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Some Really Important Questions (Romans 8:1-17)

First Baptist Church https://fbcbartow.org

“Some Really Important Questions”

(Romans 8:1-17)

Series: Romans – United in the Gospel [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

May 15, 2022

Introductory Comments:

I mentioned last week how challenging Romans 7 is and how I couldn’t wait to get to Romans 8. The funny thing is, several of you said how much you enjoyed Romans 7, so praise God for that. 

Now, we are in Romans 8, which is one of the most beautiful chapters in all of the Bible. Romans chapter 8 carries with it assurance of great victory found in the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So, let’s get started. 

Before we do, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us miraculously. 

(prayer)

So, in Romans chapter 7, Paul just finished talking about the wretched way that he feels when he lives his life as his old self, in his flesh, in sin. He also spoke about his total inability to do the things that he wants to do. He needs Jesus to give him the power! So do you and I! We need the power of God to help us live our lives for God! That’s what today’s passage is all about. 

Paul asked this question and provided this answer in last week’s passage (Romans 7:24-25): 

Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! [on screen]

So, we learn that it is in Jesus that we have any hope at all. In Romans 8, Paul is further pursuing this idea that our only hope is found in Jesus. So, look with me at today’s passage in Romans 8:1-17.

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

As we look at this passage, notice how much the Holy Spirit is mentioned. We’re going to talk more about the work of the Holy Spirit in the weeks to come. 


For now, let us notice that a few important questions arise from what Paul is saying. We’re going to look at these questions. The title of today’s sermon is, “Some Really Important Questions.” [on screen] The answers to these questions will help reassure you in your journey to follow Jesus. 

So, let’s look at these questions. 

First, . . .

I. Who is condemned? [on screen]

Paul actually answers this question rather straightforwardly for us. He tells us who is not condemned and who is condemned. Let’s look at the passage. 

Paul says immediately in verse 1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”

So, the follower of Jesus is not condemned; there is now no condemnation

When you feel wretched over your sin, as Paul did, as your pastor does when he sins, remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Jesus! You are not condemned! You are saved! You are free! You are victorious! 

Oh, the beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh, the deep love of God demonstrated toward us in Jesus Christ! Oh, the power of the work of Jesus! Oh, the miraculous reminder that the Holy Spirit of God gives us when we are in sin, that we are no longer condemned!

Well, who is condemned? Church, if you pay attention to the passage, someone is condemned by the work of Jesus? Paul has already told us. Look at the second half of verse 3: “He condemned sin.”

Did you catch that? Someone is condemned and that someone is sin! According to the work of Jesus, sin is condemned and we are set free. According to the grace of God, sin is condemned and we are made holy. 

Paul says in verse 2, “ . . .the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Paul said that the law could not set us free from sin. The law could not undo the condemnation that sin brought into our lives. However, Paul says that God could! Sin no longer has any power over the child of God!

Jesus was condemned on the cross so that we could be set free from the condemnation that we brought on ourselves when we willingly chose to sin against God. However, Jesus is no longer condemned and when we are in Jesus, we are no longer condemned! Sin is the one who is condemned. We are free!

Well, your first question is answered. Let’s look at the second question.

II. How are we living? [on screen]

Listen to what Paul says in verses 5-7:

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so.

One of the questions we can ask ourselves to remind us of the victory that we have in Jesus is, “How are we living?” 

Based on the words of Paul, we could also ask, “Are we living according to the flesh or are we living according to the Spirit?”

Why are these questions important? Well, you see, Paul is saying that the way we live indicates what’s going on inside our hearts, minds, and souls. If we are living according to the flesh (or according to sin) it’s because our focus is on the flesh (or sin). If we live according to the Spirit, that is, if we are living godly lives, it’s because our focus is on the things of God. 

When someone receives Jesus as their Lord and Savior they also receive the Holy Spirit of God to live in them so that they might live their lives with great power and holiness. If there is no evidence of the Spirit as our focus and as our guide for living then it is probably because we have not really received the Spirit, which means we have not really received Jesus. 

The way that we live our lives indicates where our focus is, which indicates if we’ve ever been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

To be clear, there is no condemnation, IF we are in Jesus. There is no condemnation IF the Spirit of God lives in us. 

Paul says, “ . . . the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace.”

Do we want death or do we want life and peace? 

Sin leads to one, being changed by the work of Jesus and God’s Holy Spirit leads to the other. 

So, let us strive to be people of life, not death. As Paul says in verses 12-13:

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

So, how are we living?

Next, we must answer the question . . .

III. Who lives in us? [on screen]

You see, it’s who lives in us who affects how we live our lives. 

