Sin is a burden to the whole creation; the sin of the Jews, in crucifying Christ, set the earth a quaking under them. "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. Not only man, but all of creation is groaning under the curse of sin. I reckon, as an arithmetician that is balancing an account. "The man has not got anything like settled peace with God; perhaps he hardly knows his sins forgiven; but at least he is a saved soul." Because that is where the mind of natural man is, because the body is in control, what he is thinking about constantly are those body needs, the body drives.But when a man is born again by the Spirit of God and the spirit, then, is in control in his life, that man, then, is concerned with spiritual things and he is going to be talking about God, his relationship, the work of God within his heart, the work of God, spirit, how to please the Lord, how to serve the Lord. The Liberating Law of the Spirit of Life. There the truth is held, and apparently with firmness too. Those that are in a carnal unregenerate state, under the reigning power of sin, cannot do the things that please God, wanting grace, the pleasing principle, and an interest in Christ, the pleasing Mediator. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbor's wife or anything that belongs to your neighbor, and he had realized that he had violated that. Read full chapter. Intertextual Commentary on Romans, Volume 2: Romans 5:1--8:39 by Channing L. Cri . Not willingly - Not voluntarily. No longer does the question exist of requiring an expiation. But what is testified by Christian baptism is Christ's death. . He was the promised Messiah, born King of the Jews. Not thus does God deal with souls. The gospel at its height in no wise weakens but maintains the moral manifestation of what God is. The rest of the chapter (7-25) is an instructive episode, in which the impotence and the misery of the renewed mind which attempts practice under law are fully argued out, till deliverance (not pardon) is found in Christ. Horribly offensive as sin is to God, and inexcusable in the creature, it is sin which has given occasion to the astonishing display of divine righteousness in justifying believers. He deals with the Jew from his own Scripture (verses 9-19). as I am often faced with situations that I can't understand. It is to be carefully noted that when Paul thinks of the kind of life that a man dominated by the sarx ( G4561) lives he is not by any means thinking exclusively of sexual and bodily sins. At this particular time the Jews had a highly developed belief in angels. . This accordingly leads, as connected with the deliverance of the body, to the inheritance we are to possess. Paul knew that, and here he, as it were, endows creation with consciousness. "All right, we conquered," and then was the great elation, rejoicing. No matter how old he was, he was still under the patria potestas, in the absolute possession and under the absolute control, of his father. God himself will be with them, and will be their God, Revelation 21:3. And he feels the close affinity to it, because the baboon is living just like he lives. Romans 8 William Barclay's Daily Study Bible The Liberation Of Our Human Nature The Two Principles Of Life Entry Into The Family Of God The Glorious Hope All Is Of God The Love From Which Nothing Can Separate Us If that be so who can possibly condemn men? John Piper Sep 9, 2001. Nature was not interested in becoming hostile towards humanity. That is, it is the power of God unto salvation, not because it is victory (which at the beginning of the soul's career would only give importance to man even if possible, which it is not), but because it is "the righteousness of God." A slave to my own appetite. Once we were in the absolute control of our own sinful human nature; but God, in his mercy, has brought us into his absolute possession. Law works wrath because it provokes transgression; grace makes the promise sure to all the seed, not only because faith is open to the Gentile and Jew alike, but because God is looked to as a quickener of the dead. We all know where it is and must be for the Christian. Then the apostle introduces the ground, certainty, and character of God's judgment (verses 4-16). Pleasing God is our highest end, of which those that are in the flesh cannot but fall short; they cannot please him, nay, they cannot but displease him. Hence, therefore, it was in no way limited to any particular nation, such as those that had already been under the law and government of God. Therefore, he found himself in this dilemma, whenever he would intend to do good, evil was present with him. Before the cross there hung out the gravest question that ever was raised, and it needed settlement in this world; but in Christ sin is for ever abolished for the believer; and this not only in respect of what He has done, but in what He is. He may be opposite to Michael or to Gabriel, but never to God. Just what do you mean?" And, upon the view of both, he gives this judgment here. We saw how the Jewish conception of solidarity made it possible for him to argue that, quite literally, all men were involved in Adam's sin and in its consequence--death. same in (ii) It followed that he became heir to