The work of the Spirit of God affects man in his:

1. Walk (8:1-4)

2. Mind (8:5-8)

3. Body (8:9-13)

4. Spirit (8:14-17)

Chp 8 is all about the work of the Spirit of God in me:

1. “fulfilled in us” (8:4)

2. “dwell in you” (8:9)

3. “Christ be in you” (8:10)

4. “dwell in you” (8:11)

5. “glory revealed in us” (8:18)

Gods work in us is greater than Gods work through us

Gods work through us: 1 Co12,14 – Spiritual Gifts

Gods work in us: 1 Co 13:1ff.

As Gods Spirit is active in man we will discern:

1. Law of the Spirit (8:2)

2. Longing of the Spirit (8:5-8)

3. Life of the Spirit (8:11,13)

4. Leading of the Spirit (8:14)

5. Language of the Spirit (8:15)

1. Walk (8:1-4)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...”

An apt summary of the whole of the Bible!

1. Condemnation: the theme of the law and the prophets

2. Salvation in Christ Jesus: the theme of Christ and the apostles

The Bible begins with the complete condemnation of humanity.

Every part of man:

1. Mans thoughts (Gen6:5)

2. Mans actions (Ex 20)

3. Mans worship (Ex 20)

4. Mans heart (Jer 17:9; Ps 51:10)

Every kind of man:

1. King on the throne (Ps 51)

2. Prophets (Jer14:14; 23:14; 23:25,26; Ezek 22:28; Isa 6:5)

3. Priests: Hophni and Phinehas, Eli (Hos4:6; 4:9)

The Bible – not the kind of book a man would write, and not the kind of book a man could write!

This is not one elite group within Jewish society condemning the rest!

This is not the prophets / the priests drumming up business for themselves!

This is an all embracive, supernatural condemnation of the whole of humanity as measured beside a transcendent standard of absolute holiness to which no one measured up.

This is a warts and all picture of the very heroes of the people who preserved these scriptures:

1. The royal line comes through Rahab the harlot and an incestuous relationship between Judah and Tamar.

2. Israels first High Priest built a golden calf and committed idolatry

3. Israels wisest king: Solomon compromised right the way down the line with pagan gods.

4. The forefathers of this nation are described in the most terrible of language and guilty of the grossest sins in the writings of Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel, sins such as child sacrifice, witchcraft and idol worship.

Why such complete condemnation of the whole of humanity?

Because it is an accurate picture of where we are before God!

That we might see our need of the person and work of Christ.

To tone down the total condemnation of humanity in the bible least we offend or upset is doing noon any kindness if we deceive men into believing that their plight is any less serious than it is.

“...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Rom 8:1)

Is it not sufficient to say that:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...”

Why add “...who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” ?

In case we see salvation as a method, a past event, something we have done and got!

Salvation is a living relationship with a Living God who indwells His creature!

What is the effect of the Spirit upon my walk?

I say that this is a Spirit conquered walk, marked by:

righteousness (v4)

Righteousness fulfilled by:

1. Compulsion from within (8:2): “the law of the Spirit of life” (7:21,23)

and not by:

2. Conformity without (8:3)

The Spirit conquered and controlled walk is not a walk brought into conformity to a set of rules, regulations, traditions, formalities or patterns of behaviour, it is rather the working out of the all consuming passion for Divine life brought about by the possession of my person by God Himself.

It is not so much that I try to live a righteous life, although the will is clearly involved, but rather I have to, I am compelled to live a righteous life, or I have a thoroughly miserable existence!

Conformity to a set of rules can paradoxically result in less rather than more spirituality!

Rules can:

1. Replace the Spirit – well I've got my rules, follow them and I will be ok!

2. Resist the Spirit – human nature likes rules, you can work around the rules! Illust: Margos flat mate, didn't read Sunday papers but kept them till the Monday!

3. Restrict the Spirit – rules are always inadequate and will never allow us to break new ground for God! New people, new places, new problems – the old rules sometimes can't cope! Gods Spirit can! Columbus didn't discover America by following the map! There wasn't one!

Christopher Columbus: "...It was the Lord who put into my mind — I could feel His hand upon me — the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies-All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me... There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because he comforted me with rays of marvellous illumination from the Holy Scriptures... For the execution of the journey to the Indies I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics, or maps. It is simply the fulfilment of what Isaiah had prophesied... No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His Holy service... the fact that the Gospel must still be preached to so many lands in such a short time — this is what convinces me".

“the law of the Spirit of life”

What was it that:

1. Compelled creation to completion? Gen1:2 – The Spirit of God; Gen 2:7 – the breath of God blowing into the nostrils of Adam.

