This is a sermon based on Romans 8:1-11 that is part of a series of sermons on the entire book of Romans. This message looks at the role of the Spirit in sanctification as God continues to impart His righteousness to His children.
Written Excerpts:
Introduction:
I would like to begin the
message today by expressing my thanks to the Lord for His Word.
I have been learning a great
deal through this series of messages. This has always been one of the reasons I
love to do series – because in the process of studying, I feel I learn as much
or more than those who hear the sermons.
I think I’ll introduce our
message today by looking at the title I have chosen – “The Law of the Spirit.” I chose this arrangement of
words because it appears in verse two and it is a phrase that we do not often
hear. The full phrase reads, “the law
of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.”
For many of us I assume, the
words “law” and “spirit” seem to be somewhat conflicted or unrelated. However,
it is probably Paul’s way of referring to the “principle” of life that is lived
in the realm or sphere of the Spirit rather that the “principle of life” that
is lived in the sphere of sin and death.
Paul is confidently proclaiming
the remedy to the problems addressed in the two preceding chapters – the
problem of sin and the problem of the flesh.
In chapter eight he is providing
the answer to the last of three hypothetical questions which began with chapter
six.
(Oswalt) “The first one began
chapter 6: since no righteousness of mine brought me to Christ, [then] no
righteousness is expected of me in the relationship with Christ, [right?]. Paul answers
with a thundering ‘No.’….
“The second question is implied
at the beginning of chapter 7: … [since] I come into the relationship with
Christ by faith, and I am expected to live a life of righteousness.… do I do
that by my own effort through obedience to the law?.... No!
“The third question grows out of
the conflict between the answers to the first and second. If to be a Christian
is to live a life of righteousness like Christ’s and yet I am unable to live
such a life [in my own efforts], what am I to do?....
“What [chapter eight] says in a
nutshell is this: the way to defeat sin in our lives is to allow the Spirit of
Christ to live his life through us. In this way the ‘flesh’ will not be allowed
to rule us, and we will not continue in sin.”
Let’s get started working our
way through this chapter. I’m not sure if I’ll get done with what I planned for
today or not. If not, we’ll just pick up where we left off the next time.
C. Sanctification means the
Spirit has control. (8:1-39)
The role of the Holy Spirit has
been significant all the way through Scripture.
The ministry and the power of
the Spirit has been one of the things that distinguished true religion from all
the false ones. All through the OT we have
recorded instances of God giving his Spirit to various individuals in order to
perform special assignments for the Lord. But the prophets, especially
Ezekiel and Joel, prophesied about a day when the Spirit of God would be poured
out on all people, not just a select few.
Now the apostle Paul has come to
the place where he can introduce the theme in its intended role in the lives of
the NT believers.
In chapter 8 we see three evidences that the Spirit is in
control: (lower case Roman numerals on your outline). We will only consider the first one today.
i. The Spirit produces true
freedom. (1-25)
A considerable portion of this
chapter (verses 1-25), seems to be talking about the genuine freedom that is
provided for every believer through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
In verses 1-25 we notice four areas in which we experience freedom: (lower case “a” – “d” on your outline). We will cover three of the areas this morning.a. We now have freedom from condemnation. (1)
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.
There is no judgment, guilt, or
condemnation to anyone and everyone who is in Christ Jesus. (cf. Rom.
“in Christ Jesus” – joined with
Christ in a spiritual union that is not only positional but it is spiritual;
not just judicial (i.e. legal or “court” action in our behalf), but also
experiential.
“who do not walk…” – this phrase
does not appear in many ancient manuscripts, but some copies did include it. It
would seem to me that it certainly expresses the emphasis of this section as
noted in verse 4 where the phrase is repeated.
b. We now have freedom from sin and death. (2)
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
“law of the Spirit…” – the
ruling principle that now controls the believer’s life.
“of life” – a qualifying
description in contrast to the “death” that is connected to sin.
“free from the law of sin and
death” – true deliverance and freedom from that ruling principle of sin that
always ends in death.
c. We now have freedom to live righteously.
(3-17)
The freedom that Paul is talking
about here not only delivers us from some things (e.g. condemnation, sin, and
death), but it frees us to now live out the righteousness of God in a way that
was never possible before.