his new father's estate. Consequently the call of God, and not the birth simply makes the real difference. Moses saith, "I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people," etc. (c) But he has a use of this word sarx ( G4561) which is all his own. Thus the proof was complete. Within he must battle with his own evil human nature; without he must live in a world of death and decay. But there is more, which Paul afterwards insisted on. Paul says that creation was subjected to futility in Romans 8:20-21 ESV: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We, by the spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, and thus, experience spiritual life. It is the appointment of God, who has chosen to place his people in this condition; and who for wise purposes retains them in it. And this not willingly, not of their own choice. Romans 16:1-27; Romans 16:1-27 brings before us in the most. His pathway follows; and he shows that the very troubles of the road become a distinct matter of boast. I have rested in this verse over and over and over again. Future Thursday broadcasts will appear in this playlist as well. As the accomplishment of the saints' present hopes and expectations, Romans 8:19; Romans 8:19, c. As the saints are suffering for it, so they are waiting for it. The whole species of creatures is designed for, and is hastening to, a total dissolution by fire. The Rams conquered the 49ers today. . This describes substantially the same condition as Romans 7:15-24. For years he was a sales engineer for the Southern County Gas Company, and then he went into the real estate business and was a realtor here in Santa Ana for many years. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "The law is weak to us, because we are weak to it: the sun cannot give light to blind eye, not from any impotency in itself, but merely from the incapacity of the subject it shines upon." (Poole) c. In that it was weak through the flesh: The law is weak because it speaks to our flesh. Why should this be so strange and incredible to you? That was said to Paul, rather than what was taught by Paul. That final adoption will be the redemption of their bodies. Now, that suffering saints may have strong supports and consolations from their hopes of heaven, he holds the balance (Romans 8:18; Romans 8:18), in a comparison between the two, which is observable. When we pray in tongues, we give the Holy Spirit freedom to help us pray. It is so with us if we love God. For the created world has been subjected to chaos, not because of its own choice, but through him who passed the sentence of such subjugation upon it, and yet it still has the hope that the created world also will be liberated from this slavery to decay and will be brought to the freedom of the glory of the children of God; for we know that the whole creation unites together in groans and agonies. Because they look around and they say, "Will you look at that baboon over there? Oratio. Unwittingly she was involved in the consequences of the sin of man. Now the saints are God's hidden ones, the wheat seems lost in a heap of chaff; but then they shall be manifested. God is the infinite, the eternal Creator. This was the father's power over his family; it was the power of absolute disposal and control, and in the early days was actually the power of life and death. And as it is for obedience of faith, it was not in anywise restricted to the Jewish people "among all nations, for his (Christ's) name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ" (verses 5, 6). Any date. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope. And this is the state of the natural man apart from Jesus Christ. God loves you. The Gentiles the despised heathen were to be brought in; the self-satisfied Jews are left behind, justly and beyond question, if they believed the law and the prophets. Lot Chuck Missler 4CD + 20 DVD Set and 6 Books (Romans, Acts, Luke, John) Notes. He first sums up what is disbursed for Christ in the sufferings of this present time, and finds they come to very little; he then sums up what is secured to us by Christ in the glory that shall be revealed, and this he finds to be an infinite sum, transcending all conception, the disbursement abundantly made up and the losses infinitely countervailed. Xenophon tells us that Socrates taught his disciples simply to pray for good things, and not to attempt to specify them, but to leave God to decide what the good things were. Its characteristic is its absorption in the things that human nature without Christ sets its heart upon. Because (or, that; i.e. It would have been then wholly inconsistent that the earnest of the Spirit should be less efficacious in the children of God than hidden instinct in the lifeless parts of creation. (i) The adopted person lost all rights in his old family and gained all the rights of a legitimate son in his new family. Sermon. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized unto Jesus Christ were baptized unto his death?" Neither life nor death can separate us from Christ. What the apostle had given him in fulness was the great truth, however fundamental it may be, that I am entitled, and even called on in the name of the Lord Jesus, to know that I am dead to sin; not that I must die, but that I am dead that my baptism means nothing less than this, and is shorn of its most emphatic point if limited merely to Christ's dying for my sins. (ver. The Lord himself is the portion of the saints' inheritance (Psalms 16:5), a goodly heritage, Romans 8:6; Romans 8:6. For you have not received the spirit of bondage ( Romans 8:15 ). Pretty tense there for a little bit. This first shadow of the gospel of Jesus Christ (see gospel in the OT - Gal 3:8) provided the firm foundation for hope (absolute certainty that God would do good to us and to the creation in the future) and this hope was the basis for the creation's eager anticipation that Paul described in the previous verse (see note Romans 8:19) Romans 8:21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ", Not of its own will is understood by some commentators as meaning "not due to any act of its own"; but that interpretation confuses the reason of the subjection with the execution of the deserved punishment of man's rebellion. Or the spirit and mind now being dominated by the spirit which is in control, and the body down here where God intended it to be, no longer controlling, no longer ruling, no longer exercising its hold over me. It was the boast of the Jews that the law spoke about them; that the Gentiles had no right to it, and were but presuming on what belonged to God's chosen people. Sep 14, 1980. ( Romans 8:32 ). At this point we enter upon a most important part of the epistle, on which we must dwell for a little. This is one of the most lyrical passages Paul ever wrote. With one tremendous leap of thought Paul has seen Christ, not as the Judge but as the lover of the souls of men. Never think of him opposite of God. It was the logos ( G3056) which kept the stars in their courses and the planets in their appointed tracks. It is God who acquits. So God foreknew me. There are some who still believe that; but the ancient world was really haunted by this supposed domination of a man's life by the influence of the stars. By the creature here we understand, not as some do the Gentile world, and their expectation of Christ and the gospel, which is an exposition very foreign and forced, but the whole frame of nature, especially that of this lower world--the whole creation, the compages of inanimate and sensible creatures, which, because of their harmony and mutual dependence, and because they all constitute and make up one world, are spoken of in the singular number as the creature. It will be observed therefore, that in this connection the apostle shows the place both of conscience and of the law, that God in judging will take into full consideration the circumstances and condition of every soul of man. They are going to be talking to you about new recipes, exotic new desserts, or they are going to be talking to you about drinks, or they're going to be talking to you about sex, or things that relate to the body appetites. When it rains, it is starting to leak. Has He mercy only for guilty Israel? It has always the idea of power about it, power as of a mighty rushing wind. subject to vanity; they willingly went into idolatrous and other And God knows what is going on and God is working even in this situation His good purpose in your life. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Though they were willingly vain, yet they were not willingly made They would not hear of it. This is applied in the two chapters that follow. God, therefore, having not the least hindrance to the manifestation of what He can be and is in merciful intervention on behalf of the worst of sinners, manifests it is His righteousness "by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (ver. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. Were it merely Romans 3:1-31 there could not be full peace with God as there is. It is not yet executed. Children will dream. Her question to Jesus is, "Where do we worship God?" excellent gift of all" (Sibylline Oracles 3: 620-633). 22). You know things start going wrong, "Oh, I need to talk to someone," you know. One of their great conceptions was the logos ( G3056) of God, which was God's mind or the reason. Christ is come, and has changed all. A description of our present physical bodies "as frail and dying; as exposed to trials, temptations, and cares; as in the midst of conflicts" (Barnes). And it is well for those ignorant of it to know that here, in verse 4, the apostle speaks first of "walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.". Romans 8:18 is a well-known scripture written by Paul. Romans 8:20. It furnishes occasion for some interesting exhibitions of character - for hope, and faith, and love, and for increasing and progressive excellence. How glorious it is to be an heir of God, joint-heir with Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God has become mine. For God did not intend for man to live after the flesh and be a slave to his flesh, but God intended that man should live and walk after the Spirit.You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if the Spirit of God is dwelling in you. When the Bible speaks of God knowing a man, it means that he has a purpose and a plan and a task for that man. This word has a very