2. How did Enoch's walk with God end? It didn't A walk with God is a life giving, a life preserving, a life perpetuating experience. Walk with God and you live (Gen 5:24). “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not se death...” (Heb11:5)

3. How was it that God dealt with Noah and his family in the days when He had decided that His Spirit would not always “strive with man” (Gen6:3)? God covenanted “to keep them alive with thee” (Gen6:19).

4. What about Gods dealings with Abraham and Isaac in Gen 22? “Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”(Heb 11:19).

5. How did God move in the days of Joseph and his brothers? “To save much people alive” (Gen50:20)

6. How did God work with His people in the days of Moses in Egypt?

7. How did God work in the days of Jonah? (Jonah 4:11)

8. What about Daniel in the lions den? “O King live forever” (Dan6:21)

9. The crowning Glory to Gods Spirit of Life: the resurrection of Christ!

To be linked with God and His Spirit is a life giving event, a life preserving experience!

Gods Spirit is the Spirit of Life!

In many of these occasions when the “law of the Spirit of life” moves we can also discern His operation against the background failure of the “law of sin and death”:

1. Noah – breaks free, lifted above a world condemned in sin

2. Egypt – God judges and destroys Egypt and its false gods

3. Jonah – 3 days and nights in the belly of the whale because of his sin and disobedience.

To be motivated by the “law of the Spirit of life” is to be motivated and moved by an all consuming passion for the Glory of God in my life beyond any other legitimate interest!

What was it that motivated:

1. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo to choose the furnace rather than compromise?

2. Daniel to chose being at the prayer meeting even if it meant facing the lions in the den?

3. Elijah to risk his life and face the false priests of Baal on Mt Carmel?

4. Elisha to leave his farm, his field and his family behind and follow Gods call?

This law of the Spirit of Life motivates men beyond personal safety, personal convenience, fatigue, tiredness, embarrassment and business!

This is an all consuming passion for the life of God above and beyond all things!

Why bother fulfilling righteousness in me?

Never be content with ½ answers from preachers!

Because righteousness overcomes a barrier:

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom 8:6-7)

The flesh pursuing sin brings separation and enmity with God

The Spirit producing righteousness brings relationship with God

How does Christ condemning “sin in the flesh” (8:3) result in the fulfilment of Gods righteousness in me (8:4)? Because we have His Spirit in us (8:4,9-11).

An exceptional movement of the Spirit of God is invariably marked by an exceptional righteousness:

1. Isaiah 6:5

2. Ex 20: Moses on the Mount

3. Job 42:6 – God speaks: “I repent in dust and ashes”

4. Zech 3: Joshua the High Priest

5. Matt 5: The Sermon on the Mount

6. Acts 5: Ananias and Saphira

In Rom 7:14-25 we found it impossible to write off this section as 'pre-conversion' and as not applying today in our struggle against the flesh.

There are certainly some parts of the section that fit best with the pre-conversion life:

1. Condition: “sold under sin” (7:14)

2. Character: “carnal” (7:14)

3. Captivity (7:23)

4. Connection with 7:8-13

There are parts of 7:14-25 which refuse to fit into the pre-conversion experience, no matter how hard we try and knock them into the square holes they are round pegs:

1. The Despair / Frustration with sin , which is not found with the sinners of chp1 – Depraved Conscience (1:32); chp 2 – Distracted Conscience (2:1-4) and chp 3 – Deceived Conscience (2:17)

2. Delight in the law of God (7:22) cf. Psalm 1

3. Deliverance (7:25) – this is not a deliverance out of the struggle but a deliverance in the struggle and over the struggle.

That all sounds like cold comfort!

You are really just committing us to a life of constant defeat!

I think I'll go and join the charismatics or buy that new book from America!

7:14-25 doesn't commit us to a life of constant defeat but rather to a life of constant dependence on Christ!

Who can help me? On whom am I dependant?

Person of Christ:

1. “in Christ Jesus” (8:1)

2. “in Christ Jesus” (8:2)

3. “Spirit of Christ” (8:9)

4. “Christ be in you” (8:10)

5. “Jesus...” (8:11)

The Spirit of God:

1. “after the Spirit” (8:1)

2. “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (8:2)

3. “after the Spirit” (8:4)

4. “the Spirit” (8:5)

5. “in the Spirit” (8:9)

6. “Spirit of God” (8:9)

7. “the Spirit of Christ” (8:9)

8. “the Spirit of life” (8:10)

9. “the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead” (8:11)

10. “by His Spirit” (8:11)

11. “if ye through the Spirit...” (8:13)

12. “Spirit of God...” (8:14)

13. “Spirit of adoption...” (8:15)

14. “the Spirit...” (8:16)

Consider also: God the Father in v11 and v15.

This is a thoroughly trinitarian section of the Word of God.

