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Your Day in Romans - 8:1-39

Started by Al Moak, November 28, 2004, 10:04:19 AM

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Al Moak

The Eleventh Sermon
Romans 8:1-39
Deliverance!


If you're a Christian, you're free from the guilt of sin.  You're free because Jesus Christ your Savior took all your guilt upon Himself as your Substitute.  It's what He was talking about on on the Cross when He said, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  He knew that the answer to that grief-stricken question was that He was forsaken because of our sin, and the result was just as it absolutely had to be - justification for us – our absolute innocence in the sight of the holy God!  We should be moved to worship!

Nevertheless, as great as was that one awesome act of substitution, yet it wasn't all that was accomplished!  He's done even more!  Not only has He entirely removed the guilt of our sin, but He's also freed us from its power!  Just because of that wonderful fact, the Christian not only experiences freedom from the awful guilt of sin against a good and holy God, but he can now actually overcome habitual sin in his daily life as well! You can make real progress against sin from day to day!  In fact, God's wonderful power for sanctification assures you that you will!

Many expositors assume that this eighth chapter just continues the sequence (justification, sanctification, glorification) with the subject of glorification -the final destination of every Christian in everlasting glory.  But one of the most important things Paul wants to tell us is that freedom from sin ought to begin here in this life!  I believe that it is that vital subject with which he deals in this eighth chapter.  He wants to tell us that we actually have power in the here and now to overcome habitual sin, and my hope is that you'll begin to appropriate that power right now!

It could all be summarized in the words of the 29th verse.  The apostle says, "For whom He foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."  He's discussing the destiny predetermined for us by God Himself, and he's saying that our characters are going to be conformed to the character image of Jesus Christ His son!  We're to become holy as He is holy, and the process begins now!

Could such a preposterous thing happen?  Can lifetime habits be radically changed?  Paul begins to answer that question In verse 2. He says, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."  We need to understand that the word "law" here should not be defined merely as a set of rules, but as "reigning power."  So we should then paraphrase, "The power of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the otherwise unbreakable bonds of sin and death!" 

In other words, dear brother or sister, you can become more and more holy – in this life - because the Holy Spirit is freeing you from your former slavery to sin.  He says, "But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you."

Of course it's absolutely imperative for us first to be thoroughly aware of our need for this help.  Paul already told us about it in the sixth chapter.  He said, "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"  The problem was that we were slaves, and slaves are not free to do what they will, but must obey their master.  Those who haven't been rescued by Christ, therefore, are slaves to sin - inescapably. 

Paul painted the picture in chapter one.  He said, " . . . even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgement of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

The key phrase is "God gave them over . . ." It's as though, as sinners, we walked through a door - and God in absolutely righteous judgement closed and locked the door!  We've become slaves of unrighteousness.  We can't break away from our sinful habits, and we're under their power.  That's the judgement of God upon all who sin. 

But oh what a blessed wonder is the Gospel!  Paul says, "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh (of His own Son), that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."  He's telling us that by "walking . . . according to the Spirit" we can actually fulfill the righteous requirement of the moral commandments of God!

The secret is "walking according to the Spirit." Paul makes the point that absolutely every Christian is indwelt by the Spirit.  He says, "But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His."  He's making it very, very clear that if you're really a Christian at all, then you're set free from slavery to sin through the death of Christ and by the indwelling of God's Spirit.  "Therefore," he says, "we are debtors - not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."  It is possible - and necessary - for every Christian to "put to death the deeds of the body."

In fact, every Christian WILL put to death the deeds of the body, because, he says, ". . . as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God."  To be led by the Spirit is to be engaged in spiritual warfare, to be involved in putting to death sinful practices and replacing them with God-glorifying ones.

Of course, as every Christian knows very well, spiritual warfare involves battles, and they are sometimes long, hard battles that involve pain and suffering.  Paul knew that too.  He said, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."  We can't be glorified with Him if we don't suffer with Him.  He suffered for sin – for our sin - and we too must suffer through long, hard battles.  But they are battles He's made it possible for us to win by His Spirit!

