Romans chapter 8 is one of the greatest in the Bible
* it’s a mountain top chapter
E.g. question at party “what do you do?”
This passage (1-17) is about what the Holy Spirit does – his ministry
Many people think the HS doesn’t have a ministry, an agenda
* they think he’s just an impersonal force
* C.f. Star Wars “may the force be with you!”
But if we talk about the spirit of a person we mean their innermost desires and attitudes
* this things that motivate them
* that part of them that is uniquely him or uniquely her
So how can we possibly talk about
* a loving, caring, God
* a God who has a purpose for the world as a whole and your life in particular
* a very personal God
* and then talk about an impersonal Spirit of God?
* The two concepts are incompatible!
This passage is all about the ministry of the Holy Spirit
a. it’s an intensely personal ministry
When psychologists research the development of children they often talk about ‘Significant others’ in the life of a child
* people who have a moulding effect in the life of a child.
* A very young child has no capacity to assess or filter out the effect that other people have upon him
* therefore they are highly vulnerable to almost every influence they receive
* … which is why we grow up to be like our parents!
Same true in our spiritual lives
* in our relationship with God
* When you became a Christian I let God have that kind of influence in my life
* he became my ‘significant other!’
But this is not plain sailing because I know I have broken God’s law – time after time after time (last chapter)
Now the law (God’s law) is a good thing!
* It gives me a handle on how I ought to live in order to enjoy a free and open relationship with God
BUT
I find another law – a really perverse ‘law’ – at work in me that I do the very things that I know I shouldn’t – and really I don’t want to do
So therefore God’s law condemns me
* I’m a sinner – I know it, you know it – everyone knows it!
* so without god’s spirit in me – I’m condemned!
This is where God steps in!
* when we live in the SPirit …
1. God sets us free
Romans 8:1. Therefore, (He’s summing up everything that has gone before) there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
The picture is that of prisoner.
* he’s confined. not allowed his freedom.
* but if he’s declared ‘not guilty’ he can be released!
Spiritually, that’s exactly what the Holy Spirit has done in me – he’s set me free!
And the result is that I am no longer condemned to jail on the charge that originally put me there!
And this is Paul’s real experience
* he’s set me free!
* this is personal for all of us!
* we’re set free from the law of Sin and death
Now there is something strange here
* What is this ‘law of sin and death?’
* Throughout the previous chapters the ‘law’ has been used to describe God’s law – 10 commandments – the ethical and moral law of the Lord
This is shocking!
* God’s law described as the ‘law of sin and death?’ – Yes!
* Why? –
* because if I was a perfect person the law would confirm to me how wonderful it was to be perfect
* But I’m not!
* So God’s law (holy as it is) only serves to highlight how far short of God’s desire and standard for me I’ve fallen!
* It confirms my worst nightmares about how bad I really am!
And furthermore, the law is powerless to do anything about it.
* just confirming that I’ve failed to live up to the law doesn’t help me one little bit!
<ppt: broken chain image>
But just look at v3
3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did it!
He achieved it!
Now, we should ask ourselves “How did he manage that?”
* The answers are is here in vv3-4
God overcame this grave problem that I can’t live a sin-free life by doing three things
2. What did God do
Quickly
a. God sent his son.
3 … by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man
Jesus, God’s Son became a human being like us.
* God did not deal with the problem remotely by giving us more rules to live by (for example), no!
* He placed Jesus on this earth – God acted – he sent Jesus
b. God sacrificed his son.
We have seen tragic evidence recently of fanatical and radicalised men who have given their lives for a cause.
* Exactly which cause and what they hoped to achieve by their blowing themselves up is as yet unclear.
* But that kind of sacrifice stands in complete contrast to God’s sacrifice.
* He knew exactly what he was doing when he sent Jesus
* His motive was crystal clear
* … You and I are sinners. We cannot redeem ourselves, (that would be like trying to pull ourselves up by our own shoelaces)
* So God reasons “I love my people so much that I am willing to sacrifice – even my son – to rescue them
My friend – that’s how much you mean to God!
3 .. by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.
c. God condemned sin
V3 And so he condemned sin in sinful man,
God didn’t condemn sinful people – no – that’s what he was avoiding
He condemned sin itself!