This is also a section which assumes and teaches the Deity of Christ:

1. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Christ (8:9)

2. Again “The Spirit is life because of righteousness” (8:10) and The Spirit of God is the Spirit who “quickens” (8:11) – is this a separate Spirit form the Spirit of Christ? The “law of the Spirit of Life” (8:2) is “in Christ Jesus” (8:2).

So then the Christ who saves (8:1) is the Christ who sanctifies (8:1ff)

The Christ who delivers from sin is the Christ whom I depend upon daily.

In what ways do I depend upon Him?

In getting messages for preaching? In overcoming particularly bad sins? Seeing souls saved? At times of particular stress or crises?

I think we have a practical break down in this chapter of the kind of dependance God has in mind:

1. 8:1-4 – The Dependent Walk – The Spirit Led Walk

2. 8:5-8 – The Dependent Mind – The Spirit Filled Mind

3. 8:9-13 – The Dependent Body – The Spirit filled Body

4. 8:14-17 – The Dependent Relationship – The Spirit Liberated Spirit

Total dependence!

1. 8:1-4 – The Dependent Walk – The Spirit Led Walk

Marked by righteousness (8:4)

2. 8:5-8 – The Dependent Mind – The Spirit Filled Mind

Marked by peace (8:6)

3. 8:9-13 – The Dependent Body – The Spirit filled Body

Marked by the life of Christ

4. 8:14-17 – The Dependent Relationship – The Spirit Liberated Spirit

Marked by prayer to God

Marked by communication / testimony from God

What is the point / purpose of all of this?

Draws me to Christ, to a deeper relationship with God.

8:1-4 – The Dependent Walk – The Spirit Led Walk

“there is therefore now no condemnation...” (8:1)

But is this the issue?

I thought the issue was power over the flesh?

Victory in the struggle?

Is it not the case that I need to move forward from a flesh dominated life?

So what is with the : “no condemnation” (8:1)?

To be able to move forward I need freedom from the past.

For Peter to move forward in John 21 he needed freedom from the past

For Paul to move forward in Acts 9 he needed freedom from the past.

Unless there is “no condemnation” there is little point in trying to move forward because we have already blown it!

Like the man with lung cancer who now decides to stop smoking!

If God worked like that: once we have the cancer of sin we've blown it!

If God worked like that there would be no point in striving over the flesh!

So long as we have life under His Grace we need not ever have blown it!

Does this encourage us to go on in the fight?

Does this remove any secret excuse: 'O well I've gone too far this time.'

There was a future for:

1. Abraham: after that incident with Sarah and Pharaoh, and after the mess with Hagar: he was yet to reach the pinnacle of Mt. Moriah

2. Moses: after he struck the rock twice, he was yet to reach the pinnacle of Mt. Nebo

3. Elijah: after his despair and despondency and unbelief, he was yet to reach the pinnacle of Horeb.

4. David: after the incident with Bathsheba and after numbering the people he would again worship and that on the altar of the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite and claim territory for Gods temple!

Praise God that “there is therefore now no condemnation...”

For it is the only way we can leave the past behind us and press on to new heights for God!

Rom8:1 allows us to move forward, but to move forward we need freedom from the past.

1. Romans 8:1 gives me freedom from the sins of the past

2. Romans 8:1 gives liberty to live in the present (eg 8:15)

“there is therefore now no condemnation...” has a reason:

1. The work of Christ for me at Calvary: Roms 3 + 4 – propitiation: man Justified, God satisfied by Christ crucified

2. The work of Christ in me (8:1-4; 9-10)! The picture painted in Romans 8 is not the salvation of the sinner, followed by the constant and repeated forgiveness of continual sin but rather of salvation followed by a transformed and Spirit filled life!

Both of these aspects of the work of Christ are brought together in verse 3:

1. “for sin” - to deal with sin by dieing for sin, ie propitiation (Rom 3)

2. “condemned sin in the flesh” - to deal with sin by living without sin! Christ broke the link between sinning and being 'only human.' Christ was truly human but He did no sin! What difference does that make to me? I am indwelt by His Spirit (8:10)!

There is “therefore now no condemnation...” because:

1. Christ is able to forgive sins (Rom 3; 8:3).

2. Christ is able to change lives (8:1-2,4).

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (8:2)

This “law” operates in us!

Driving us forward in righteousness (7:21,22).