definite Old Testament background. But thus the way is now clear for bringing the Jew into the discussion. We did not achieve that; all is of God. 7). From what? to deal with the whole posterity of Adam as involved in death because of one, their common father, who could deny the consistency of one man's saving? So, Paul is saying, it is the Holy Spirit himself who is the witness to our adoption into the family of God. But there is therefore now no condemnation to those which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Free postage . While man and his environment will never be completely reconciled in time, man can be restored to a perfect environment and fellowship with God in eternity. But God will no more accept the works of your flesh than He would Cain's, who sought to offer to God the works of his flesh and was rejected by God. And God has written His law in my heart by which God now directs and controls even my desire--this new life in the Spirit in Christ. The very sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, Prov 15 8. Because you were not answering to the very basic cause of your existence. how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! We are often taught that heaven awaits the Christian, but if we don't understand how the Bible presents it, it wouldn't be desirable or our hope. Compare with this Psalms 96:10-13; Psalms 98:7-9. Romans 8:20, KJV: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, He is Spirit-controlled, Christ-controlled, God-focused. In the rest of chapter 15 the apostle dwells on the extent of his apostleship, renews his expression of the thought and hope of visiting Rome, and at the same time shows how well he remembered the need of the poor at Jerusalem. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Yes, but this is another principle. More than once Paul speaks of these angels ( Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 3:10; Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 2:10; Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:24). Sounds pretty wonderful, doesn't it? Paul has the very same thought. For I know that as long as I am living in this body I am absent from the Lord, but I would rather be absent from this body and to be present with the Lord" ( 2 Corinthians 5:4-6 ). Most Popular. 15), "because we are not under the law, but under grace?" The blazing truth that lit life for Paul was that the human situation is not hopeless. But now the body appetites under the control of the spirit as God intended them to be. God has made it so simple. How do I know? It is not only a blessing in its own direct character, or in indirect though real effects, but the Giver Himself is our joy, and boast, and glory. In the beginning ofRomans 2:1-29; Romans 2:1-29 we have man pretending to righteousness. 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. That is the problem of these people who never read the context, they just grab the phrase that they want out of a verse and never bother to look at the context of that particular verse, and we will see it in its context in a moment. What about His word passed and sworn to the fathers? He will cause sweet fountains of, white milk to burst forth. . The last time it was popular was 1948, and it is beginning to get popular again, so thirty years. Yes, He suffered, but as He suffered He was looking forward to the glory of the kingdom and the joy of being able to redeem lost man. His love is there and constant. Hence it is essentially founded on the gift not only of a Saviour who would interpose, in the mercy of God, to bear our sins, but of One who is already revealed, and the work done and accepted, and this known in the fact that God Himself has interposed to raise Him from among the dead a bright and momentous thing to press on souls, as indeed we find the apostles insisting on it throughout the Acts. Finally he brings in Isaiah, showing that, far from retaining their blessing as an unbroken people, a remnant alone would be saved. That which Christ inherits, we also inherit. When he gives a list of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21, he includes the bodily and the sexual sins; but he also includes idolatry, hatred, wrath, strife, heresies, envy, murder. The reformer Martin Luther stated that this chapter is where Paul "comforts fighters" involved in an inner struggle between spirit and flesh : The Holy Spirit assures us that we are God's children no matter how furiously sin may rage within us, so long as we follow the Spirit and struggle against sin in order to kill it. There is a disposition continually to imagine that what is frequently spoken of must be understood; but experience will soon show that this is not the case. Faith is the mother of hope. For with his mind in his heart he wanted to serve the law of God, but as Jesus said concerning Peter, "The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak" ( Matthew 26:41 ). He had reasoned the case within himself, weighed the arguments on both sides, and thus at last resolves the point. It is quite clear, especially from the last instance, that Paul is not using flesh simply in the sense of the body, as we say flesh and blood. 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