3. Why God did it
a. So we can be righteous
We know we can never live up to God’s standard
* It’s perfection after all! standard
Our account is always in the red!
But God wanted us to be in the black!
* To enjoy a purpose-filled, Spirit-filled, joy-filled life – whatever circumstance throw at us
Just look at
<ppt> 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us,
who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
My dear friend, living in the Spirit,
* knowing victory over temptation,
* knowing joy when things go well and joy joy when things go badly,
* living in complete peace with god
* Knowing that your conscience is clear
* Knowing regular and deep intimacy with God
… Is not the province of some strange class of spiritual super-men
* It’s not for the privileged Christians (brought up in a Christian family)
* It’s for you!
* It’s for everyone!
The spirit-filled life is for every Christian believer!
* That’s what the Bible tells us
And if you feel you’ve missed it, or you’ve lost it, or you’ve never had it
* It’s there for the asking!
* “God, my heavenly father will you fill me today, now, here in this church, where I’m sitting with your Spirit”
You’ve been struggling with sin?
* God’s spirit will set you free!
The law has caught you out?
* the Spirit of God will liberate you!
4. What happens?
what’s this like?
a. he changes my desires
Have you see the Persil adverts
* always the same!
* Compare one shirt washed in ‘another leading brand’ with one washed in Persil
* … always whiter!
That’s what Paul’s doing here
* he’s comparing the sinful mind and the spirit filled mind
And the main difference?
* my desires change!
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
My desires are the things that I want above all else
* the things I attach priority to
E.g. Man at party
* hasn’t eaten all day
* gets to party and sees a wonderful piece of chocolate cake on the other side of the room
<ppt: chocolate cake>
* It’s there for the taking – and he just loves Black Forest Gateau.
* Trouble: the room is crowded!
* Begins to
* friend comes up to him “Hi, how are you – wife – dog”
* but all that’s in his mind is Black Forest Gateau!
Other things are pushed down the agenda because this is his deep desire
If you’re living in the Spirit you’ll desire God!
* you’ll be hungry for him!
* you won’t be satisfied with your worship until you know God’s spoken to you.
* you won’t be satisfied with your personal Bible reading until you’ve encountered the Lord in its pages
* because He is your desire!
* other things are further down the agenda!
This is what it’s like to live in the Spirit!
Now the Bible tells us what happens when our desires have been transformed by the Holy Spirit
b. I know life and peace
6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;
Mankind is on a desperate quest for peace
Only this week the news came out that mental illness is on the increase – especially in the young
* we don’t know where to turn to!
* But here’s the answer!
c. no more hostility v7
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
He’s not comparing a carnal, fleshly Christian with a Spirit-filled Christian here
* he’s comparing the unsaved person with the saved person.
For the person who has not become a Christian, there is a hostility to God!
And we see it all the time!
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
‘Controlled’ – rather unfortunate translation
* implies that Christians are like spiritual zombies
* This is a very common fear among people considering carefully whether to give their lives to Christ and become Christians
* “Am I going to turn into someone that I won’t like?!”
* Answer no!
The original text simply says
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
So if you’re in the spirit, the Spirit of God lives in you!
d. he brings spiritual life
10. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
E.g. Persistent Vegetative State – several tragic cases recently
* that’s what we’re like before God
* not responding – not communicating
But what God does, which medicine can’t – is bring life.
When you realise how great god’s power was in raising Jesus from the dead – this verse is astonishing!
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the one that works in you and me
e. he makes me a child of God
14 … those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
<ppt: baby & strong father image>
E.g. Billy Bray – drunkard – abused wife
* found Christ (aged 29) – to wife “You’ll never see me drunk again – by the help of the Lord”
His words his looks his tones had magnetic power. He was charged with divine electricity. Crowds of miners would come and hear him preach many were converted and there were remarkable healings. He was always praising God and said he had abundant reason to rejoice. He described himself as a ‘young prince – he was the adopted Son of God, the King of Kings and therefore he was a prince already possessing royal rights and privileges.. And his favourite expression was ‘I am the son of a King’
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