STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 35

HOPE, HELP AND HEAVEN

Romans 8:24-30 (KJV)

²⁴ For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? ²⁵ But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. ²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ 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 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.

Romans 8:24-30 (CEB)

²⁴ We were saved in hope. If we see what we hope for, that isn’t hope. Who hopes for what they already see? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it with patience. ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness. We don’t know what we should pray, but the Spirit himself pleads our case with unexpressed groans. ²⁷ The one who searches hearts knows how the Spirit thinks, because he pleads for the saints, consistent with God’s will. ²⁸ We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ We know this because God knew them in advance, and he decided in advance that they would be conformed to the image of his Son. That way his Son would be the first of many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ Those who God decided in advance would be conformed to his Son, he also called. Those whom he called, he also made righteous. Those whom he made righteous, he also glorified.

1.    SAVED BY/IN HOPE V.24-25

2.    HELP FROM THE HELPER – THE HOLY SPIRIT V.26-27

Ø  Helps us overcome our weaknesses

Ø  Makes intercession according to God’s will through inner groanings

3.    ALL THINGS WORK FOR OUR GOOD V.28

Ø  For lovers of God, called to do His purpose (will & works)

4.    FOREKNOWLEGE, PREDESTINATE, CALLED, JUSTIFIED & GLORIFIED V.29-30

Ø  God knew who would choose Him, He set their destiny from that point to be conformed (shaped like) Jesus becoming brothers/sisters in God’s family

Ø  Order: called, made righteous, then glorified

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 34

OUR SUFFERING AND OUR HOPE

Romans 8:17-23 (KJV)

¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, ²¹ Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. ²³ And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:17-23 (CEB)

¹⁷ But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him. ¹⁸ I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ The whole creation waits breathless with anticipation for the revelation of God’s sons and daughters. ²⁰ Creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice—it was the choice of the one who subjected it—but in the hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from slavery to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of God’s children. ²² We know that the whole creation is groaning together and suffering labor pains up until now. ²³ And it’s not only the creation. We ourselves who have the Spirit as the first crop of the harvest also groan inside as we wait to be adopted and for our bodies to be set free.

1.    HEIRS OF GOD V.17a

Ø  Children of God = heirs of God = joint (fellow) heirs with Christ

2.    SUFFERING WITH CHRIST V.17b-18

Ø  Facing the rejection & possible persecution of following Christ’s principles

Ø  Nothing when compared with the glory coming to us through Christ

3.    ERNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATURE V.19-22

Ø  Adam’s sin subjected ALL creation to sin’s effects; the complete freedom for mankind AND all of creation will be realized when His kingdom comes

4.    FIRSTFRUITS V.23 – We are the firstfruits (tithe of all mankind) receiving full life

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 32

BENEFITS OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD

Romans 8:10-16 (KJV)

¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. ¹² Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. ¹³ For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. ¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 8:10-16 (CEB)

¹⁰ If Christ is in you, the Spirit is your life because of God’s righteousness, but the body is dead because of sin. ¹¹ If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your human bodies also, through his Spirit that lives in you. ¹² So then, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but it isn’t an obligation to ourselves to live our lives on the basis of selfishness. ¹³ If you live on the basis of selfishness, you are going to die. But if you put to death the actions of the body with the Spirit, you will live. ¹⁴ All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. ¹⁵ You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children. With this Spirit, we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children.

1.   CONDITION OF THE BODY V.10

Ø  Considered dead because of sin (selfishness)

Ø  Truly is alive (spiritually) because of righteousness

2.   WORK OF THE SPIRIT V.11

Ø  Makes us more alive through His Spirit

3.   BENEFIT #1: DEBTORS NO LONGER V.12-13

4.   BENEFIT #2: WE ARE SONS OF GOD V.14

5.   NOT BONDAGE, BUT ADOPTION V.15

6.   WITNESS: WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD V.16

REMEMBER: WE ARE NOT DEBTORS, WE ARE SONS!

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 32

BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:5-9 (KJV)

⁵ For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after 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, neither indeed can be. ⁸ So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:5-9 (CEB)

⁵ People whose lives are based on selfishness think about selfish things, but people whose lives are based on the Spirit think about things that are related to the Spirit. ⁶ The attitude that comes from selfishness leads to death, but the attitude that comes from the Spirit leads to life and peace. ⁷ So the attitude that comes from selfishness is hostile to God. It doesn’t submit to God’s Law, because it can’t. ⁸ People who are self-centered aren’t able to please God. ⁹ But you aren’t self-centered. Instead you are in the Spirit, if in fact God’s Spirit lives in you. If anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, they don’t belong to him.

1.    CONTRAST OF LIFESTYLES V.5-8

Ø  Fleshly – think about selfish, fleshly things

Ø  Spiritual – think about things related to the Spirit

Ø  Fleshly – this attitude leads to eternal death

Ø  Spiritual – this attitude leads to eternal life and peace

Ø  Fleshly (carnal) – hates God and can’t submit to God or obey Him

Ø  Spiritual – loves and obeys God

2.    WHAT WE ARE V.9

Ø  Not fleshly, but rather we are spiritual (following the Spirit’s direction)

Ø  In fact, God’s Spirit lives in us

Ø  However, if anyone doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, they don’t belong to Him

LET US BE SURE TO WALK FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT OF GOD’S LEADING.

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STUDIES IN ROMANS

LESSON 31

SET FREE BY THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:1-4 (KJV)

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-4 (CEB)

¹ So now there isn’t any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ God has done what was impossible for the Law, since it was weak because of selfishness. God condemned sin in the body by sending his own Son to deal with sin in the same body as humans, who are controlled by sin. ⁴ He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us. NOW THE WAY WE LIVE IS BASED ON THE SPIRIT, NOT BASED ON SELFISHNESS. (my emphasis)

1.   NO CONDEMNATION V.1

Ø  To those who are ‘in Christ’ – chosen to live for, follow & trust in Christ

Ø  NOTE: the phrase “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” has been added by the translators – not in most translations.  Though it is stated in v.4, it changes the emphasis from grace to works here.

2.   SET FREE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS V.2

3.   WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO V.3a

Ø  The Law could not set us free

4.   WHAT GOD DID V.3b, 4a

Ø  Sent His own Son, Jesus, to deal with sin in the flesh

Ø  He did this so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us.

5.   WHY GOD DID THIS 4b

Ø  Now the way we live is based on the Spirit, not based on selfishness

NO CONDEMNATION WHEN WE WALK TRUSTING IN CHRIST’S WORK IN US.

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