Romans 8:15 From Slavery to Family

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!”

What would hinder us from being led by the Spirit of God? Slavery to sin and fear. We are not slaves (For sin will not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace Romans 6:14)   Romans 7:24-8:2 shows the way out of slavery to sin.
-We are now in the family of God. 2 Cor 5:17 We are born again into God's family. Rom. 8:29
-We are sons and fellow heirs with Christ. What Jesus gets we get! Not to consume it on our lusts but to live in God's kingdom. Col 1:13 and to accomplish what God has for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Abba Father
What the passage is trying to convey is that we can have a close relationship with our Daddy Father.
John 14:23  “Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.” Amplifed Our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 6:19

2 Cor 6:16 “Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

We are now not a servant or slave, We are sons and have the right to speak to God using the term Abba.

Romans 8:15
For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again.

The spirit of slavery speaks to our inability to do what we want. Romans 7 talked of this. The spirit of slavery dominates, by keeping our mind on the flesh. Making provision for the flesh Rom 13:14. We are not to make provision for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

The flesh is a task master, not joy. Many do not turn to the Lord because they want to enjoy the flesh. Yes there is pleasure in sin for a season Hebrews 11:25 but in the end it turns bitter. Why not look beyond the present hour and be involved in things that will provide life healing and joy for the future.

Where is life? Is it from having fun, or serving Jesus? Jesus allows us to live. His words are life and guide us.

Fear comes from slavery. We don't need to fear if Jesus lives in us. There is nothing that will separate us from the love of God. With God we have all we need. He supplies all our needs. Philippians 4:19

Verse 14 talks of being led of the Spirit. It is this leading that brings us life. Fear comes from lack. The Spirit gives life and in this life there is no lack. John 10:10

Does that mean we can serve the flesh, repent and God will gives us whatever we ask? You can't serve God and your own desires at the same time. Make a decision to serve God and deny yourself. This leading of the Spirit allows us to live in the realm of the spirit and act in our position as sons of God. Yes God will forgive, but victory comes from faith not manipulating God. God is not mocked, whatever a man sows that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7 Instead yield to God and let His love fulfill your needs.

Then with this new understanding of living as sons of God, we can live free from fear and have that close relationship with our Daddy.

Being led of the Spirit and serving the flesh are opposed to each other. Which will you choose. Fear or life? Putting it that way is simple. Look beyond the moment to Jesus. Heb 12:2 just as Jesus looked beyond the cross to the joy set before Him after the resurrection.

Where the Spirit is there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Where fear is the flesh dominates. Decide, by setting your mind to move away from the flesh and into God's kingdom. The anxious thoughts will dominate as long as the flesh is served. Freedom comes from a mind set on the things of the Spirit.  So what should be the confession of a person who has his mind on the spirit? The Word of God. The hope that God promises. The life coming from the Word of God. Respond to your fears with the word of God. Praise God for His answer when fear comes. Praise in faith, that the answer will come, even when you don't see it now. Live in confidence that God will provide, even with a bad report. Psalm 112:7

2 Tim 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love and discipline. Power love and discipline are contrasted with timidity/fear. Power, love and discipline come from a mind set on the Spirit. So a mind set on the flesh is weakness, inability, anemic, apathy and undisciplined life.

2 Tim 1:8 Therefore join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God. It is the power of God that flows from a mind set on the Spirit that will draw us to work that seems to bring suffering. Yet this suffering itself will bring power. It says in 2 Cor 12:9 Power is perfected in weakness. A mind set on the Spirit of God will draw us to work,(from a mind set on the flesh point of view), that is not in itself wonderful. But because of the Spirit of God, things will change. God will come into the situation and bring life to sickness, success to failure, hope to the hopeless, love to the unlovable.

We receive the spirit of adoption as sons. We cry Daddy Father. A father provides for his sons. God the Father will provide for us. And the best provision is God's love will keep us.

Return to Index

Romans 8:14 Leading and Sonship

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

You can't be led by the Spirit of God if you don't do anything. It is not knowing but doing that shows sonship.

Does being led by the Spirit of God mean we don't do anything if we don't sense God leading us? One thing I have as a guide is the Holy Scriptures. I use these as a general guideline. God leads us by these. I don't have to have God tell me to have devotions. I know that by the Bible telling me to have devotions. It is a basic leading of Scripture. When I stop and have devotions I am being led of the Spirit because the Bible says to have devotions. John 6:63 says it is the words of God in the Bible that are of The Spirit and are God's leading generally. Then as I have devotions I will get a leading more directly from the Spirit of God. If I don't get a more specific leading, I still go by the general leading of the Scriptures.

I knew a guy who skipped work to have devotions. This is not the leading of the Lord. We need to fulfill our responsibilities.

Being led by the Spirit is being led by the word of God sensitive to further leading specifically by the Holy Spirit. We don't always need a specific word from God to do what He is calling us to do. Paul was led to go as a missionary in Acts 13 and as he was going the Spirit directed him more directly by a dream.

It also says in Isaiah 30:21 we will hear a word behind us saying go this way as we are moving.

It is important to be moving in obedience to the direction we have and it is by this obedience we will receive more direction of the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:32 Obedience brings direction. First wait and understand the will of the Lord. Then act on the will and the Holy Spirit will give us more direction as we are going in the light we have. If we wait for specific before we go we may never get started.

Link to my articles on God's will.


Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Notice it is a path that grows brighter and brighter not our understanding while we are sitting in a chair. It is our going in obedience that brings more light.

God leads His sons. When we become Christ's followers we are His sons.  God's sons are known by being led by the Spirit of God.  A person that is not being led by God, would not be known as a son of God. They could be God's son but they are not walking in it. They would be drifting away from God's leading. Hebrews 2:1

Lord, I ask for your leading and willingness to be led by you. Let us be effective in your kingdom. In Jesus name this will happen.

How can we tell the difference of our own desires and the Lord's desires for us? Walk in the light you have. 1 John 1:7 As you share your faith walk with others and they with you, encouragement will come. Philemon 6 The more you are in the light the more your light or direction will come. Stay in the word and relationship with the Lord and fellowship with others and direction will come.

Does the direction you think is from God, bring you closer to the Lord or further away? Do you want to share it or do you want to hide it. What is of God will bring eagerness to share it. John 3:19-21

Are you walking as a son of God? If you are you will be led. Live as a son. Talk to God as a son. Expect God to meet your needs and spiritual desires as a son. Learn what is your inheritance as a son and use this for His kingdom. What has God put on your heart to do for the Kingdom? Use the storehouse of your inheritance to accomplish and help you accomplish what God is leading you to do.

Notice that in verse 13 the context is to put away the deeds of the flesh. We are led in how to walk with God by hearing from His word.

Go to Index
Go to the next verse

Romans 8:12 Not Living According to the Flesh

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—

If we live according to the flesh we must die.

Is this physical death or spiritual death.  The death is a loss of our place in Christ. It is a sleep, so to speak where we become unaware of Spiritual things.

The power of death is overcome in Jesus. Romans 8:2 When we turn back to the ways of the flesh we give up this freedom and fall back again into  the slavery of the flesh.  We don't take advantage of what we have and revert to the natural.

Christian life is a life of faith. If we live in the flesh and our mind on the things of the flesh, we ignore our rights and grace offered to us. The natural fleshly desires will dominate our life. God offers spiritual health and life, but if we ignore our position in Christ we will sink into death.

I have found it is easy to reject a sickness that comes against me at the beginning, but if I let it continue, it will take more work of belief to get rid of the problem. It is the same in the spirit. If we reject sin quickly, we return to living for Jesus. If we let sin continue, we can fall into slavery to sin easily. 

Look at our conscience and be at peace with God. If there is something that is bothering us confess it. If there are people that you are holding grudges against forgive them. If someone holds something against us, make it right. We are not held accountable for our past, because we are under the blood of Jesus. Note: there are consequences for our sin against others and we will live with these consequences. Christ has forgiven us and we can live as Paul lived with a clear conscience because he believed in the saving work of Christ and the provision that was provided.  You can't walk in faith without a clear conscience. Live at peace with everyone as much as you can.

