Holy Spirit gives us a foretaste of future glory (8:23)
• the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (8:26)
• the Holy Spirit prays for us, in harmony with GOD’s will (8:26-27)

.   .   .

In verses 5-16, Paul contrasted the influence of our sinful nature to that of GOD’s Spirit.  He spoke a clear warning that “letting [our] sinful nature control [our minds] leads to death” (8:6) because “the sinful nature was always hostile to GOD; it never did obey GOD’s laws, and it never will; the sinful nature can never please GOD” (8:7-8).

Paul essentially stated that we have a choice to make.  We can choose who or what will “dominate” our minds (and therefore our attitudes and actions) – our sinful nature OR the Holy Spirit.  In fact, in verse 9, Paul made a more definitive statement: “You are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit of GOD living in you.”

It is almost as if the secure reality of salvation through CHRIST was becoming clearer to Paul.  He acknowledged that he had a choice to make, but sensed a wave of relief in the truth that CHRIST had already established a new chain of command and authority through His work of redemption for us.  The battle will still rage, but the Spirit will always be stronger than our sinful flesh!

And so, he concluded, “dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do … though the power of the Spirit, put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, and live” (8:12-13).

In our Emmaus study, William MacDonald added these comments (p 82): 

“The old and corrupt nature 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 place in hell.  Why should we feel obligated to such an enemy?”

Paul was suggesting that we can choose a different kind of “life” (much like his comment in verse 10, “even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life”).  Instead of physical life or death, Paul was referring to spiritual life or death (reconciled to GOD vs. separated from GOD) and possibly also the quality of our earthly days (characterized by life and peace, in a thriving relationship with the LORD vs. the complications from sin, suffering from an interrupted relationship with the LORD).

Paul then clarified his thoughts even further: “all who are led by the Spirit of GOD are children of GOD” (8:14).  We are not just citizens under a new Kingdom rule, or servants under a new Master, we are children of GOD, members of His family, with rights as full sons!  Drawn into intimate, secure relationship with GOD, we now know Him as “Abba, Father” (8:15).

Mr. MacDonald shared a touching thought about this section (p 83):

“By a true spiritual instinct, [a believer] looks up to GOD and calls Him Abba, Father (8:15).

While we may hesitate to use such a familiar English word in addressing GOD (Papa or Dad), the truth remains that He who is infinitely high is also intimately nigh (near).”

What a comfort to know our Father is always near, that we have the power of the Holy Spirit (within us!) to help us make choices that honor and delight Him (and position us to overcome the powerful influence of our sin nature so we can experience the Father’s best for us, uninterrupted).

.   .   .

Paul went on to connect some unlikely dots for his readers, fledgling believers in Rome, rejoicing in the realities of redemption in CHRIST, yet suffering in countless ways.

“Since we are [GOD’s] children, we are His heirs.  In fact, together with CHRIST we are heirs of GOD’s glory.  But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering” (8:17).

Paul reassured those believers that although they were persecuted, rejected, shunned, cut off, discriminated against, they were children of almighty GOD!  They were joint heirs with the LORD JESUS!  They were granted full rights as sons, welcomed through a door (to the Father’s house) that would never be closed to them, with an inheritance that would never be threatened.  As mind-boggling as it seemed, they would share GOD’s glory!  

Their suffering was no surprise.  As harsh as that suffering was, it was an honor to be associated with CHRIST, to be identified with Him, to bear His Name – for in doing so, they would also bask in His glory and in the power of His endless life!  

Paul encouraged those suffering believers in a few ways:

• They were not alone in their suffering.  Other believers faced similar trials (2 Corinthians 4:17, 2 Timothy 3:12, Peter echoed this as well in 1 Peter 5:9-11).  The LORD JESUS told His followers that prophets of old were persecuted too (Matthew 5:12).  Paul added one more thought – that all of creation is also groaning!  “All creation looks forward to the day when it will join GOD’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay … and we believers also groan… longing for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering” (8:21-23). 
• They could find renewed strength from an eternal perspective.  Paul encouraged them to view their current suffering in light of the wondrous eternity awaiting them: “what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later” (8:18) … “we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory” (8:23) … “we were given this hope when we were saved”(8:24).  The reality of redemption they rejoiced in was only the beginning – the best was truly yet to be, in spades!
• They could lean on the Holy Spirit to guide them through their suffering.  They may have been at a loss about how to navigate difficult days, but they were not left on their own to figure it out.  “The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We don’t know what GOD wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words … the Father knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with GOD’s own will” (8:26-27).
• They could trust GOD that His fool-proof plan would end well.  “We know that GOD causes everything to work together for the good of those who love GOD and are called according to His purpose for them … having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself, and having given them right standing, He gave them His glory” (8:28-30).  For their eternal good and His indescribable glory, His purposes would prevail and would cause any current suffering to pale in comparison.  However dark were their days, their eternal future was strikingly bright!

