Sermons
There Is No Condemnation for Those In (Married to) Christ
Series: The Message of Romans8The Message of Romans
There Is No Condemnation for Those In (Married to) Christ
Rom. 8:1-39
Introduction:
1. Paul begins Romans 8 with a powerful statement, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
a. Are you “in Christ Jesus?”
b. Rom. 6:3 says that we are baptized into Christ Jesus.
c. We are saved from the condemnation of the law by faith in what God has done through
Jesus Christ.
d. And we sigh in relief!!
2. Forgiven and reconciled to God we rejoice and worship Him who gave so much for our
redemption.
3. But sin still influences us. We are walking in newness of life. But will we be able to survive? Is there help? How are we going to make it? God has brought us this far by His power are we on our own now or will He take us further?
4. Romans 8 answers these questions.
Discussion:
I. God did for us what the law could not do (8:1-11).
A. What did God do? (v. 3).
1. He sent His Son as an offering for sin.
2. He condemned sin in the flesh (of Jesus). Cf. Heb. 2:14-15.
3. Jesus paid the penalty of sin. At the institution of the Lord’s Supper Jesus said, “This is
My body which is given for you; this cup which is poured out for you is the new
covenant in My blood” (Lk. 22:19-20), poured out for forgiveness of sins (Matt. 26:28).
B. The purpose of the law was to reveal sin (Rom. 3:19-20; 7:7ff; Gal. 3:19).
1. The law, in and of itself, was not weak. It is our flesh that is weak.
2. Weak flesh, combined with the light of the law, reveals sin. Then what?
3. God condemned sin by means of the cross.
C. The requirement of the law is fulfilled in us.
1. The death penalty (required by law) that we deserved is paid.
2. The wrath of God is satisfied.
3. Those who walk according to the Spirit evidence the transformative effect of what God
has done.
a. We are not in the flesh, but in the spirit.
b. This is equivalent to the spirit of God dwelling in us.
c. Note that “the spirit of God,” “the spirit of Christ,” “Christ in you,” are all equivalent.
And not being “in the flesh” is equivalent too.
d. Eph. 3:17 says that “Christ dwells in our hearts by faith.”
4. It is the spirit in us that gives life, even though the body is dead.
a. We are all in the process of deteriorating. This is the result of being born outside of
Eden.
b. But God has intervened. He has paid the penalty for our sin and so gives us life. But
the process is not complete yet. He will yet give life to our mortal bodies. This will
be accomplished through His spirit who dwells in us.
5. This is accomplished by God’s power and action. Cf. Eph. 3:20 refers to the power of
God that works within us. Phil. 2:13 says it is God who is at work in us, both to will and
to work for His good pleasure. In this way the requirement of the law is fulfilled in us.
That is, the penalty is paid for us and God gives us life.
a. It is not against our will (as in Calvinism), but in conjunction with our will. It is not
unconditional (as in Calvinism) but founded on our faith in what God has done.
b. It involves a mind set on the spirit, not on the flesh.
II. We are under obligation to live by the spirit (12-17), looking forward to the final redemption of our body (18-25).
A. Living by the spirit involves a mind set on the spirit. It involves putting to death the deeds
of the body. It involves being led by the spirit of God. It involves being sons of God.
B. This “putting to death the deeds of the body” is an on-going process.
1. This identifies those who are his.
2. This is the family trademark.
C. As those adopted into the family of God we are His children and heirs of God. Note the
significance of the relationship. We cry out, “Abba! Father!”
1. “Abba” is the Aramaic term expressing the intimacy between a child and his/her father.
It expresses closeness, tenderness, and childlike trust.
2. This may not mean much for those who had abusive fathers, but this represents the
very opposite of that.
3. It involves a deep level of commitment, even to the point of “suffering with Him.”
4. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. The Spirit reveals the
way of the Lord. We can judge whether or not we are evidencing the behavior
associated with the family trademark. It will not be perfect!! We are not there yet!!!
D. It involves being glorified with Him (v. 17d, 18-25).
1. The passage compares the sufferings of this present time with the glory that is to be
revealed to us.
2. Previously, we have observed some of the implications of being born outside of the
Garden of Eden. Death, sickness, deterioration, corruption, groaning, suffering. The
whole creation experiences it.
3. Although we have the spirit (23), a down payment on what we will receive (cf. Eph.
1:14), there is a promise of more. We have the “first-fruits of the spirit” but there is the
promise of more!!!
4. We are eagerly waiting for our adoption as sons. “But I thought we were already
adopted” (v. 15). Yes, but there is more, “the redemption of our body.” Some scholars
have referred to this as “half-saved,” others have referred to it as “already, and not
yet.” We are already saved, but not yet. We are already redeemed, but not yet. We
already have eternal life, but not yet.
5. We are now part of the new creation, but there is more. The ultimate redemption of
our body. I think this is what Paul is speaking of in 1 Cor. 15:35ff when he speaks of the
bodily resurrection. There he speaks of being raised a spiritual body, imperishable, of
bearing the image of the heavenly. He speaks of Christ as “a life-giving spirit” (v. 45).
6. With perseverance we are waiting eagerly for the culmination of God’s plan.
III. In the meantime, while we are waiting, God is empowering us (26-30).
A. He is aware of our weakness (26-27).
1. Even our appeals to Him are marred.
2. But the Spirit helps our weakness and intercedes for us.
B. God is at work for us (28-30).
1. He has not abandoned us.
2. He has not left us to complete the process on our own.
3. He has been working for us and is continuing to do so.
4. He works things out according to His plan (foreknowledge) and predestined us to be
conformed to the image of His Son (His resurrected image; cf. Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:49; 2
Cor. 3:18. He is the first-born of the dead, Rev. 1:5). Those whom (i.e., believers) He
predestined, He called (through the gospel) and He justified, and He glorified (Past
tense. It is so certain that it is as if it has already occurred.).
5. In recent weeks we have been studying the message of the early chapters of Genesis.
Do you see God’s plan and what He has done and is doing to accomplish His purpose?
C. God’s work is the foundation of our assurance. We trust in Him and not in ourselves!!!
IV. God is for us (31-39)!!!!!!
A. Paul comes back again with a series of rhetorical questions.
1. What shall we say to these things?
2. If God is for us, who is against us?
3. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not
also with Him freely give us all things?
4. Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?
5. God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?
B. Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised from the dead, who is at the right
hand of God, who intercedes for us.
C. Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
1. Tribulation?
2. Distress?
3. Persecution?
4. Famine?
5. Nakedness?
6. Peril?
7. Sword?
D. We are willing to be put to death all day long (v. 36, cf. Psa. 44:22).
1. Like Jesus, we will drink the cup of suffering (Mk. 10:39).
2. We will be baptized with it (1 Cor. 15:29-31).
3. Though we are merely earthen vessels preaching the gospel the surpassing greatness
of the power of God is evident. It is not from ourselves. And so, “we are afflicted in
every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not
forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the
dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we
who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life
of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor. 4:7-11).
4. So voluntarily committed to Him and His work are we that we are “considered as
sheep to be slaughtered” (v.36).
E. BUT in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. NOT by
our doing, BUT by His doing!!!!
Conclusion:
1. YES, the gospel is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes.
2. By faith the righteous shall live.
3. WHO are you depending on? Are you depending on yourself? There is no assurance in that. Only the recognition of insufficiency.
4. BUT if you are depending on the power of God . . . you can be sure, because God is for us!!!