Fearing God will keep us from sin. When I recognize that Jesus is right with me I turn away from sin. When I ignore the fact that Jesus is right with me I am more likely to let my mind return to the things of the flesh. When I am about the things of the spirit, the things of the flesh fall away.

Planning on sinning and holding a grudge will cause us not to be in the spirit but instead the flesh. This insistence to remain in the flesh will do damage to our body, soul and spirit hurting our ability to continue in the spirit.

Hebrews 12:6-8 There is a chastening from the Lord among His children. For He treats them as sons and brings them to a repentant state. When we stay in the mindset of the flesh God will have to chasten us to bring us back. Usually for me, it is a word of Scripture that humbles me.

We live by faith in the Son of God, as we die to our fleshly life. Galatians 2:20 This means to set aside the desires of our flesh and live for the purposes of Christ. We have the Spirit living within and He gives life to our spirit and body. We are not under obligation to live any more according to the flesh. We can live according to the Spirit of God.  We can choose life instead of death. Prov 18:21

Samson lived a life according to his fleshly lusts. Judges 13 - 16 His life turned out bad and was blinded and lost his strength because of his inattention to live for the Lord. He was still a judge, but lost his power until his death. Christians can lose their ability for effectiveness by not being attentive to the things of the Spirit. Let us not be sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:12

Don't neglect what God has given you. Meditate on God's promises and how to use them.

We don't owe, have an obligation or are trapped to be ruled by our flesh in anything. We are not under obligation, have a debt, or owe anything because of our sin. We are free in Jesus! We do have to pay our debts to others, but Jesus has forgiven us and set us free in the spirit.

Our freedom from this obligation or debt allows us to use our life for other things. Just as a mortgage free house frees up your budget to use your money for other things. A mortgage free house makes life easier. One is not under the weight of paying the the mortgage but has freedom to live more as they would like.  We are free to live in the Spirit of God. Romans 8:1 talks of this freedom from condemnation. Then we are free to live for the Spirit by putting our minds on the things of the Spirit. This is what we are made for. Freedom is to live as we were made to live. Bondage keeps us from living as we were made. With the freedom is the joy of the Lord.

We are free from the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13

We are now free to life for Christ. We don't have to pay the flesh its desires. We are free to live as our heart desires, because we are new creatures in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Return to Index

Go to the next verse Romans 8:13

Romans 8:11 Healing

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

Verse 11 is a power verse. The Spirit of God the Spirit of power will give life to us.

We have established that the Spirit lives in us. Especially if we are awake in the spirit and have put our minds on the things of the Spirit and removed the things of the flesh from our mind.

Remember that we don't remove things from our mind by saying I won't think or do bad things. We put away the things of the flesh by instead putting our minds on the things of the Spirit and then doing them.

The work that the Spirit does in our spirit, will also be done in our body. Do we believe that? Like all promises, they are effective when we believe. John 11:40 “ … Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

This belief is not done by keeping rules. 2 Cor 3:6 the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. We have the life giving Spirit within us. The letter speaks of rules. We don't live by rules, but by God's Spirit, as it moves us by the word of faith and love. Romans 10:8

Instead of rules we yield our minds to the life giving Spirit. John 5:21 The Son gives life to whom He wishes. John 5:24 When we hear and believe the words of the Son we have this life. The sower parable teaches us to hear God's words and do them.  Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:4-15; Matthew 13:3-23  Our work is to believe God's words. John 6:29 To believe is not saying we understand the Scriptures. It is a mindset of relying on them. I rely on my car to get me to work.  In the same way I rely on God to guide me and show me the path of life. Life flows from belief. Why work for belief? There are many voices vying for our attention. Shut out the voices that speak against God's directions. And listen to what God is saying. Listen to the Holy Spirit within.

We listen to God when we read the Bible with expectation of Him speaking to us. John 6:63 The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. God's words bring life. And we have the teacher of God's words living within us. The Holly Spirit brings life as we act on His leading. Romans 8:14

Romans 4:17 Believe and call into existence, what God has promised. We don't look at death within, but we look at the promise that the Holy Spirit brings to us. When we believe God we can speak with power and call into being what God has ordered.

As I have been meditating on this verse, giving life to your body means your body has to be dead first. I always thought of my fleshly body as being under a curse and the Spirit brings health to us. And this is true. The promise of health is there. But also we need to die to ourselves that life from God may grow within. The dying to our wants is needed if we are to be free to live for the purpose we were made for. Galatians 2:20

Giving life to our mortal bodies speaks to our ability to do what we were called to do. Ephesians 2:10 We can believe God to do what we have been called to do. We can believe God for healing so we can do the work God has called us to.

Now what is this life? Is it spiritual life or physical health? It is both. Just as we are saved and healed at the cross we walk in salvation and healing today. We are not saved to go to heaven only. We are saved for a new life to be lived for Jesus.

How are we to walk today? By the word of God. It is the Word Of Life. Romans 10:8 word of faith. Confession comes with faith Romans 10:8-10 If the word is in our mouth  and in our heart it is active. If it is not in our mouth and in our heart it is not active and just produces arrogance. Arrogance comes from knowledge without action in love. 1 Corinthians 8:1 For if we know but have not the experience of action we don't realize our need of the Spirit to walk it out. With the knowledge of our need we remain humble. So action keeps us humble, and this humbleness brings more grace. James 4:6 Grace gives us the ability to do what we are called for. It starts with obedience to God's word.

Now there can be action without faith. How do we know the difference?  Is there peace? Is there a motive of love? Is there joy? Fear will destroy faith. Perfect love casts out fear for there is no fear in love. Fear deflates faith. How do we handle a doubt or fear? 1 John 4:18 It is by quoting the word of God and deciding to live by the word and not by our fears. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 So faith is moving in peace in love and casting out the thought of fear.

Romans 8:11 can also talk about the promise of resurrection. We have the hope of resurrection from the Scriptures. Scriptures on resurrection – Phil 3:21; 1 Thes 4:14; 1 Cor 6:14; 15:20-23; 2 Cor 4:14 Notice it is the mortal body that is being brought to life. In our resurrection the mortal is replace with the immortal. “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:53 People that say this verse does not refer to physical healing never bring this point up  of mortal putting on the immortality. The resurrection brings the immortality. Healing beings the mortal to life to function. So the Spirit within us will bring healing to our physical bodies as we believe.

Where is the contrast of Romans 8:11 “But if”?

Our responding to God in righteousness allows God's Spirit to live and be active within us.  When the Spirit is within, He will give life to all three parts of our being when we respond in faith.  Verse 10 talks of life to our spirit. Verse 11 speaks of life to our mortal bodies. Our salvation has provided for a spiritual salvation, John 3:16 a change of our soul, Romans 12:1,2 and the promise of physical healing Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24.

The chapter talks of all three parts of our being. Our soul, our spirit and our body. We are reborn at salvation making all things new. 2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 43:18-19; Revelation 21:5

We are anointed by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a pledge at Salvation
Ephesians 1:13, and from the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This passage is a prophecy of the Christ. (in Hebrew the Christ is the Messiah).