Consider the “law of the Spirit of life” in the scriptures :

1. Genesis 1 : Gods Spirit moves in the creation of life

2. Genesis 6: God moves in preserving Noah and his family

3. Genesis 19: The angel of God moves in preserving Lot

4. Exodus 12: God moves in removing His people from the judgement upon Egypt

5. 1 Kings 17: God preserves the life of Elijah and the widow and her son

6. The resurrections of scripture

7. The resurrection of Christ from the grave!

1. Who is speaking?

2. When is it set?

3. Why bother writing it?

Is this section about:

1. An unbeliever?

2. A believer?

3. A conversion experience?

It is an unbeliever:

1. Consider his character

2. Consider his condition

3. Consider his captivity

4. Consider the connection of this section to the previous

1. Consider his character

He is carnal (v14)

This description can be used of a believer (1Co3:1,3,4)

In the context of Romans 7 would point more to an unbeliever (7:5;8:9)

2. Consider his condition

Controlled and owned by sin (7:14): “sold under sin”

The believer in contrast:

1. “is freed from sin” (6:7)

2. “sin shall not have dominion over you” (6:14)

3. “made free from sin” (6:18)

This control is apparent in 7:15,18,19.

3. Consider his captivity

This man looks for but cannot find the power to live for God

It is not simply that he has no power but it isn't there for him!

“I find not” (7:18)

He is in a complete “captivity to the law of sin...” (7:23)

This could hardly be true of someone “whom the son sets free”

4. Consider the connection of this section to the previous

Is 7:14-25 a different subject, unconnected to the previous section?

“For...” (7:14) – this section is connected to the preceding section.

In 7:5-13 we saw the problem encountered when the flesh comes into contact with the law of God, this results in rebellion, rejection and revulsion.

So is this the laws fault?

No says the apostle in 7:14, let me explain, the problem doesn't lie with the law it lies with me, that is with my flesh.

So this 3^rd section of Romans 7 is by means of explanation of the problems encountered by the unbeliever in 7:5-13.

So this 3^rd section of Romans 7 can hardly be about the struggles in the life of the believer if it is written to explain the problems encountered by the unbeliever!

It is a believer:

1. Consider his despair

2. Consider his desire

3. Consider his delight

4. Consider his deliverance

1. Consider his despair:

So what is the problem with this section being all about the unbeliever?

In a word the little title we have chosen for it: 'frustration'

There is a frustration running through this section

This is not a frustration we have detected so far in any of the sinners we have met in Romans:

Roms Chp 1: The Rotten Sinner:

Is his conscience racked with guilt and frustration at being unable to “do good” (7:19,21)?

Does this man spend a long night with a troubled conscience, racked with guilt?

Does this man get together for prayer with others to wrestle with sin in his life?

Does the rotten sinner of chp1 “hate” his sin (7:15) and how he is behaving?

“Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:” (Rom 1:31)

This mans conscience is burned out and utterly corrupted.

God has given him up.

His is a corrupted conscience.

He doesn't care that he hasn't made it.

He is marked by depravity of conscience.

Roms Chp 2: The Self Righteous Sinner

What about his conscience?

Is he caught up with frustration and self condemnation and criticism?

This sinner criticises others but not himself (2:3,5)

This sinner uses his conscience against others!

If I don't get to heaven then who will?

We can draw great comfort not from what we are before God but what we think we are before men!

He is too bust criticising others who haven't made it.

He is marked by distraction of conscience.

Roms Chp 2 + 3: The Religious Sinner

Is this sinner convicted and troubled by his own conscience?

This sinner seems more convicted and convinced of his own righteousness and acceptance before God on the basis of his race, his religion and his legal righteousness!

This man is confident (2:19)

This man is utterly convinced he has already made it.

All I have! All I do! All I am!

He is marked by deception of conscience.

2. Consider his desire

This man has a desire to do good and to please God (7:18-21)

This is not compatible with being an unbeliever (Rom 3:11).

3. Consider his delight (7:22)

If there is one verse I would point to in particular in this section to indicate that this man is not an unbeliever it would be v22.

This is a man with the character of the blessed man of Psalm 1.

Recall that such a delight in the law of the Lord has as its consequence even in OT days: roots, shoots and fruits (Ps 1:3).

Do we suppose then that in Roms 7 we have a fruitful unbeliever?

Not only is this the character of the blessed man of Psalm 1 but it is by contrast not the character of the ungodly man: “the ungodly are not so” (Psalm 1:4)

Not only does the man of Roms 7:22 “delight in the law of God” but he does it after the “inward man” cf. 2 Co 4:16.

In other words at the heart of this man is someone spiritual, a man trying to please God, but failing.

4. Consider his deliverance (7:24,25)

In this mans deliverance we might be tempted at first reading to consider this the story of an unbeliever, ie from 7:14-23 we have his struggle and in 7:24,25 we have his deliverance and then in chp 8 we have the Christian life.

Notice from what and to what he is delivered!

Look at how this section ends:

“So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (7:25)

In other words this deliverance is not from the presence of the flesh but rather is a deliverance to a place of power over the flesh.

So the change that happens at the end of this section does not wipe away the struggle of 7:14-25, relegating it firmly to the past, to pre-conversion life but rather this change / deliverance brings about the possibility and expectation of victory.