There is both a negative and
positive aspect to this freedom through the Spirit. Negative: in what it
delivers us from; Positive: in what it frees us to accomplish.
In verses 3-17 we find five ways that righteousness relates to
freedom: (#1-5 on your outline).
1. Righteous
demands were fulfilled in Christ. (3)
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,
This verse re-emphasizes the
same message we presented last Sunday from chapter 7.
“the law could not do” – The law
cannot enable us to live out the righteousness that God expects because the
purpose of the law is to exercise dominion.
“it was weak” – this was a
concept I also talked about last week, although this term does not appear in
chapter 7; only here in v. 3.
“through the flesh” – the reason
the law was weak was due to the work of the “flesh” within us, which always
stands in the way of God’s purposes and defeats us, until we discover the new
life of the Spirit.
“God did by sending his own Son”
– (Wuest's
Word Studies) God's condemnation of sin is expressed in His sending His
Son in our nature, and in connection with sin that He died for it i. e., took its condemnation upon
Himself.
Here again Paul stresses the
fact that Jesus Christ once and for all, and decisively remedied the sin
problem.
The holy, sinless, (righteous)
Son of God came in the flesh and surrendered his own life so that sin could be
conquered. It is a disgrace and a sacrilege against the work of Christ to admit
that believers cannot be victorious over intentional and willful sin.
2. Righteousness is
imparted by the Spirit. (4a)
4a that the righteous requirement of the law
might be fulfilled in us
(Wuest's Word Studies) Alford says, "find its full accomplishment, not merely, be performed by us… [but] that the aim of God in giving the law might be
accomplished in us, in our
sanctification, which is the ultimate end of our redemption… The passive is
used, to show that the work is not ours, but that of God by His grace."
The way this verse is
interpreted by some would require the wording of this phrase to be, “might be
fulfilled for us.” However, God’s
salvation is more than just a legal pardon, it is a spiritual resurrection and
moral transformation.
“in us” – I think this tiny
prepositional phrase should be understood in relation to v. 1 “in Christ.” For
every person that is now “in Christ” the direct consequence is the fact that he
is “in us” too and by virtue of that fact, his righteousness is “fulfilled in
us” or we could properly say, “imparted to us.”
Speaking to a large audience, Rev. D.L. Moody held up [an empty] glass
and asked, "How can I get the air out of this glass?" One man
shouted, "Suck it out with a pump!" Moody replied, "That would
create a vacuum and shatter the glass." After numerous other suggestions
Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. "There,"
he said, "all the air is now removed." He then went on to explain
that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by "sucking out a
sin here and there," but by being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Today
in the Word, September, 1991, p. 30. Quoted
in http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/holy_spirit_ infilling.htm)
If you try to erase sin from you
life by your own efforts, you’ll fail every time. Give yourself over to Christ
so completely and thoroughly that His indwelling Spirit will fill you so full
there won’t be any room for sin.
3. Righteousness requires a spiritual mind [or mindset]. (4b-8)
4b who do not walk according to the flesh but according
to the Spirit. 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. 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, nor indeed can be. 8 So then,
those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
I won’t take time to analyze the
words and phrases of this section.
It is enough to recognize that
Paul is drawing a distinct and vivid contrast between the mind that is focused
on the desires of the flesh and the mind that is focused on the desires of the
Spirit.
The mind under the control of
the flesh is at war with God, it is heading toward death, and cannot please
God.
The mind that is under the
control of the Spirit is enjoying life and peace and victory.
4. Righteousness
comes by spiritual power. (9-11)
9 But you are not
in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of
God dwells in you. Now if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And
if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit
is life because of
righteousness. 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.
Again, I want you to notice how
many times the phrase “in you” occurs. (Four times in just three verses!)
Also, notice v. 9b – This phrase
would also support what we have been saying about chapter 7 not being the
picture of a true believer. If we don’t have the Spirit, we don’t belong to
Christ, and the whole point of having
the Spirit, as portrayed in this chapter is that we will not serve or obey the
flesh.
v. 11 – the reason the Spirit
can give us the victory, is because of His power. If he can raise Christ from
the dead, He certainly can provide the power we need to rise above sin.
Conclusion:
D. L. Moody was to
have a campaign in (Quoted in http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/holy_spirit_infilling.htm)
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