The Holy Spirit within illuminates the Scriptures, making them highlighted in our spirits. As we have this light of God within us, the darkness that comes against us will be destroyed. It is belief in the light that will chase the darkness away. Darkness is the absence of light. When God's light shines within darkness is gone. The works of Satan are darkness. John 3:20 The works of God are light and Satan can't stand the light.  When we have God's light Satan can't touch us. 1 John 5:18; Psalm 91:10 Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil. Acts 10:38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

We are sent as Jesus was sent. So the ability that Jesus had, we have now in the present.  John 20:21 We can pray for people to be healed. Mark 11:24 We can command the sickness to leave. Mark 11:23 And we can live in the blessing and sickness won't touch us. Psalm 91:10; 1 John 5:18


AREAS TO CONSIDER IN HEALING.
Healing is promised in the atonement. Isaiah 53:6; Matthew 8:17; 1 Pt 2:24
Healing is for all today. 2 Corinthians 1:20;  Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3
Faith is required. Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:1
Authority in Jesus name. We live in God's kingdom. We have the right of inheritance. We are God's sons. Mark 16:17-18
Agreement and unity in prayer. Matthew 18:19
God's word living in you. John 6:63; John 15:7; John 8:31-32
Misunderstandings of Scripture. Hosea 4:6; John 8;31-32; James 1:22
Sowing with your words. Proverbs 18:20-21
Healing in communion. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30
Spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Free from the curse of the law. Deuteronomy 28; Galatians 3:13
How to deal with worry, fear and doubt. Philippians 4:6-9
Understanding Paul's thorn. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Numbers 33:55
Suffering for righteousness does not include sickness, or if it did we should not go to the doctor for help in getting out of what we thought God had put on us. 2 Timothy 3:12
Conquerors and over comers Romans 8:37; Revelation 12:11
Growing in faith. Isaiah 41:15; Romans 1:17
Growing in God's grace. 2 Peter 3:18
Living in God's glory.  Colossians 1:27
God's light defeats darkness. John 1:5

Return to Index

Go to the next verse.

Romans 8:10 When Christ Is In Us We Have Life

Romans 8:10 

“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.”

If Christ is in you refers to salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17;  1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 If we are saved, we have Christ.

v 10 the spirit is alive because of righteousness. What is righteousness? Habakkuk 2:4 says the just or righteousness will live by faith. Righteousness is living by faith. Paul said that he was seeking the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Phil 3 This is in contrast with self righteous. Which is based on our good works. OUR SPIRIT IS ALIVE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. OUR SPIRIT IS ALIVE BECAUSE OF FAITH. We live by faith. Faith is possible when we die to ourselves. Gal 2:20 we live by faith and we die to our self. This is to be done daily, Luke 9:23

Romans 4 teaches righteous by faith.

Amplified says righteousness that God imputes to us. V10 We live by pointing back to what Jesus did for us at the cross. It is a past work. It is not a work we need to be doing now. Our confidence is not in ourselves but in what has already been done for us. Faith is in the word of God and we act on it. If we don't act on it there really is no faith for faith with out works is dead.

The Spirit is alive within us because of belief, faith and action in what God is saying to us. We turn from having our minds set on worldly things and put our mind on heavenly things. Life then starts to flow. When we again put our mind on the things of the flesh life spiritual life stops. Our body is dead because of the curse and our sin. But it we trust in the Spirit of God there can be life for our body as well as our soul by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.

It is not our righteousness that causes the Spirit to be alive in us. For it says in Phil 3:9 “and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Our righteousness comes from God, not from our works that would have been considered as filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6 We rest in God because of His free gift of grace. Our righteousness is a gift. We can accept this gift of faith and rest in the knowledge of God's goodness to us.

In verse 32 again it says God will freely give us all things along with Jesus. This righteousness is freely given to us. We don't earn it. 2 Cor 1:20 In Jesus are all the promises. We have this righteousness in Jesus. Set your mind on Jesus. And the Spirit is freed to be active in us.

As we set our mind on God we realize what we have. We have this righteousness in Christ 1 Corinthians 1:30. 1 Corinthians 1:31 So let us boast in the Lord.

It is the Spirit of God that gives us life. It is the Spirit that will bring life to our body. Not our works. Not our good deeds. But our faith! Let us be people of this faith.

Receiving from God's promises is not because our works. It is because of our righteousness. Our righteousness is a result of our faith in God. God's work is complete and we rest in this complete work.

We are in right relationship with God not because of our good works but our faith in God's work. We receive the promises not by our works but by God's work. We receive by resting. “Then where is prayer in this? It is to move from worry to rest. Many times the Scriptures say to not fear. The way to move from fear to rest is to pray the Phil 4:6-9 example. This shows you how to get into rest.

In verse 10 it says the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. Then in verse 11 it says our body can also receive life by the Holy Spirit that lives in us. There is a growth taught here. First we can have life in our spirits. Second we can have life in our bodies. Why is this important to grow to have life in our bodies? It is by our bodies that we are able to serve God. If we remain sick we are a drain on others and not able to minister as we have been called to do.

Verse 11 is one of the great healing verses of the Bible. By the Spirit we can have this healing. And how does that happen? The verses before show that we put our mind on the things of the Spirit. And for healing that would be the promises of the Bible. We meditate, pray over, state to our mountain that God will bring the finishing touches and have victory in healing. Zechariah 4:7 with shouts of grace. And grace is God's ability that comes to us through the Bible. So shout God's ability to the mountain that is stopping us.

Healing can be a higher level of faith. First we can live for God but be attacked in our body. As our faith grows we can also gain health by the Spirit of God that is living in us. There are many reasons for sickness. A love for others will not judge others but instead shine the light of God to encourage them to reach higher.  And why healing? To minister for Christ.

Go to next verse.

Return to index.

Romans 8:8 What Pleases God?

                                                 
Romans 8:8 “and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

If those in the flesh can't please God? What pleases God?

God is pleased when we worship Him and bless Him with our life of service. Be still and know that God is God. Psalm 46:10 Remember what He has done for you in the past and know that he doesn't change. He will do for you, the same as He has done for others. He will do for you again as He has in the past done for you.

Here is a list I have found, on what pleases God.
Hope in God's mercy. Psalm 147:11
Faith Hebrews 11:6
Mind set on the Spirit. Romans 8:5-8
Walk with God. Genesis 5:24
Fear the Lord. Psalm 147:11: Proverbs 2:1-5
Follow the example of Jesus. Matthew 17:5; Philippians 2:5-11
God takes pleasure in obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22; Matthew 6:6
Offer a sacrifice of praise to God,  Hebrews 13:15-16
Doing good and sharing. Hebrews 13:15-16
Do God's will. Hebrews 13:20-21
Go beyond God's will/commands and do what is pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22
Matthew 3:17 The Father was well pleased with Jesus.
John 8:29 Jesus always does things that are pleasing to the Father.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
John 12:42-43 Confessing Christ will gain the praise and favor of God. Many would rather gain mans' favor which would not be pleasing to God.
Proverbs 16:7 “When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
John 15:8 The Father is glorified by us bearing much fruit!
Ezekiel 33:11 God takes pleasure in the wicked repenting and living. Ezekiel 18:23

Hope
Hope in God's mercy Psalm 147:11 This passage is what God wants us to do. To hope in His lovingkindness or mercy. Verse 10 says that God does not take pleasure in man's strength or that of horses. Horses can refer to the technology man has used to make a more powerful military. God is not impressed in our military might or our physical strength. We can gain strength by waiting on God in the secret place. Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 91:1

Faith
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Faith comes from hearing God's word. We hear, not just with our physical ears, but also in the spirit with our spiritual ears. Hearing with spiritual ears is having the attitude of taking God's word to heart and using it to produce fruit with perseverance.

Our belief and faith in God is our basis of life in Christ. I have written often on faith. See these articles here.

Mind set on the Spirit 
Mind set on the Spirit instead of the flesh is what is being taught here in the first part of Romans 8. Romans 12:1-2 presents a way that renews and directs our mind correctly.

Walk with God
Genesis 5:24 “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” What does it mean to walk with God? It is to walk in communion with God and in the ways of God.
Genesis 6:9 Noah was righteous, blameless,  and he walked with God. He wound favor with God.
In Malachi 2:6, priests did not listen and did not take God's word to heart.
And what is the purpose of listening and taking God's word to heart?
To give honor to God's name.