Listen to what Paul says in verses 9-11:

9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

Paul is giving us helpful reminders to help us remember that there is victory in our lives if we belong to Jesus.

If we are in Jesus then the Spirit of God is in us. If the Spirit of God is in us then we are dead to sin and we are dead to flesh. If the Spirit of Christ is in us then we have life!

Paul asked in chapter 7, “Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Here he says, “ . . . he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life.” Paul answers his own question. The work of Jesus brings us life; the Spirit of God living in us brings us life! We cannot live the life God wants us to live on our own but since God lives in us we can for Him. 

This miracle happens by the work of Jesus in His death and resurrection, and the work of the Spirit coming into us. Jesus does the work and the Spirit delivers the blessings. If our spiritual lives were Amazon, Jesus would be the “buy now” button and the Holy Spirit would be the delivery driver. [show picture on screen] They work together to bless the child of God and bring new life that guarantees no condemnation forever!

So, church: who lives in you? The one who lives in you affects the way that you live.

Finally, let us ask . . .

IV. Whose children are we? [on screen]

Paul ends this passage in such a beautiful way. Look at verses 14-17:

14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Are you in Christ? Is the Spirit of God in you? Then, you are God’s child! You belong to God and you will receive all the benefits that come with being one of God’s heirs.

Paul says that we are adopted and we can cry out “Abba, Father.” Abba is what Jewish children would call their fathers. Abba is how Jesus referred to God the Father as He prayed to Him in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion. In Jesus, God is our Abba, Father. 

By the way, you might wonder why Paul says “sons” instead of “sons and daughters.” Don’t forget that at the time of Paul’s writings, only sons were entitled to an inheritance. So, even though Paul is writing to men and women, he wants to be sure that they understand that they have a guaranteed inheritance, so he says that they are counted as sons!

You are no longer an enemy of God, you are now a child of God! When you are tempted to be in doubt or despair because of whatever you are going through in your faith, ask yourself, “Whose child am I? To whom do I belong?” Then, remind yourself that if you are in Jesus, you are a child of God!

Paul reminds us in verse 17 that we are not just children, but we are heirs; coheirs with Christ! As He is entitled to blessings, so also, we are entitled to blessings that He earned on our behalf. 

Another apostle, Peter, says in 1 Peter 1:4 that this inheritance is “ . . . imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”

As a child of God, you are secure and as a child of God, you are sure that all the blessings God has promised you in Jesus will be delivered to you by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. 

You are a child of God; He is your heavenly Father. When you know who your Father is you can be bold in your faith. You have nothing to fear. If God is for you, who can be against you?

Paul says in verse 16 that, “The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” What a miracle and blessing! Be reminded Be assured. Be blessed as a child of God. 

Concluding Thoughts:

Paul concludes this wonderful passage in verse 17 by pointing out that we may indeed suffer in this world. After all, Jesus suffered. However, as Jesus was glorified, we too will also be glorified. 

So, church: we must remember that we are not condemned; sin is condemned.  We must remember that we are to live in the Spirit. We must remember that the Spirit lives in us. Finally, we must remember who our Father is.

Let this bottom line summarize what we’ve learned today.

Bottom Line: Sin stole life, Jesus secured life, the Spirit sustains life. [on screen]

(repeat)

Sin seeks to destroy. However, Jesus has earned us new life, the Holy Spirit is now giving us that new life, and the Holy Spirit secures new life for us forever. 

Challenge yourself to live out this passage in the following ways:

Weekly Challenge: [on screen]

1. Identify ways you will live by the Spirit. [on screen]

Remember, the Christian is to live in the Spirit. The Spirit is incompatible with sin. 

It’s like this. I’m not a fan of mushrooms. No matter what type of mushroom you give me, I’m not going to like it. [show picture on screen] I don’t like mushrooms: morels, portobellos, shiitakes, I don’t like mushrooms. They are incompatible with deliciousness, after all, they are fungi.

Listen, church: a life of sin is incompatible with a child of God. A life of sin is incompatible with a life filled with the Spirit. 

So, be purposeful about how you can live by the Spirit this week. Don’t be controlled by sin. Commit to forgiveness. Commit to patience. Commit to kindness. Commit to boldness. Commit to living as a child of God, filled with the Spirit of God. 

Identify what you can actually do to live by the Spirit of God this week. 

2. Take a paternity test. [on screen]

Do you know where I’m going with this? Who is your Father? Take some time this week to determine who your Father is! 

Are you a child of God? If so, live with boldness as a child of God! If not, come to know your heavenly Father. Come to know your true Father. He’s waiting to welcome you into His arms. 

Closing:

(Gospel presentation)

(closing prayer)

(Benediction)

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.