This deliverance is not a removal out of but rather a victory over the struggle.

So who is this all about?

How can we fit all of these features together?

Features of an unbeliever:

1. Consider his character

2. Consider his condition

3. Consider his captivity

4. Consider the connection of this section to the previous

Features of a believer:

1. Consider his despair

2. Consider his desire

3. Consider his delight

4. Consider his deliverance

Could we bring both of these lists together in 1 kind of person.

Could we have here a conversion experience?

Is this a transition section? What about when?

This will depend upon who we think this section is about!

But consider:

1. The change in tense to the present tense in 7:14ff

2. If this section deals with the past struggle of the pre-conversion life then what exactly is the point to it? Who is going to read this section? Is this epistle not written to believers? If so then this would be a description of the struggle you don't have!

3. If this section is all about the struggle of the believer, then what is the deliverance about (7:24,25) and why the contrast in Roms 8?

I suggest that this section isn't about a time at all but rather a truth

It is the truth of the flesh and how it impedes our service for God.

That is our present experience, hence the present tense and the features of the believer.

The flesh itself is never converted, hence the language of the unbeliever.

Victory in the battle is possible and is expected and hence the deliverance in 7:24,25 and the transition to chp 8.

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

Notes from a message preached by Dr J Stewart Gillespie At Bridgend Gospel Hall New Cumnock To listen to the MP3 recording of this message click here Chapter 6: 4 reasons we do not continue in sin: 1.Dead to sin 2.Alive to Christ 3.Serve another 4.Sin remains sin The bulk / the biggest of these 4 reasons presented in chapter 6 was: 'I serve another' which runs from about verse 12 to 20. Chapter 7 continues where chapter 6 left off Chapter 7 looks at what stops me from living the life I ought to live, a life that really counts for God and for eternity, The believer has 3 great enemies: 1.The World 2.The Flesh 3.The Devil cf. James 3:15; Psalm 17:12-14 Consider Moses and his rod used against Egypt – the world, the serpent – the Devil and Amalek – the flesh Consider David in 1 Samuel 17 – up against Goliath marked by 666, Saul and his carnal advice and the world in the form of the Philistine army Come to Romans 7 you would hardly know we had 3 enemies, only 1 mentioned – the flesh! Why the is it that the flesh comes in for such special attention here? 1.The Devil – smarter enemy: the 'angel of light', whispering in your ear: 'this is the way...let me show you a better way...don't listen to the preacher...never mind your bible..you needn't get rid of that sin, just cut it down a bit and if you can't cut it down a bit, just pretend you have, no one needs know...you can handle it.' 2.The World – would be a bigger enemy 3.The Flesh – the weakest enemy! Paradoxically the most significant! It is the weakest link in the chain! The flesh is the most vulnerable! The flesh becomes the final common pathway of all attack on my spiritual progress! So then if I didn't have the flesh: 1.Satan would be unable to gain a foothold in my life? Correct! Consider the words of Christ: “The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30) 2.The world would have no appeal to me? Correct! Consider 1 John 2:16: “all that is in the world the lust of the flesh...” 3.Sin would have no appeal to me? Correct! (Rom7:5) When we use our bodies / lifes to act / speak / serve, think of: 1.The Cause of the action: Is it “in the flesh,” is it the kind of thing an unsaved person would do? Is it just fulfilling natural desires? 2.The Consequences of that actions: God desires that all actions and service for Him lead me deeper into “holiness” (6:19,22) 3.The Conclusion (6:23) – does it lead to death? Do the results continue with positive significance after death, “unto eternal life”? It is through the flesh Satan will attack me! An unsaved person is very much in: 1.The Power of Sin (Rom 6) 2.The Power of Satan (Eph2) 3.The Power of the Flesh (Rom7:5) Yet a man will rarely commit a sin that he does not enjoy! So Satan will act on the flesh, the natural appetites, for a buzz, a good time, a thrill. The world will appeal to: materialism, sexual appetite, natural desires: “the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the pride of life.” Beware of blaming your sin on the Devil! God doesn't! God holds me responsible for my own sin! A man generally will enjoy his own sin: David – acted and fell on sexual desire Samson – sexual desire was his downfall Nabal – gluttony Judas – love of money, Satan entered into him and yet Judas fell because of his own greed and materialism. He had kept the bag and stolen from it and now he sells the Lord for 30 pieces of silver! A sin Satanically designed to appeal to Judas' flesh! 7:1-4 – Freedom from Law 7:5-13 – Failure of Flesh 7:14-25 – Frustration with Flesh How does the flesh hold me back? 7:5 – The Flesh Rebels against God 7:6 – The Flesh Restricts God 7:7 – The Flesh Replaces God The Flesh Rebels Against God (7:5) What is the response of the flesh to God? To His Word? To His Law? This verse is here that I might be able to discern the action and reaction of my own flesh to Gods Word. Does the flesh respond to Gods Word by: (a)The flesh gets information from the law? The flesh sitting back, minding its own business, is informed about sin by the law, and finds itself drawn to do what it never thought to do before? I don't think that is it at all. There is something far more active in the relationship between the 2 in verse 5: “the passions of sins” (v5), this is the flesh pursuing sin with a passion! Consider how the 'flesh' responds to Gods Law / Gods Word: i.Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen19) – the men rebelled against Gods Word from Lot: 'who do you think you are?' Who are you telling what to do?' The flesh responds with rebellion against God and His Word. ii.Synagogue of Nazareth (Luke 4) – The Word of God preached, an opportunity to respond to the gospel, if you don't respond then I'll turn to the Gentiles! Remember Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, remember Elisha and the Shunammite! What was their response? We never thought of that before? We'll need to go home and discuss this with our Rabbis? No the response of the flesh was that of rejection – took Him to the brow of the hill to cast Him off. iii.Calvary – man responds in the flesh with revulsion: “hated without a cause” He was “despised and rejected of men...” they cried “crucify Him” (b)The flesh is not simply informed by the law rather it is surely clear the response of the flesh is that on inflammation! Why does this happen? Every person has: 1.The flesh – which rejects God (Rom 8:7) – Detests God 2.A Conscience (Rom 2) – which detects God As soon as the conscience detects God; in moral values eg Sodom and Gomorrah, in His Word eg Luke 4 or in Person – the rejection of Christ. I need the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome all of that! Beware of a response to the Word of God that: rebels, rejects, revolts – that is the response of the flesh. The Flesh Restricts God (7:6) The flesh wants to turn the reality of relationship into the routine of religion We have seen previously that service for God can become a dry, dismal, dead, formal thing, that comes out of: Responsibility Obligation Duty This is not the motive for true Christian service Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do thy will O my God, yea thy law is within my heart” D – Desire E – Enjoyment L – Love I – Intensity G – Glory of God H – Heart T – Total Commitment To serve the way God wants me to serve I need: 1.Passion to Serve (7:1-4) 2.Possibility / Ability to Serve (7:5-13) 3.Power to serve (7:14-25) The flesh desires to change that service into a cold legality / formality (7:6) It is possible to draw a certain comfort / consolation from the repetition of form. The flesh likes formality – it keeps God at a distance. Indicators of formality: we become caught up with: 1.The Processes of religion: “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.” (Amos 5:21) 2.The Places of religion: “But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.” (Mat 12:6); Matt 24:1: the church / the hall! 3.The People of religion: “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Luke 3:8) cf. “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” (1Co 1:12) “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1Co 3:4) The Flesh Replaces God (7:7) Of all the commandments to pick in this verse why pick: “thou shalt not covet” ? Why that one? Are there not more important commandments? More serious laws? What about the 1st table of the law? Sins against God? Did you notice that “thou shalt not covet” is by way of illustration of “lust” (v7) – in other words it is covetousness that makes lust sinful. The problem with lust is, it is a form of covetousness. Lust – the product of the flesh, sets my heart on what it ought not to be set upon. Lust is sinful because it takes my heart away from where it ought to be. Consider how covetousness lies at the root of so many sins: 1.The root sin of the flesh – covetousness 2.The root sin of Satan – covetousness: Isa 14:12-13; Ezek 28:16 3.The root sin of the world – covetousness: 1 John 2:16 4.Idolatry is covetousness (col 3:5) 5.Theft is the practice of covetousness 6.Adultery is sexual covetousness Covetousness is therefore presented in scripture as: 1.The root of all evil (1 Tim6:10) 2.The impediment to entering into heaven (Matt 19:24) 3.The alternative to Holy Spirit filled living (Col 3:2) 4.The seminal / root sin behind Satan, the World and the Flesh. 5.Responsible for bringing Gods judgement upon His people (Isa 57:17) 6.The sin of displacing God from my heart and putting something or someone else in His place: Ps 119:36; Ezek 33:31; Heb 13:5. Covetousness is thus the Seminal sin: The Divine definition of sin expounded in the 10 commandments, exemplified throughout Israels history, exposed in times of Divine judgement upon His people and explained in scripture hinges upon Gods abhorrence to and utter intolerance of covetousness, that is the revulsion of God towards a created being becoming distracted by or occupied with anything other than God. This is a most dangerous sin committed when it is committed against the One who describes Himself as a “jealous God.” When I apply this to my life, the insight which it brings is little short of mind blowing: i.Every unnecessary shopping trip ii.Every distracted hour iii.Every wasted evening on the TV / internet iv.Every pre-occupation with material gain v.Every social event which takes priority over the spiritual Becomes an act of exceptional sinfulness. https://graceinchrist.org/romans