Therefore your blessing will turn to a curse. When we listen and take heed, the blessing that is our is available for us to use.
:
God's covenant is one of life and peace.
When we hear God, we have life. John 6:63 And when we hear God we have peace. John 16:33 In Isaiah 55:12 it says, we are to go out with joy and be led forth with peace. When we have God speaking to us through the Bible, in our mind, by our conscience and dreams and visions, through others and the still small voice. There is peace when we hear God. We have strength when we have joy. Nehemiah 8:10 If we lack joy from the Lord there is no strength. Isaiah 40:31 says we will gain strength when we wait on the Lord. When we wait on the Lord we gain joy of the Lord. So wait at least as long till the joy of the Lord comes.

When joy and peace leave return to the Lord. We should not wait for the joy to leave. Instead, return to the Lord often to maintain the joy and peace.

Our walk with God brings relationship, and this relationship will bring joy and peace. Don't let the problems of the world and the concern that this brings take away the joy and peace of Jesus. Without the strength of the Lord you  can't do any good. Effectiveness comes from moving in the Spirit of God. Present your requests to the Lord in the evening and rise with God's blessing each morning.

Revelation 3:4 We can walk with God, because we are worthy. Sin will cause us to not be able to be at peace with God or ourselves. We cleanse ourselves by reading the word and believing it. John 15:3 It is not our good works that cleanse us. It is believing the blood of Jesus has in the past cleansed us. Our conscience will be renewed in Scripture. John 15:3 Walk in the Scripture with confidence.

Fear the Lord
Some say reverence instead of fear. These two words are two sides of the same coin.  If we live in disobedience there should be fear to get right with God. If we are walking in the Spirit there is reverence. Proverbs 2:1-5 gives a definition of the fear of God and how it works.

Receive God's words. Take them to heart and believe them and follow them. Treasure God's commands by meditating, memorizing and praying them. Make your ear attentive to wisdom and understanding, by taking time to learn God's precepts and listing to the Lord in how to put them into practice. Cry for discernment, by not just reading the Bible but cry out to God for better ways to use of what you are learning. Lifting your voice in prayer to God and asking others for how to follow God. Seeking and searching the Scriptures for God's answers, the hidden treasures in the Scriptures.

Follow the example of Jesus.
For years I thought that was impossible and never heard anyone teach this. Then I read that Jesus was the first born among all creation. Colossians 1:15 We are a new creation at salvation. Something changes within, at salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Jesus was the first and we are his brothers and sisters.

We are to walk as Jesus walked .1 John 2:6 We are called to follow Jesus. Matthew 4:19 How does this work out? It happens as the promises become alive in us. It is not just knowing what the Bible promises. It is believing that all the the promises in the Bible are yes as we believe them with the faith coming from God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Follow the example of Jesus.
Have the attitude that Jesus had. Philippians 2:5-11

Turn away from what you have, to be free to serve as you are led. Sometimes we can use what we have for Christ. Other times God calls us to a work where we need to get rid of things that are in the way.

When we die to our wants and give our life to Jesus, he replaces our desires with His. Our wants change.

God takes pleasure in obedience. 
Deuteronomy 26:16 Accept God's direction and do them with all your heart and mind. See also Deuteronomy 32:46
Joshua 1:8 When we meditate on Scripture it becomes part of us. We then are able to do it with the leading of God's Spirit through the Bible. God wants us to keep the commands of Jesus, which is loving God and others. John 15:10,12

Offer a sacrifice of praise to God,  Hebrews 13:15-16
Why a sacrifice? It is not a sacrifice of giving things up, but devotion to God.
And we are to to it continually. Look at the study I made on the things we are to do always.
We love God and the way to love others is to do good for them. V16 These things please God.

Do God's will. Hebrews 13:20-21
As we work for God in the things we were made to do, it pleases Him. Ephesians 2:10 We work to give glory to God. Deflect the glory others want to give you and give that glory to God.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”
We all have been entrusted with the gospel. Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 4:19 Don't seek the pleasure of men but of God in what you do. Galatians 1:10 A mind set on the Spirit will not worry about the recognition of man. John 5:44

John 12:42-43 Confessing Christ will gain the praise and favor of God. Many would rather gain mans' favor which would not be pleasing to God.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.”

Acknowledge the Lord in all you do! He is the one who will make your way of life effective. A good synonym of acknowledge is to declare. Declare God is with you and helping you in all you do. In all your ways declare God is working. If the results are being ostracized by others, be glad and leap for joy. Your reward will be great in heaven. Luke 6:22-23

If we go to John 12:24 we see there is no fruit if we don't die to our fleshly wants. When we confess Christ in our life, we are declaring He is active not only in us but also others as they rely on Him. We die to our hope of worldly gain by doing this. But there is a hope of spiritual gain by influencing others.

The Father is glorified by us bearing much fruit! John 15:8
John 15 discusses our relationship to God as a vine and branches. We produce fruit as we abide with Christ. So God is glorified as we abide in Christ. You can't abide in Christ and ignore what He says. When we make Christ our source we follow His teachings.

God takes pleasure in the wicked turning from death to life. Ezekiel 33:11; Ezekiel 18:23
If God takes pleasure in the wicked turning to Christ. He will take pleasure as we take His instructions of going to sharing the Gospel with others.

You can't do any of the things written here effectively without your mind set on the Spirit of God. It is my experience that sharing the gospel is hard.  And I find that as I die to myself and live for God I am able to go and the love of God comes to me to help other people. This dying is not just a short prayer but a meditation of Scriptures and letting them change my mindset.

Go to the next verse.

Return to the Index

Romans 8:7

Sin will take you further than you want to go.

Keep you longer then you want to stay.

And cost you more than you want to pay.

author unknown

Romans 8:7

 “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,”

Romans 8:7-8 list the inability of those who have their mind set on the flesh, to serve or please God. They are:

Hostile toward God.
They don't subject themselves to the law of God.
And they are not able to subject themselves to the law of God.
They can't please God.

If we return to sin,  we think it may be for a short time or just this once. But that is a lie from the enemy. Sin has tentacles that will grab a hold of you and won't let go. We can get free in Jesus, but why go through this battle when we can have joy and peace and freedom in Christ? Also sin will keep us from being able to believe God. Why? Because our conscience will be condemning us. We renew our conscience as we meditate on the Bible. Christ was raised from the dead, through the glory of the Father, so we can have this newness of life. Romans 6:4. When we enter into an act of sin we are becoming a slave to what we decide to do. Romans 6:16

Many want to let you know that you can't be free from sin. Our life is a process and we can cut sin out more and more. Temptation is always there. It could be that we cut sin in half from where we used to be. But there is always something there to reject and repent of. Instead of saying, “I am a sinner,” say instead, “Jesus is my advocate and He will bring me to the Father and His throne of grace. Focus on the solution and not the problem. The more we focus on Jesus, the solution, the closer we get to Him. We can become free from sin, as we set our purpose to love Jesus and others, with our words and actions. We move to and become what we think and speak about. Don't confess the problem, confess the solution. Remember that in 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10 it says, 'if we say that we have no sin we are a liar.' If we say we are a sinner we are focusing on ourselves. If people say they are without sin they are focusing on themselves. We don't go through the spiritual battle looking at ourselves. We go through life  looking at Jesus. Hebrews 12:2

Romans 7 Paul refereed to himself more than fifty times. The answer is Jesus not striving against sin.

The first state of having a mind set on the flesh is being hostile toward God.

Hostile: here are some synonyms: belligerent, at loggerheads, bitter, dirty, opponent, opposing, unfriendly, aggressive, hateful, offensive, violent, irreconcilable.

Why are there so many? Because mankind expresses himself with anger, hostility etc often and it is a common trait. God puts on man, requirements that are contrary to our desires. Or so we think. In reality, as we serve God, we rise to our greatest potential. We are able come to a place of peace with God and man.

A mind set on the flesh by a person that has become a new creation in Christ, is a sad thing. But we have all been there. God still loves us even when we remain with our mind set on the flesh. By His Spirit, God draws us back to living in the blessing we can have in Christ.

