Welcome to the third part of our series, "The Champion."
Text: Romans 8:5-11
(Romans 8:12-17) Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
The best news is our Champion has won our freedom.
Romans 8 is one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. Every verse describes what it means to live free in this new life we have in Christ. Jesus has won our freedom to live, walk, and grow in Him.
Overall Commentary: 🌎
Before diving in, it is essential to realize Paul did not begin with Romans 8. He has been building to this for seven chapters. One interesting fact about Romans is that Paul had not visited Rome before writing. This letter is likely the Gospel message he preaches to Gentiles when he first enters a city. He lays the framework for the Gospel like a master attorney arguing a case.
Here is a quick synopsis of his argument:
Romans 1- We walked AWAY from God.
Romans 2- God gave the law to show US HOW FAR.
Romans 3–Jesus won our SALVATION.
Romans 4- It is received by loyal FAITH.
Romans 5- Salvation brings JOY.
Romans 6- The power of sin has been BROKEN.
Romans 7- Now we grow into this new FREEDOM.
Romans 8- Walking in that freedom.
- Verses 8:1-4- The primary focus of this passage is the summation of all that has come before. Because of everything discussed in the previous seven chapters, we are now free to follow God.
- Verses 5-11- The primary focus of this passage is on how we are now made alive in Christ. We are no longer under the bondage of sin.
Because we belong to Jesus, we can now experience the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Commentary.
Verse 12-14. The process of Sanctification.
Paul begins talking about the Holy Spirit's work in freeing us from all forms of death due to sin.
Verse 12.
- "Therefore..." Paul is saying that after we have been freed from the condemnation of sin and are now alive in Christ, we can walk with the Holy Spirit.
Verse 13.
- "If through the power of the Spirit... you will live." He is talking about living in the complete freedom that Christ has won for us. Sancification is not the process of becoming sinless. It is the process where we grow to "sin less."
Verse 14.
- "...children of God..." Being a child of God means that you desire to walk in the Spirit and do.
Verse 15-16. The Beauty of Adoption.
These verses drill down even further on what it means to be part of the family of God.
Verse 15.
- "Adoption..." There are two Greek words for adoption. One means adoption in a general sense. This would mean someone is invited into the family, but not made into a full family member. This would be something close to a stepchild still carrying their previous family's name. The second word means someone who has been completely brought into the family and shares the same rights and privileges as if they had been born naturally into that family. Paul is using the second usage. He is saying we have been made full members of God's family.
- "Abba, Father..." Much controversy has been made over this phrase. To not cheapen the relationship with God, some have sought to distance the relationship between the familial use of "Abba" and this passage. However, it cannot be helped. The phrase "Abba" was used in both Aramaic and Hebrew households. It is a term of endearment that would be the same as the modern use of "popa" or "daddy." The word usage by Paul is not to lessen the value of the relationship but to say that God is not adopting us only in a formal way, but in a relational way. He wants a personal relationship with us.
Verse 17. Our Eternal Inheritance.
Verse 17. It may be odd to hear Jesus referred to as our "elder brother." After all, He is God and we are not. When we received salvation, we were not made into gods. We are still His creation, and God is altogether "other" from us. This idea of being "co-heirs" with Christ continues the family analogy and says we can receive eternal life because of what Jesus has done. We will dwell with Him in Heaven forever.
Bottom Line.
Romans 8 is one of the most hopeful chapters in the New Testament. It shows us what life in Christ is all about because of what our Champion has won for us.
God's Promise:
(Galatians 6:8-9) Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
Brandon Cannon
