ROMANS CHAPTER ROMANS 8:1-18 _ INTRODUCTION AND COMMENTARY-MARK DUNAGAN_ I. INTRODUCTION: 'Our spirit can and must prevail over our flesh. We must not "walk" (pattern our life) after our flesh, but after our spirit; and God helps those who truly give their hearts to Him. From the first, Paul assum... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS THEREFORE NOW NO CONDEMNATION TO THEM THAT ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. 'Now" -what good news!. can be right with God 'now'! 'CONDEMNATION' -2631. katakrima kat-ak'-ree-mah; from 2632; an adverse sentence (the verdict): -condemnation. Sentence of condemnation (Vincent p. 85) -KATAKRINO (verb)-s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND OF DEATH. "FOR" -Why are those "in Christ Jesus" no longer under condemnation? "LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE" -this must be the Gospel message (Romans 1:16). "It would be absurd to think that Paul started in to prov... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: "the law could not do" -The moral law of God whether expressed in the Mosaic scriptures or as it was taught among the... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE ORDINANCE OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT. "THAT" -in order that, with this purpose in mind. God sent His Son to die for sin, 'in order that'. "ORDINANCE" -1345. dikaioma dik-ah'-yo-mah; from 1344; an equitable deed; by implication,.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. "MIND" -to give our time and attention to. (Whiteside p. 171) 'People who are controlled by the physical think of what is physical' (Gspd) To think, to put the mind on (Robert... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE MIND OF THE FLESH IS DEATH; BUT THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE: "MIND OF THE FLESH" -'to set the mind on the flesh' (Nor). Fleshy thinking and striving (Vincent p. 90) The person who loves the things of this material world, more than God. (1 John 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:4) "IS DEATH" -s... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THE MIND OF THE FLESH IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NEITHER INDEED CAN IT BE: "BECAUSE" -the reason why 'setting the mind on the flesh results in death'. "ENMITY" -2189. echthra ekh'-thrah; feminine of 2190; hostility; by implication,. reason for opposition... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF SO BE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU. BUT IF ANY MAN HATH NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS. "BUT" -'You can please God, for you are not in the flesh'. Note: 'In the flesh', means something different than being subject to temptation... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF CHRIST IS IN YOU, THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN; BUT THE SPIRIT IS LIFE BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. "THE BODY IS DEAD BECAUSE OF SIN" -'THOUGH the body is dead' (NASV); 'although your bodies must die because of sin' (Wms). 'The body, it cannot be denied, is dead because of sin: the experience... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you. "shall give life also to your mortal bodies" -there is some discussion here co... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 8:12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh: "So then" -a summation, and an answer to those that would claim that Paul's gospel led to immoral living. "DEBTORS, NOT TO THE FLESH, TO LIVE AFTER THE FLESH" -'we owe nothing to' (TCNT); 'we owe. duty--bu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF YE LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YE MUST DIE; BUT IF BY THE SPIRIT YE PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, YE SHALL LIVE. "YE MUST DIE" -i.e. spiritually. Paul is talking to Christians. 'Are Christians capable of dying spiritually? Of course! If anyone sows to the flesh (Galatians 6:8) he reaps corrup... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD. "LED" -and how does the 'Spirit of God' lead or guide? Through the word of God, of course. 'We can recognize no activity as pleasing or displeasing to God except by the Spirit's teaching. We can have no sure knowledge of the way in... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE RECEIVED NOT THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AGAIN UNTO FEAR; BUT YE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, WHEREBY WE CRY, ABBA, FATHER. "SPIRIT OF BONDAGE". the Holy Spirit didn't bring. message that simply swapped one form of fear-bringing slavery for another. (Something to seriously consider for those th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT HIMSELF BEARETH WITNESS WITH OUR SPIRIT, THAT WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD: 'And how does the Spirit witness "with" our spirit. The word of the Spirit is what gives us our assurance that we are God's children.. know in my soul in the light of what the Spirit has written and had preached that.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS; HEIRS OF GOD, AND JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST; IF SO BE THAT WE SUFFER WITH HIM, THAT WE MAY BE ALSO GLORIFIED WITH HIM. "IF CHILDREN" -and being. 'child', demands that we pattern ourselves after the Father. (Matthew 5:48) 'If indeed we are of God's family, what sort of cond... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. RECKON THAT THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORTHY TO BE COMPARED WITH THE GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED TO US-WARD. "I RECKON" -'I consider' (RSV); 'It implies reasoning, "I judge after calculation made".' (Vincent p. 92).. am convinced. 'Denotes no doubt, but confident assurance'.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE EARNEST EXPECTATION OF THE CREATION WAITETH FOR THE REVEALING OF THE SONS OF GOD. "EARNEST EXPECTATION" -'anxious longing' (NASV). This phrase is made up of three Greek words, and speaks of one waiting with the head raised looking at the horizon from which the expected thing will come. (McGu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CREATION WAS SUBJECTED TO VANITY, NOT OF ITS OWN WILL, BUT BY REASON OF HIM WHO SUBJECTED IT, IN HOPE "FOR" -here is how the "creation" came to such an 'expectant state'. "SUBJECTED TO VANITY" -'subjected to futility' (NASV) -3153. mataiotes mat-ah-yot'-ace; from 3152; inutility; figurativ... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE CREATION ITSELF ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION INTO THE LIBERTY OF THE GLORY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD. "THAT THE CREATION ITSELF ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION" -i.e. here is the "hope" mentioned in the previous verse. "ALSO" -seems to indicate... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION GROANETH AND TRAVAILETH IN PAIN TOGETHER UNTIL NOW. "WE KNOW" -everything which we see, every creature which lives, is thus subjected to. state of servitude, pain, vanity, and death. (Barnes p. 192) 'It is plain to anyone with eyes to see that at the present time... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOT ONLY SO, BUT OURSELVES ALSO, WHO HAVE THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, EVEN WE OURSELVES GROAN WITHIN OURSELVES, WAITING FOR OUR ADOPTION, TO WIT, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY. "AND NOT ONLY SO" -'Not only this' (NASV) "BUT OURSELVES ALSO" -i.e. us Christians "WHO HAVE THE FIRST-FRUITS OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN HOPE WERE WE SAVED: BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE: FOR WHO HOPETH FOR THAT WHICH HE SEETH? "IN HOPE WERE WE SAVED" -'We were saved with this hope ahead' (Mof). 'In hope of such glorious deliverance' (Whiteside p. 184) We were saved 'by' an obedient faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). 'It... [ Continue Reading ]
__ Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. "With patience" -'we steadfastly endure the present, and long earnestly for the future'. (Con) Brave perseverance, is again the proper word in view of our own groaning amid the present painful conditions,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN LIKE MANNER THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPETH OUR INFIRMITY: FOR WE KNOW NOT HOW TO PRAY AS WE OUGHT; BUT THE SPIRIT HIMSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GROANINGS WHICH CANNOT BE UTTERED; "IN LIKE MANNER" -'in the same way' (NASV). In the same way that patience helps us through the times of our suf... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT SEARCHETH THE HEARTS KNOWETH WHAT IS THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT, BECAUSE HE MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD. "HE" -this is either the Father or the Holy Spirit. Paul is saying, 'The Father that searches the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Holy Spirit, b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE KNOW THAT TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. "WE KNOW" -in. sense this is one ground more for believing in the glorious future. (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 651-652) 'This is the knowledge of settled conviction. This is the know... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHOM HE FOREKNEW, HE ALSO FOREORDAINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN: "FOR" -connects with verse 28. Here is the ground of assurance for the statement made in the previous verse, that 'all things work together for good to those that l... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHOM HE FOREORDAINED, THEM HE ALSO CALLED: AND WHOM HE CALLED, THEM HE ALSO JUSTIFIED: AND WHOM HE JUSTIFIED, THEM HE ALSO GLORIFIED. In this verse we see the whole scheme of redemption. God chose beforehand where salvation would be found (Ephesians 1:4) and what "type" of person would obtain it... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS? IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO IS AGAINST US? "WHAT THEN SHALL WE SAY TO THESE THINGS?" -'In face of all this, what is there left to say' (Phi) 'What answer can the hesitating or discouraged find to this array of the merciful acts of God's love on behalf of the believe... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL, HOW SHALL HE NOT ALSO WITH HIM FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS? "HE THAT SPARED NOT HIS OWN SON" -an echo of Genesis 22:12. 'God searched heaven and earth to find. way to redeem us. There was no one; there was nothing. Only His Son! And God... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL LAY ANYTHING TO THE CHARGE OF GOD'S ELECT? IT IS GOD THAT JUSTIFIETH; "LAY ANYTHING TO THE CHARGE OF GOD'S ELECT" -if some are against us (Romans 8:31), then certainly they will make accusations against us. God's people have always had their enemies. (1 Peter 2:12) But since God (the Judge... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS HE THAT CONDEMNETH? IT IS CHRIST JESUS THAT DIED, YEA RATHER, THAT WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, WHO IS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, WHO ALSO MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US. "WHO ALSO MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US" -we have an "Advocate" at God's Court (1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25) 1. Since Christians have.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO SHALL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST? SHALL TRIBULATION, OR ANGUISH, OR PERSECUTION, OR FAMINE, OR NAKEDNESS, OR PERIL, OR SWORD? "FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST" -this is Christ's love for us. Can any one lead Christ to cease loving us? The items mentioned will not make Christ love us less. "SHA... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AS IT IS WRITTEN, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG; WE WERE ACCOUNTED AS SHEEP FOR THE SLAUGHTER. Psalms 44:23. God's people have always endured their share of suffering. Those that God clearly loved in the past, have endured the same type of things.... [ Continue Reading ]
NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US. "IN ALL THESE THINGS" -or despite of all these trials. 'Yet amidst all these things'(TCNT) "MORE THAN CONQUERORS" -5245. hupernikao hoop-er-nik-ah'-o; from 5228 and 3528; to vanquish beyond, i.e. gain. decisive victory:... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR POWERS, "FOR. AM PERSUADED" -'I stand convinced' (Robertson p. 379) This is the key, as to why some Christians fail and others succeed. It all comes down to 'conviction, faith... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. _ Modern Application:_ 'Paul took one good long look at the Cross of the Master and from that time forth, he said: "I cannot be convinced that God doesn't love me!... [ Continue Reading ]