Taken from a message preached at Bridgend Gospel Hall New Cumnock by Dr J Stewart Gillespie To listen to the MP3 recording click here “Shall we continue in sin?” (Rom6:1) We considered 4 reasons we don't continue in sin: 1.We are Dead to Sin (6:1-6) 2.We are Alive to Christ (6:5-11) 3.Because I Serve Another (6:12-20) 4.Because Sin remains Sin (6:21-23) Because I Serve Another: We thought about this practically Consider how the whole body is used in service, start from the top: 1.Our master (6:12) – Our Head 2.Our mortal body (6:12) – Our Human Desires / Lusts of the Body 3.Our members (6:13) – Our Hands 4.Our motive (6:17-19) – Our Heart 1.Our master (6:12) – Our Head Who is in charge? Who is my master? We chose our master! There are only 2 possibilities: i.Sin (5:21) ii.Christ (5:21; 6:10,11) Who is my head in this action? I no more control sin and Satan than I control Christ and righteousness. Some thought they could control sin: i.Noah and his wine – Lost his dignity ii.Lot's wife and a love for the world – Lost her home, family and life iii.Achan and materialism – Lost his life iv.Solomon and his wives – Lost his Kingdom v.Samson and his fornication – Lost his life vi.Judas and his love of money – Lost his soul Who exactly was in control? We have a great advantage here, we are able to look back on these biblical characters and take in the whole scope and panorama of their life! Our freedom lies in our ability to choose not in our freedom from the consequences of those decisions we make! 2.Our mortal body (6:12) – Our Human Desires Know your mortal body What is driving the activities of my mortal body? The body itself was created by God and has God given desires that are good and right: i.Appetite for food ii.Thirst iii.Sexual desires iv.Appreciation of beauty v.Love of art Our bodies are subject to our human nature and that nature is a fallen human nature corrupted by sin – referred to as the “flesh” The flesh constantly pulls me in the direction of gratifying the natural desires of the body, those desires are physical and earth bound and keep me tied to earth. Only with conversion and the power of Gods Spirit can I rise any higher that the desire to simply satisfy the natural desires of the body and only with His Spirit do I really appreciate that there is anything beyond the material to aim for and desire! Rom 8:5-13 The desire and goal of the believer goes beyond simply enjoying the stimulation of bodily appetites satisfied: Rom 6:19, 22 – we have fruit to bring for God – our goal is “holiness”! Is it the flesh driven by “lust” which is using: i.My hands for its deeds? ii.My eyes for its satisfaction? iii.My lips for its message? 3.“Our members” (6:13) – Our Hands Know your members The emphasis here is on outcome, not simply actvity! what am I actually achieving? Consider Mary and Martha (Lk10:38-42) Paradoxically when we apply the teaching of this section we may find that to be truly productive in the things of God we need to stop doing some things as we consider what they are actually achieving! I am a believer in that principle, of stopping service in a particular sphere as well as starting it! (Matt10:14; Mk6:11). “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin... your members as instruments of righteousness unto God... whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?...as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” (Rom 6:13-19) We are looking at outcome not only occupation! Outcome in terms of “righteousness” - does it promote righteousness and “holiness” - does it further my pursuit of deeper holiness to God and encourage others in their pursuit of holiness, and “unto God” - is it acceptable to God? But you say I am busy! Busy but barren? Tests of worth / value: 1.What is the cause of my actions / activities (6:12-13). Is sin and the flesh the cause or is God the cause of this kind of action / activity / these words? 2.What is the character of my actions? Could I categorise it as “righteous” (v13) and consistent with Gods Word (v18) or is it “unrighteous”? 3.What are the consequences of this action (v19)? Where does it lead to? Is it “unto iniquity” (v19) or is it “unto holiness” (v19). 4.What about the conclusion of these actions? Do they end in death and with death (v16,21) or do these actions have eternal and enduring consequences (v22)? 4.Our motive (6:19) – Our Heart Surely not more about service? Surely this all isn't yet another message about doing more for God? I recall as a young believer developing a reaction of 'not another message about what we are meant to be doing for God' It is all very well speaking about service, exhorting to serve, talking about: 1.Responsibility 2.Obligation 3.Duty To serve but this can leave us cold and uninspired! Some of the people to whom Paul was writing had known most of their life about: 1.Responsibility 2.Obligation 3.Duty as a motive for service, but this failed to achieve the desired result in their life and in the life of the apostle. They knew “the law” (7:1), they knew all about their responsibility, obligation and duty under the law to serve God, but this is not the kind of service that Paul is speaking about in chp 6 to 8 of Romans. 