When we put aside the desires of the flesh and follow Christ and His way of loving others, we free the Holy Spirit within us.  We are free to remember who we are, in Christ, and our true desires will rise within. We can fulfill the desires of our heart by our walk with God and following His leading.

The second state of having a mind set on the flesh is not being able to be subject to the law of God.

What does it mean to subject yourself to the law of God?
It is to live according to the principles of God's law. What is God's law? It is to love God and others. John 13:34-35 It is to obey God's directions. John 15:10 We can't keep God's law, by making a law to keep it. Colossians 2:20-23 Instead we are subject to God's law by turning to Jesus and living for Him, worshiping Him and being thankful for all He has done for us. Then with this love we turn to others and help them.

Jesus brings the Old Testament law into focus by saying all the law and the prophets are fulfilled in loving God and loving people. Matthew 22:37-40; Galatians 5:14. The law of God is a law of living for the purpose of God's kingdom being advanced. Living in God's kingdom is accomplished by loving others by God's Spirit. Living for the purpose of obeying our master. Living for the purpose of loving others into God's kingdom. When we neglect in obeying what God has asked us to do, we fail to please God. That does not mean God is mad at us, or does not love us. God still loves us but we are missing out on the benefits of living in the Spirit. It is our decision to set our mind, not God's. It is our decision to walk with God, He won't force us to walk with Him. If we walk with a mind set on the flesh we reap the consequences of these actions. Judgment has already been set. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 This relates to the law of sin and of death of Romans 8:2 There are forces and  laws, that respond to our actions. We reap what we sow, either good or bad. But with Jesus, we can soar above the law of sin and of death by living in the Spirit and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus will set us free.

The third way a person is known of not setting their mind on the Spirit is Not able to do it follow God. It is not just a decision to not follow God. A mind set on the flesh is not able to serve God.

Paul said that he did not rely on himself but Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:5 We live for Christ, through Christ and in Christ. Without Christ we are not adequate to get anything done in the Spirit. We can do things from a natural standpoint, but not from a spiritual standpoint unless we put our minds on the things of the Spirit and live for Christ. How do we move from living in the flesh, to living in the Spirit? By acting on what we believe, with confidence God is with us and will provide for us.

The verse I look to on the the subject of relying on ourselves or God is 2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” Look to God to help you in your life endeavors.

Here is what it looks like to depend on God. The opposite of hostile is, to be friendly, agreeable and live with a good will.  Rely on His promises that speak to your heart. Quote them often and especially if fear or worry come. Think on God's promises and pray over them to renew your mind to God's ways. Then act on what you believe.

Return to Index.

Go to the next verse.

Romans 8:6

Romans 8:6 “ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,”

What is death and what is life? Death is when life ceases. When we put
 our mind on the things of the flesh, life in the Spirit ceases. What is the difference between working with a mind on the things of the flesh and working with a mind on the thing of the Spirit? Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men”
We do things for Jesus. And I like the word heartily. It is having an attitude of pleasing God in all you do. Doing your work with all your heart, with your whole being, with all your soul, doing it willingly and enthusiastically.

What happens when we have life? What happens when we have death?

Galatians 5:18-21 Practicing the things of the flesh will not allow us to live in the inheritance God has for us. We will not be able to live in God's kingdom. When we are born again, we can see into the kingdom of God. John 3:3 Why is seeing so important? You can't go somewhere if you can't see. When we have God's Spirit we gain hope as we read the Bible and hear from God. This hope is seeing the answer coming to pass. When we turn from a mindset of setting our mind on the things of the Spirit to the flesh we cease to be able to see the hope that has been given to us. We lose heart and start to worry. When we turn again to the Lord and put our mind on the things of the Spirit we renew our hope and can see God's promise to us.

If we are back and forth, back and forth between worry and hope, faith does not have an opportunity to grow and therefore, hope grows dim. Passages I use to fight off worry, doubt and fear are: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Philippians 4:6-9; Psalm 36 and 91

Life comes from the word of God. John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” When we accept God's word as true we enter into life. When we take God's word as an idea but don't realize it is for us, sluggishness happens.  Hebrews 6:12 “so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”


Death vs life and peace. The flesh brings death. Then why do people say that to live a Christian life is boring and death? It is because they only know of Christ as religion and not the newness of the Spirit. When we hear God there is life. When we don't hear God, then there is death as we follow the rules of others. Rules are not bad in themselves, if they are in context of a vibrant Christian life. Vibrancy comes from hearing God. Often, the ideas that one generation had, is lost by the next. Ideas are conveyed better when there are testimonies that go with what we learn. People have a better grasp of what we teach if they can see that we are doing what we teach. People are told to imitate those who were successful. We can only imitate when we have examples to follow.

Then why bring death to the flesh so that life my come? Setting our mind on the flesh and the spirit at the same time, is not possible. One has to die that the other may live. If our spirit is to live our flesh must die. This is not referring to our body but our mindset. Where we will set our mind on?

Walking in the Spirit is not obeying the Bible. John 5:39-40
Walking in the Spirit is living for Christ as the Bible teaches.

Watching TV and eating popcorn is neither of the flesh or of the Spirit. Where your mind is while you eat and watch TV will determine whether you are in the flesh or the Spirit.

Romans 8:5-8
" For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Having our mind set on the Spirit sometimes is difficult. We may not know the answer to the issue we are facing. At these times I pray in the Spirit of God, which also includes tongues, for understanding and guidance for God's light. Jude 1:20; 1 Corinthians 14:14

It says in Psalm 112:4 that light will arise in darkness for the upright. We can speak light and life into a situation. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 A mind set on the flesh will reject Scripture while a mind on the Spirit will accept Scripture and confess it in their life. A mind set on the flesh will confess doubt and fear. While a mind set on the Spirit will confess the Word.

Minds set on the flesh will have pride, because they are self focused. Minds set on the Spirit will be humble as they look to Jesus. And with this humbleness will come boldness because again they see Jesus and what He has promised.


Go to the next verse.

Return to Index

Confession from the verses in Romans 8

1 There is no condemnation in Christ. I am not condemned anymore. I am free from condemnation.

2 I am free from the law of sin, because of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is enabling.

3 Jesus fulfilled the requirement of the law for me.

4 Now I walk according to the spirit.

5-9 My mind is on the things of the spirit and I walk according to the Spirit. If my mind wanders to fleshly thinking, I will counter it with the word of God.

9-10 Christ is in me and I am alive because of the Spirit.

11 The Spirit has given life to my body and will continue to give life so I can minister.

12-13 I am putting to death the deeds of the flesh and am alive in the Spirit.

14 I am a son of God and am led by the Spirit.

15-16 I am not afraid for  I have God as my father and I am His child.

17 I get what Jesus gets,  as I work with Jesus.

18 The troubles of this world are nothing compared to the rewards of living in the kingdom.

19-22 I am revealed as God's son to set free people and things from corruption into the freedom of God's glory.

23-25 I groan and labor in prayer and wait eagerly for the fulfillment of God's promise to me.

26-27 The Spirit also groans and works with me, according to the will of God.

28 Whatever happens, God turns it for good, because I am working for Christ.

29-30 I am like Jesus because I am called, justified and glorified.

31-32 God is for me, giving me all things as I am with Jesus. If God is for me, who is against me?

33-34 No one can succeeded against me, for Jesus intercedes for me.

35 Nothing can separate me from Christ's love.

36-37 As we die to our life, we conquer through Christ.

38-39 Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

God's love, enables me to accomplish His goals.

Return to Index

Romans 8:5

 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."

Let the mind of the master be the master of your mind. (source unknown)

We become where we set our minds. What does it mean to set your mind? It is what we think about and where we spend time thinking. It is a decision to think on certain things. It means our minds are set on what our flesh wants, or if we are of the spirit our minds are set on what the Spirit wants. It is considering and planning. It is following the desires we have. It would be thinking, what it would be like if these desires happened.

