Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

a) Contains the bulk of Biblical Theology

b) Main theological foci:

i) The doctrine of Justification

ii) The doctrine of Faith

iii) The doctrine of God as Father

iv) The doctrine of Israel in God’s overall plan

v) The practical ramifications of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

2. The doctrine of being “children of God”

a) This was not well-understood

b) This was not well-applied

c) The glorious significance of being children of God was in danger of being lost!

THOSE WHO ARE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 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,

4 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.

Romans 8:1-4

1. There is no fear of condemnation

a) To all who are in the Lord Jesus Christ

b) Justification has been given through faith in the Lord Jesus

2. The law of life in the Lord Jesus applies

a) We have been freed from the law of sin

b) We are freed from the law of death

3. The Lord Jesus made all these things possible

a) He paid the penalty for our sins

b) The law of Moses could not give salvation

c) The righteous requirement of the law was fulfilled by the Lord Jesus

THE CHALLENGE TO APPLY OUR FAITH IN LIFE

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

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8

1. What we must not do

a) We must not live according to the flesh

b) We must not mind the things of the flesh

c) We must not allow ourselves to become carnal

2. What we must seek to do

a) We must live according to the Spirit

b) We must seek to be spiritually minded

THE SPECIAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIFE

9 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.

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 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.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13 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.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

17 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.

Romans 8:9-17

1. He indwells every believer

2. He gives life through righteousness

3. He gives life to the mortal body

4. He leads us

5. He teaches us, as children of God to cry out “Abba, Father”

6. He bears witness that we are the children of God

a) Heirs of God

b) Joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ

CONCLUSION

1. To understand how we are debtors to God

2. To put to death the sinful deeds of the flesh

3. To suffer for the Lord Jesus