Term 2 – Week 09

Big Idea – The Holy Spirit gives new life and new status to those who are in Christ.

Romans 8:1-17

Outcomes

Implications

Introduction 

Romans 8, marks the highpoint of the whole letter and Paul’s conclusion to chapter 1-7 in which he outlines the consequences of what God has done through Jesus Christ. So far in Romans, we’ve learnt that sinners are justified by faith through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that believers have the peace with God and the hope of glory, that Christ overcame the effects of Adams sin and that in Him, believers are freed from the power of sin and called to live for Him. Therefore, says Paul, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death (vv.1-2). With Christ’s death and resurrection and the coming of the Spirit, the new age of salvation has begun!!

Romans 8 may be divided the following way:

The Spirit of Life (vv.1-13)

The Spirit creates in the believer a new spiritual existence (vv.1-4), leads us into a new lifestyle (vv.5-8) and gives us life, both now and in eternity (vv.10-11).

In Christ, believers are set free from the rule of sin and death through the Spirit (v.2). The Mosaic law could not rescue us from condemnation & death because of our slavery to the flesh[1], but Jesus does, because he became fully human and died in our place (v.3). Jesus perfectly fulfilled the law and ‘in Christ’ it’s like we have also perfectly fulfilled the law in God’s eyes (v.4a) God condemned sin in Jesus so that we would not be condemned.[2]

People apart from Christ are ruled and dominated by flesh, while believers are ruled and dominated by the Spirit, thus our life is transformed. The Spirit enables believers to live for Christ in obedience to God (vv.5-8). If the Spirit of God dwells in you, then you have life in Christ now (v.9) and then on the last day when Christ returns, the same Spirit who raised Jesus from dead and who is now dwelling in you, will raise our mortal bodies to new life in the new creation (vv.10-11).

Implications: Believers are obligated to live according to the Spirit. We are saved through Jesus and the Spirit has put the death the misdeeds of the body but still have to live a holy life and be growing in holiness each day (vv.12-13)

The Spirit of Adoption (vv.14-17)

Not only does the Spirit give believers new life, but He gives us a new status. Through the Spirit we are adopted into God’s family and become heirs with Christ. We are children[3] not slaves (vv.14-15). Through the Spirit we are no longer to slaves to sin and death but adopted into God’s family and now we can we call God, Abba, Father. It’s the same privilege as Jesus Christ (Mk 14:36) and is evidence of our new intimate relationship with God through the Spirit.

God’s children are also heirs (vv.16-17). Through the Spirit we are adopted into God’s family, receiving the full rights and privileges of an heir, which are the same rights and privileges given to our sibling, Jesus Christ. We are destined for glory. But in order to attain this glory, we must walk the same road that our forerunner, Jesus, walked. Suffering and then glory.

Implications: As believers we belong to the new age through the Spirit, we look forward with confidence to the glory that awaits us, but we still live our lives in the old age of sin, sickness and death. We live in what called the overlap of the ages. Suffering of various kinds is therefore going to come our way through our earthly life. Only by carrying the cross and remaining loyal to Jesus in life and suffering will we win the crown of glory on the last day.[4] Note: We will delve into this topic more in next week’s lesson.

[1] The flesh = The worldly orientation that all people share because of Adam.

[2] Douglas J. Moo, Encountering the Book of Romans: A Theological Survey, (Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2002), 132.

[3] The literal translation for children is ‘sons’ – see the ESV. 

[4] Moo, Douglas J. ‘Encountering the Book of Romans’, 136.

Memory Verse

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’

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Dundonald Kids

Dundonald Kids is the team led by our Children's Minister Natasha Small that aims to partner with parents in growing young disciples of Christ.

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