I was thinking, that fleshly mindset was on the traditional ideas of sin, lust for money, booze and sex. Galatians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Colossians 3:5-10; Romans 1:29-32; Mark 7:19-23 It is this, of course, but also it is shown to be interacting with people and how we relate to them. Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind one with another.

A mind set on the Spirit is set on what the Spirit of God wants. There is a proper use for the flesh, but it is according to what the Spirit wants for us. The teachings of the Scriptures taught by the Holy Spirit give us a guideline for how we are to live in the Spirit of God. You can't take the Bible and understand it if you don't have the teacher, (the Holy Spirit) teaching. We get the Holy Spirit at salvation (Ephesians 1:13) and then are able to learn the Scriptures. If we reject the bible out of hand because it doesn't fit with our understanding, or hinders what we want to do, we gain nothing from it. Listen to the Spirit teach Scripture, with a willing heart to follow what it says.

Matthew 16:23 Peter wanted to deny Christ suffering and death. Jesus said this was setting his mind on man's interest and not God's. Therefore, God's interest is for advancement of the kingdom which came through suffering and death. Our work will happen as we deny frivolous pursuits and apply ourselves to win and train souls. Acts 14:22

Philippians 3:18-19 talks of people, who do not die to themselves and take up their cross. They walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose God is their apatite, set their mind on earthly things and glory in their shame. Following Christ is backwards to the natural mind. As we put effort into helping others we gain happiness and contentment. Satisfaction comes from service not self indulgence.

Romans 12:16 “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.”

Don't think you know it all. Work with the people around you. And don't seek out the best or wise people, instead seek out the poor and associate with them.

Romans 15:5 “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

When we work with others we start to see their weaknesses. But God will give us perseverance and encouragement to continue to work with them. A fleshly mind will make decisions for themselves and not for the benefit of others. God helps us keep a mind on the Spirit by working with others. One of the ways of walking in the Spirit is to encourage others.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Our mindset is not just on God but seeing God in others. Jesus prayed for us to live in unity with each other. in John 17. I would of thought that He would have prayed for us to be filled with power and knowledge. But it is not this, but unity that He is after. It is unity and love that Jesus wants from us. John 13:34-35 With love and unity, power flows effectively.

We don't set our minds on the things above if we don't die to our desires here. Galatians 2:20 is the verse of the cross. We live by faith, but if there is no death to the mind set on the flesh our faith will be compromised. For we will be doubled minded. Faith has to have a single purpose. James 1:6-7

This brings to mind the passage of Matt 7:7,8 Ask, seek, and knock. Keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. Keep seeking the things of God. Keep trying new ways and asking for God's directions. You don't keep on asking, seeking and knocking if there already is an answer. We hope for what we don't see, not for what we already see. A mind set on the Spirit will ask, seek and knock for the things sought for.

Paul talks about doing one thing in Phil 3. There is not a double mind. There is not an accommodation of the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14 Romans 7:25 shows the beginning of the answer when it says, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord, ….”

Psalm 1 talks of not being influenced by the ungodly, sinners and the scornful. Instead we are to set our mind on God's word. Reading a Bible reading in the morning is not what this is talking about. Instead it is to consider God's ideas morning, noon and night. An impossible activity without the help of the Holy Spirit. We can't do what is needed without Jesus. I approach this in four ways. First, I memorize Bible verses that speak to me. This way I can meditate on Scripture while I am busy with many things of life. Second, I accept the cross of Christ each day. Meaning, not my will but the will of God. That way I can set aside what I want and desire and do what the Lord directs. Third I'm quiet before the Lord, as I muse on the meaning of a Scripture I have chosen. Forth, I see this verse happening in my life.

There are times when following Christ is unpleasing to me. I stop and commit my time to the Lord and this changes my attitude and I am willing to follow what Jesus has for me to do.

Philippians 4:6-9 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Much of the mind set on the flesh is a mind of worry. Use the plan of Phil 4:6-9 to counter worry with faith and action. Don't blow this verse off. It does not glorify God to worry or complain. Bring it to God in prayer with thanksgiving. Then guard your mind from the things that would bring back the worry. Find those who have had a good outcome to their faith and follow their example. Hebrews 13:7

Numbers 11:1 “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.”

Our worry brings complaints, which bring disaster on us by removing us from living in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. When we worry and complain we are expressing faith in the natural. Instead express faith in our loving and all powerful God. He will deliver us from the trap of the enemy, when we give Him opportunity to, by our faith.

Psalm 16:8-11 “I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasur
es forever.”

There is a real benefit to setting our mind on the spiritual things. Even when it seems like we are shaken, we are not. Because we are not looking to ourselves but Jesus in all things. As we put our mind on the Lord we learn the path we are to walk. Our mind on the things of the spirit will bring us pleasure for our desires are changed to those of Christ.

Return to Index

Go to next verse.

Summary of Romans 8

Western King bird

Introduction

I started writing this on October 13th 2014. I have set it aside at different times for reflection and pralyer. Romans 8 is a passage of Scripture that covers a lot of areas of Christianity. I  plan to update it as time goes on, for I am always learning, and will post updates periodically. I like to tie in other parts of the Bible as it explains and sheds light on Romans 8. All quotes from the Bible are New American Standard Bible, NASB unless otherwise noted.

Summary

Chapter 7 talks of Paul not being able to live as he would desire. He was trapped in sin. At the end of the chapter he states the answer is Jesus.

Romans 8 starts with the powerful statement of, there is now no condemnation. We are free from the curse of the law and are free to live under the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

The way to do this is to stop putting our minds on the flesh and the things of the flesh and put them instead on the things of the Spirit. Our living by being Spirit led, brings life. We have the Holy Spirit living in us with all power and we will be able to live in this power.

The ifs of Romans 8 show that we have a part to play in this endeavor. It is not automatic as some would say.  There is suffering to go through. Just as in this life, we have work to do. So in the spirit we have work. It is by the suffering of our work, we change and overcome the obstacles in the spirit. If we are willing to work with belief and faith, we become more than conquers because God gives us all things to accomplish His work.

We are not alone in this work of suffering but the Spirit of God helps us. And no matter what happens or mistakes we make, God turns it for good.

He will give us whatever we need in this endeavor of life in the spirit and changing life here on earth. Because we have the love of God and nothing can separate us from this love.

Return to Index

Romans 8:4

"So that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

We have all the blessings of the law of Deut 28 and are protected from all the curses. Gal 3:13

These blessings are for the purpose of expanding the kingdom of God Deut 8:18. If we don't get our prayers answered we could be in James 4:3,4 having our eyes on ourselves and not being a friend of God. Another aspect to unanswered prayer is that we are not putting energy into it. If our heart is in it we will expend energy to gain what God is leading us to. When we truly believe Jesus and what He has called us to do no demon from hell can stop us. Don't give up but keep praying, knocking and seeking. Matthew 7:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:58

To walk according to the Spirit is to walk in faith in the direction from the Word of God to us in the work we have to do. We don't just think about it and talk about it but we also dream of it and follow the directions we have.

We can walk in the blessing as we walk with Christ.

When we are living under condemnation we are self absorbed in our inability to measure up. When we know we are justified we are free to step out and advance the gospel and build for Christ the kingdom of God.

To renew our mind is to renew our mind, see, consider, accept and live by the Scripture. It is to believe God. To not worry about things counter to Scripture. It is to believe God. To worry about things counter to Scripture means our minds aren't renewed. Turn your worry to prayer. Don't let your worry win. Instead, pray over God's promises till you are assured that God will fulfill what He said He will do.

Living Free From the Law of Sin and of Death -

1. We are justified in Christ. (Acts 13:38-39 Galatains 2:16)
We testify to others that we are free from the condemnation of sin.
Colossians 2:14 “having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Our debt is paid and we can walk free.