I really enjoyed Mr. MacDonald’s comments about these verses (p 85):

“We were saved by hope (8:24).  From the outset we looked forward to full and final deliverance from sin, suffering, disease, and death.  Our hope for deliverance from the presence of sin and all its destructive results is based on the promise of GOD and is therefore as certain as if we had already received it.  So we wait with patience and steadfastness (8:25).

Just as we are sustained by this glorious hope, we are sustained by the Holy Spirit in our present weakness (8:26).  We are often perplexed in our prayer life because we do not know what GOD’s will is in what we pray for.  So, we tend to pray selfishly, ignorantly, and narrowly.  Once again, the Spirit comes alongside to assist us in our weakness, interceding for us with groanings which cannot find expression.  

We are peering into the unseen, spiritual realm where a great Person and great forces are at work on our behalf.  Although we cannot understand it all, we can take infinite encouragement from the fact that the Spirit Himself expresses to GOD those petitions that match GOD’s will.”

.   .   .

If all this is true (and it is!), Paul arrived at a string of fantastic conclusions:

• “If GOD be for us, who can be against us?”(8:31) [No one.]
• “Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (8:32)
• “Who dares accuse us whom GOD has chosen for His own?  No one.” (8:33)
• “Who then will condemn us?  No one.”(8:34)
• “Can anything ever separate us from CHRIST’s love?” (8:35) [Nothing.]
• “Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity … even the threat of death?  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through CHRIST JESUS, who loves us.” (8:35-37)
• “Nothing can ever separate us from GOD’s love.” (8:38-39)

Mr. MacDonald added these touching thoughts (p 87):

“What marvelous words we read in verse 32!  We must never allow our familiarity with them to dull their luster or lessen their power to inspire worship.  When a world of lost mankind needed to be saved by a sinless Substitute, the great GOD of the universe did not hold back His heart’s best Treasure but gave Him over to a death of shame and loss on our behalf.

The logic that flows is irresistible: If GOD has already given us the greatest gift, is there any lesser gift that He will not give?  If He has already paid the highest price, will He hesitate to pay any lower price?  If He has gone to such lengths to procure our salvation, will He ever let us go?  “How will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” …

Instead of separating us from CHRIST’s love, [trials and oppposition] only succeed in drawing us closer to Him (8:37).  We are not only victors but more than victors.  It is not simply that we triumph over these formidable forces but that in doing so we bring glory to GOD, blessing to others and good to ourselves. … This is not through our own strength, but through the One who loves us.  Only the power of CHRIST can bring sweetness out of bitterness, strength out of weakness, triumph out of tragedy, and blessing out of heartbreak.”

Paul seemed understandably overwhelmed at the thought that he is entirely and abundantly secure in GOD through CHRIST.  He used every word and every description he could think of to declare the unshakable confidence he held in the steadfast, immovable, faithful love of GOD and eternal redemption secured for us by our Savior.

The same is true for us!  Praise GOD we can read and re-read these truths, rest in the peace that washes over our souls and rejoice in the reality we possess as children of GOD.

As the Gospel Coalition stated so beautifully, “If we are united with CHRIST, adopted by GOD, and indwelt by the Spirit, then we are as secure as CHRIST Himself is.”

To be honest, words fail me as I try to respond to this rich and deeply moving chapter in the middle of our study of Romans.  Only this…

Thanks be to GOD for His indescribable Gift!  (2 Corinthians 9:15)

RESOURCES:

“The Letter to the ROMANS,” by William MacDonald, Emmaus Worldwide, 2020, Revised 2023.

The Bible Project, video summary of the book of Romans, Parts 1 & 2.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/romans-1-4/

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/romans-5-16/

“Knowing the Bible: Romans”, by Jared C. Wilson, The Gospel Coalition,  thegospelcoalition.org .