There is encouragement to take along as we go through these battles.  The first encouragement is found in verses 18-25.  Summarizing, they tell us that the results of our sufferings will be more than enough.  In fact, the apostle says, the sufferings aren't worthy even to be compared to the glory of what's coming.

To fully understand that glory, we need to be reminded that we aren't the only sufferers.  Because mankind was intended to rule the creation under God, and because mankind sinned and failed his task, the whole creation, says Paul, "groans and labors with birthpangs until now."  The troubles of creation must continue until the redeemed and glorified saints finally inherit it.  So he calls them "birthpangs," because the whole creation awaits that day of new birth.  Even our own bodies are involved, as experienced in the infirmities of age and disease.  But one day our Lord will return, and the change in ourselves and in all creation will be complete. That change will be glorious indeed!  It is with that change in mind that we can patiently and perseveringly continue on in the midst of present-day sufferings.

The second encouragement we can take with us through this world is mentioned in verses 26, 27.  These verses assure us that, in addition to looking forward to a glorious outcome, we can experience even now the help of the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us.

One of God's means for overcoming the present-day frustrations brought on by sin is prayer. Of course there are times when, rather than being a solution, prayer actually seems like part of the problem - because we often don't know how to pray nor even what to pray for as we ought.  But the encouragement is that He Who indwells each and every believer - prays for us – and He DOES know how!

When all that we can do is to groan, then He Who knows both God and us - perfectly - intercedes for us perfectly according to the will of God!  This isn't an excuse for us to cease from prayer - prayer is a tremendous blessing to those who participate in it - but it's a powerful encouragement to know that He completes those prayers, He makes them perfect even when we are least able.

Finally, there's another encouragement we need to take with us: all the things that happen to us, including even the painful, the discouraging,  and even the terrifying events of our lives - can only do us ultimate good.  The reason is based solidly in God's sovereignty and predestination.  He has destined us to be conformed to the image of His Son, and, as God, He is absolutely determined that we will be glorified at last and that the process shall begin now!

This is one of the very comforting aspects of our God's absolute sovereignty: He absolutely wills every small or great event in our lives to move us a little closer to His goal for us.  Listen to Daniel: "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.  No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?'"

You and I may or may not understand how He's using the events of our lives to bless us – but let us be absolutely convinced that He is.

Let me summarize.  The Holy Spirit of God indwells every Christian.  YOU are indwelt.  And by His power you and I can actually break the hold of sinful habits.  The process may be long, hard, and even painful at times, but it will also be  successful!  God has predestined you to that success!  You've already begun to move toward it because of the Holy Spirit working within you.  If you're not moving toward it, you're not a Christian at all, because "as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."  So - if you're suffering through battles over sin in your life, then you can absolutely conclude that you're being led by the Spirit of God!  If you weren't alive by the Spirit, you wouldn't suffer.

But, in your suffering, there's encouragement.  There's HOPE, PRAYER, and PREDESTINATION. the results of your suffering WILL be success, and that success will MORE than compensate for the suffering!  You need to carry that hope with you at all times.

Secondly, you can and must pray.  The Holy Spirit is within you, completing the prayers you've hardly begun, praying the prayers you forgot, helping you every step of the way.

Thirdly and lastly, you can know that absolutely everything that happens to you in every aspect of your life is perfectly controlled and directed by God to bring you to a holy and successful end - God's absolute predestination guarantees it!  Even the things you complain about the most are being used by God to perfect you.  TRUST HIM!

So your perfection is coming along.  Don't fight against it, but fight with it!  Keep praying.  Your Lord is coming for you, and, when He comes, He'll find you exactly as He planned for you.  Praise the Savior!


Pat


QuoteYou and I may or may not understand how He's using the events of our lives to bless us - but He is.

How comforting!


"Click for Waterloo Wellington, Ontario Forecast"

Al Moak

#2
Amen to that!  And He set in motion the train of events from all eternity!

Chris & Margit Saunders