2. We are free from sin and death (Romans 8:2)
Sin has no power over us. Romans 6:14 There is no sting in death. 1 Corinthians 15:55 When our body stops living we are with Jesus. There is no fear of death and we can live without sin.

Be careful about bragging on yourself. I heard of a guy that said he did not sin. Yet he was not loving to his wife. That is ridiculous. We should not say we have no sin. 1 John 1:8-10 Instead we should point to Jesus and how He is helping us. Never focus on yourself, instead focus on Jesus.

3. Free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-4
Our past is gone. God does not remember our past and we can live with the understanding that the past won't stop what God wants to do through us today.

4. Redeem (Romans 3:24-31; Galatians 3:13-14)
We are no longer living under the curse. We can by faith, turn from the domain of darkness and live in the light of God and His Kingdom of light.

5. Give inheritance (Romans 4:13-14)
We are born again and with this new birth we have an inheritance that we can access today. I will get to this more in verse 17.

6. Bring righteousness (Romans 8:4)
Knowing we are in right standing with God. And this confidence with God brings us to works for God according to our response of that to His Word and guidance.

7. Impart Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2)
We have the Holy Spirit when we were born again. Ephesians 1:13. Then with a second experience we have the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4

8. Preform miracles  (Galatians 3:5)
To walk with God miracles are required. What??  Jesus tells the disciples to raise the dead in Matthew 10:8. But we can't do that! The ability is with the Spirit not us. It is as we learn to let the Spirit of God move through us that the power will flow. This is not a condemnation that we can't accomplish this. It is a hope that God can do it through us as we allow His power to flow. Always look at Scripture as hope for what God will do through us. Not as condemnation of what we are not doing. Again it is focusing on Jesus and not ourselves.

9. Free from the curse ( Galatians 3:10-14)
In my nature hikes there are many obstacles. I am free from the curse and can navigate through the woods by the Spirit of God. We can go through the obstacles of life with God, and accomplish what He has for us.

10. Impart grace Galatians 5:4)
Grace is God's ability freely given to us. And how do we get this grace? Through prayer Hebrews 4:16; and through the Scriptures.

Acts 20:32
"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

11. Impart faith (Galatians 3:12)
Faith comes from the word. Romans 10:17 Faith comes from God. Romans 12:3; 2 Peter 1:1. All of us have faith and we can use it as we look to Jesus.

12. Make perfect (Hebrews 7:19)
We are perfect because of the Scriptures clean us and Jesus paid it all. John 15:3; Colossians  2:14

13. Control sin in man (Romans 7:7-23; Romans 8:2, 7)
There is a new and living way. We are free now to put our mind on the things of the Spirit and not the flesh.

14. Enable a man to obey (Hebrews 7:18)
It is through Christ we can do what God is calling us to do. Philippians 4:13

Go to the next verse.

Go to Index

Romans 8 Index

Introduction & Summery of  Romans 8

Verse 1    Verse 2     Verse 3     Verse 4

Verse 5    Verse 6     Verse 7     Verse 8

Verse 9    Verse 10    Verse 11   Verse  12

Verse  13    Verse  14    Verse  15    Verse  16

Verse  17    Verse  18    Verse 19    Verse 20

Verse 21    Verse 22    Verse 23    Verse 24

Verse 25    Verse 26    Verse 27    Verse 28

Verse 29    Verse 30     Verse 31    Verse 32

Verse 33    Verse 34    Verse 35    Verse 36

Verse 37    Verse  38     Verse  39

Confession taken from Romans 8

Key Points in Romans 8
1 Freedom from the law v1-4
Our freedom comes from where we set our mind. Laws in Romans 8

2 Proper  mindset  -  Set mind on the Spirit who is in you.v5-13
Mind set o the Spirit allows Him to lead.

3 Being led of the Spirit v13-14
This leading brings us to relationship

4 In God's Family v15-17
People in a family will help  each other.

4 Suffering v17-18,
5 Creation v 19-22
6 Hope v23-25
7 Weakness to strength v26-28
8 Growth v29-30
9 God is our Advocate v31-34
10 God's love can't be removed. 35-39
11 IF: the conditions to be met.

The Confession of Romans 8


Areas of interest in Romans 8
Life and Death
Suffering in Scripture
We know v22, 28
Setting your mind.
Law v 2,3,4,7
Sons of God
Teaching on the Spirit in Romans

Romans 8:13

Romans 8:13 “for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

We try to stop sinning in ourselves, by our flesh by keeping rules. At first keeping rules to stop sin seems good. But it doesn't work. Col 2:20-23 By the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the body by turning from focusing on ourselves to serving Christ according to the leading of the Spirit.

Gal 5:16,18 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
18 “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”

It is the law the brings sin into focus. When we turn our focus to Christ we have freedom. What we feed grows. When we turn our mind to Christ our spirit revives and we grow. Phil 4:8,9

Paul refers to himself 53 times in Romans 7. In Romans 8 he refers instead to the Spirit. The answer is to focus on Christ and do that by living for Him.

If instead we focus on our natural desires, our spirit is unused and we cease to be effective in spiritual matters.

When we are letting the Spirit direct us Rom 8:14 we are putting to death the deeds of the body by being active in serving Christ.

I start my day by speaking life. If I feel down at the start of the day I speak life. If I feel great, I start my day by speaking life. If I don't feel anything, I start my day by speaking life. And what do I speak about? SCRIPTURE! John 6:63

Have as your purpose to live for Christ. And we do this by loving others. Then you will live. 1 Thes 3:8

Go to Index
Go to the next verse

Romans 8:3

Romans 8:3

"“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh,

God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh

and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

What the Law Could Not Do

1. Law was a tutor. Wikipedia states: “A tutor is an instructor who gives private lessons.” Galatians 3:24: “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”
2. Law was a shadow. Colossians 2:17: “things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.” In New Living Translation word's, “For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.” Hebrews 10:4 says, “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The Old Testament law was like writing a check or using a credit card to pay for our sin. The payment would be made later. The check or credit card is a promise to pay later.
3. The law was weak. Romans 7:18 and following explains that the law does not change anything. Flesh still dominates when we try to live by the law. Hebrews 7:18 says the Old Testament commandments were weak and useless.

Jesus was the plan from long ago. Isaiah 53:5-8
Jesus became a man to pay our debt of sin for us, condemning sin in the flesh.
Hebrews 2:14-17

The law was never meant to bring righteousness. It was meant as a tutor to bring us to Christ. (Galatians 3:4) It never would work, as we see how the law tripped up Adam and Eve. It trips each of us because we are not made to keep rules directly.

The law shows us our need. Many reject Christianity because of the many rules they don't want to keep. Yet, because of this very problem, Jesus came. We are not to keep rules but live for Jesus. And living for Jesus will cause us to keep the rules by loving others and God!

People can't love, (with God's kind of love), without the new birth. It is the new birth and Christ in us that empowers us to love. Love supersedes the law because if we love we will obey the law. Love expresses itself in obedience. And it this obedience that the law is seeking for. Jesus takes our eyes off the problem and onto something else. We then become Christ centered rather than self-centered. We need to die to ourselves and live for Christ. Live as Christ centered, not as self-centered.

Romans 7 discusses the inability to live by keeping the rules. Paul mentioned himself a number of times in Romans 7. The end of the chapter states we are free from living under the curse of the law and we can now live in the law of the Spirit of Christ.

What was the law trying to do? It was trying to atone for the sin of the people. The sacrifices were only a type of what Christ was going to do.

Go to next verse

Go to Index

Romans 8:2

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Life in the Spirit: The law of the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and of death. Further passages in Romans 8 show that where we put our mind takes us either to life in the Spirit or to sin and death.

2 Corinthians 3:17 “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” Galatians 5:13 “you were called to freedom.” Before, there was a struggle, but when the Spirit is introduced or utilized, there is no conflict. Romans 7 talks of the war within. As we live in the law of the Spirit, we are free.

Jesus says in John 6 that we need to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have life. He said this to the Pharisees to get them to stumble over His words. Jesus explains later, in verse 63, that the words He speaks are his flesh. We have life by meditating, pondering, considering and then doing the words of Jesus.

John 1:14 states “the word was made flesh and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the word (John 1:1) and he came to earth born of a virgin. When He was of age, He started His ministry.

John 5:24 When we believe what Jesus says, we are eating the words of Jesus. We are taking them into our life and letting them be part of us.

The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is how the Holy Spirit acts. The Holy Spirit is the giver of life. John. 6:63

A law is a regulation that happens every time. It is not something will happen at times and at other times it won't happen. The law of gravity works all the time. A law will work unless another law will supersede it. The law of aerodynamics will supersede the law of gravity. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus will supersede the law of sin and of death!

When we set our mind on the things above, we are operating in this law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. What are the things of the Spirit? It is the words of God. (John 6:63) The things of the Spirit is doing what the Word of God says to do. God's words to us are spirit and life. Putting our mind on these words brings life to our spirit. Putting our mind on the things of the Spirit brings life when we believe them and act on them.

What is the law of sin and of death? Taking the above definition and flipping it causes me to believe that if we set our mind on things contrary to God, we are trapped in sin. So, the battle of living in the spirit or the flesh is in our mind. Our mind is where our soul is. The decision of how to live is in our soul or our mind. Our spirit is reborn at salvation. This energizing force within gives us the desire to live for God. Deciding to reject the old way and live in the Spirit of God comes from putting our mind on the things of the Spirit of God.

Romans 7:14,23 talk of this trap of the law of sin. The law of the Spirit will supersede the law of sin and death when we use it. As we renew our mind, (Romans 12:1,2) we don't consider the temptation of Satan, but look to the promise of victory in Christ. Consider the law of gravity. It works every time. But when the law of aerodynamics is used, the law of gravity no longer works. We can fly in the Spirit above the law of sin and death. When we let up and coast, the law of sin and death comes back into play. When we put our mind on the things of the Spirit, the law of sin and death stops working. The next few verses on Romans 8 explain how to use the law of the Spirit.

8 Laws in Romans From Dake Bible notes
Law of Moses Rom 2:12; 3:19; 7:12
Law of nature Rom 2:14,15
Law of faith Rom 3:27; 4:3-5; 11:24
Law of the mind Rom 7:16,21,23
Law of sin 8:23,8:22
Law of righteousness 9:31
Law of God 7:22,25
Law of the Spirit of life, that is the Holy Spirit that works through the redemption of Christ to make free from and to cancel the law of sin and death in all who are in Christ (8:2)

Go to next verse

Go to Index

Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1 

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Therefore

The word “therefore” is there because Paul refers to himself in the previous chapter, Romans 7, fifty-three times in his futile attempts to live righteously. After much struggle, he comes to the revelation that the answer is Jesus. The rest of Romans 8 explains this.

Now

We live by faith in the now. The past is the past. The future is the future.  Now speaks of what is going on currently. Life is happening now. Faith happens now. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).  We can't live on past faith. If you don't have faith now, you don't have faith. You can't rely on the faith of the past if it is not faith now.

Don't put off believing what you have learned from the Scriptures. Don't put off doing what God has directed you to do. If we don't act on the word we hear, it is susceptible to being lost. For example, in the parable of the Sower, the seeds sown on roadside soil were lost because the birds ate them. We lose God's input if we don't receive His words immediately. When we hear a teaching it is important to ponder what we have heard with thought and prayer so that we can incorporate it into our life.

The rushing to get to church and then when it is over rushing to get to the next thing is detrimental to spiritual growth. Instead, use church and devotions as preparation for your future. Because of this tendency to rush I think the preacher should give time for prayer after the sermon.

In the past (Old Testament times), there was condemnation. If one tried to live according to the Jewish law there was condemnation, because no one is justified by the law. Trusting in God by sacrifice was okay as long as one kept the sacrifice. Those who lived without law, such as Gentiles, were under condemnation because they did not even live according to the law that was in their mind. 

The prefix, con, means to know, learn or study. Science means knowledge. Everyone has a conscience (the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself). Our sin nature condemns us to be judged by the laws of the Old Testament or the law of our conscience. Either way, we could not live up to this expectation and were condemned by God to eternal punishment.

Now no condemnation

Because of Jesus and our life with Him, there is now no condemnation. We are free from condemnation because of the blood of Jesus. Now there is no condemnation because of the work of Christ on the cross. We are free from condemnation because of our new life in Jesus. We are new creatures in Christ. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor 5:17)  

Does your conscience bother you? Put your past under the blood of Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sin. State to your conscience and to our enemy that our past has been forgiven. We are free to live with a clear conscience without condemnation. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We can live free from condemnation and have a clear conscience before God and not be under worry from the past. Yes, if you commit sin there is a cost in this world. But we can continue to minister to others, for our life is hid in Christ. 

Are we making a mistake? There is no condemnation. Have we made a mistake in the past? There is no condemnation. Do we think we will make a mistake in the future?  There is no condemnation.

This does not mean there is not a cost to sin. If we sin there is a cost to pay in this world. Don't use your freedom for a license to sin. “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal. 5:13) Use your freedom to serve God.

A note about the cost of sin. When we sin, our heart becomes hardened to the Scriptures. With this hardened heart we have difficulty in believing the teachings of Jesus. Sin will destroy our life if we let it. It will destroy our health, our finances, and our relationships.

Stay in the word and your tendency to sin will diminish greatly. 

Those who are in Christ Jesus

What does it mean to be in Christ? (2 Cor 5:17) Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creation. We are in Christ at salvation. It is salvation that puts us in Christ.

Thoughts on repentance:
As I was thinking of this repentance here in Isaiah I thought of my meditations on Romans 8. In Romans 7 & 8 is there nothing about repentance?

The absence of repentance in Romans 7 & 8 is deafening. Because of this the effort of repentance is best spent in just turning to Christ and not putting anymore effort into the repentance.

The effort of repentance is not asking forgiveness from God but turning from a mind on the flesh to a mind on the Spirit. Just a quick turning. Repentance is not saying I'm sorry, but following the dictates of the Spirit Romans 8:14 and being about the business you are led to do by the words of the Spirit.


Of course if you have hurt someone you should ask forgiveness and if you have sinned against God, apologize for the wrong. But God is not after a prayer of forgiveness but a life turned to doing what He is asking us to do So the best repentance is to obey fully.  

Blessings of being In Christ 

Redemption 3:24 1 Cor 1:30

Freedom from condemnation 8:1,2,8,9,10,11. 

Spirit of Life Rom 8:2

Love of God 8:39; 1 Tim 1:14

Truth Rom 9:1

Unity  12:15; Gal 3:28

Faith Acts 24:24 1 Tim 3:13

Sanctification 1 Cor 1:2,30

Wisdom 1 cor 1:30 4

Righteousness 1 Cor 1:30

God is our Father 1 Cor 4:15

Hope 1 Cor 15:19

Security in death 1 Cor 15:18

Resurrection 1 Cor 15:1; 1 Thes 4

Joy 1 Cor 15:31

Establishment in God 2 Cor 1:21

Triumph 2 Cor 2:14

Pure Scripture  2 Cor 2:17 

Law abolished 2 Cor 3:6-15

New creation 2 Cor 5:17,18

Simplicity 2 Cor 11:3

Liberty Gal 2:4

All spiritual blessings Eph 1:3

Power Eph 1:20

Heavenly Places Eph 2:6

Nearness Of God Eph 2:13

Eternal Purpose Eph 3:11

Self Humbling Phil 2:5

High calling Phil 3:14

Perfection Col 1:28

Eternal life 2 Tim 2:10

Grace 2 Tim 2:1

Salvation 2 Tim 2:10

Preservation Jude 1

This list from the Dake Bible 

Go to Next Verse
Go to Index