1.Responsibility 2.Obligation 3.Duty Simply spell ROD – and this becomes a rod for our back. True service for God, true Christian service for God is not motivated, is not dynamised by have to. For true service I must move from: 1.Responsibility 2.Obligation 3.Duty To the dynamic of true Christian service. Consider the motivating principle behind the service of Christ for God: “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psa 40:6-8) His service was motivated by 'delight' and not by 'duty'! from: Desire Enjoyment Love Intensity Glory of God Heart Total commitment This is the essence of true Christian service, motivated by delight rather than duty. To serve in that way I would judge that I need 3 things: 1.A Passion to serve God 2.An Ability / Possibility to serve God 3.A Power to serve God In chapter 7 I see: 1.A Passion to serve God (7:1-4) 2.An Ability / Possibility to serve God (7:5-13) 3.A Power to serve God (7:14-25) 1.A Passion to serve God (7:1-4) means Freedom from the law 2.An Ability / Possibility to serve God (7:5-13) – in contrast of the failure of being “in the flesh” 3.A Power to serve God (7:14-25) – in contrast to Frustration. Therefore in Romans 7 I also have: 1.Freedom (7:1-4) 2.Failure (7:5-13) 3.Frustration (7:14-25) Looked at positively we see: 1.A Passion to Serve (7:1-4) 2.A Possibility to serve (7:5-13) 3.A Power to Serve (7:14-25) Chp 7:1-4 details a service born out of the passion of relationship A Passion to Serve - Freedom (7:1-4) i.Death releases from the law (v1) "The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" - the principle stated The rule or dominion of law extends only to death, as does sin (Rom5:12) In eternity there is no sin and can be no sin for there is no law either! On the surface, a point that is straight forward enough! But the apostle seems to chose a very complex parable as the means of conveying this truth. So complex that some would suggest that Paul has bitten off more than he can chew! That he has mad a bit of a mess of the illustration! In the chapter the believer is freed (7:4), just like the woman but it isn't the woman who dies it is her husband! But the parable illustrates something more than just the basic truth! So some have said the parable is a bit mixed up! A kind of mixed metaphor! Maybe Paul has overstretched himself! Others holding to the inspiration of the Word of God wouldn't maybe just go as far as saying that but would perhaps tacitly acknowledge it by saying, 'don't look too deeply into the parable,' or perhaps that the parable is only meant to illustrate the basic truth, perhaps indicating that underneath the surface the whole illustration is a bit of a mess! But this is the inspired Word of God and "not one jot or title shall pass away" "the Word of God is living and powerful..." Interestingly there are plenty of simple examples that Paul could have used to illustrate his point that the rule of law extends only to death and then law has no more demands upon us: a)Ahithophel - was he ever called to account for betraying the Lord's anointed? No he wasn't! Why? He hung himself! b)Naomi's two sons were they ever dealt with by the law and put out of the congregation of Israel for marrying Moabite girls? No! Why? They both died in Moab! c)Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were they ever broad before the law for fornication? No! Why? They both died in battle! d)Samson and his fornication and adultery? But he doesn't chose a simple illustration, for as we shall see a simple example of this principle just would not have done, it would have been critically lacking in at least 2 perhaps 3 key areas. Pauls example illustrates at least 4 key principles: i.That death releases from the law ii.That in certain circumstances the death of another releases me from law iii.My relationship with another is critical in enjoying that release from law iv.Being released from law by death I am free to serve another That death releases from the law (v1) "The law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth" - the principle states The rule or dominion of law extends only to death, as does sin (Rom5:12) The principle stated is simple enough That in certain circumstances the death of another releases me from law(v2,4) Death releases me from the rule of law In the parable however the death is not my death, the death of the woman, but the death of another! Has Paul got mixed up? Actually this point is quite consistent with the context of Romans so far In chp 3+4 we came into blessing; the blessing of justification by faith, through death, the death of another! In chp 5 Divine Grace was poured out, through the death of another. In chp 6 our consecration to God was made possible because of our identification with Christ in His death – the death of another. Not only is it the case that death frees from the law but that death is significantly the death of another! Notice how that release by death occurs. Our simple illustrations would again be inadequate here. This is not release from the law in the same way that perhaps Hophni and Phinehas, Ahithophel, Naomis sons or Samson were released from the law. This is not the release of a guilty party because of the weakness of the law, unable to pursue the sinner beyond death. In our parable, significantly, it is the release of a guiltless individual who is now regarded as having fulfilled all legal obligations and death has now brought the claims of law to an end. This is the release of the righteous rather than the unrighteous! “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Co 5:21) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom 3:28) My relationship with another is critical in enjoying that release from law My relationship with another who is dead to the law in certain exceptional circumstances can affect my status before the law too! The death of another to the law can release me! I think in the context of Roms 4 to 6 this is highly significant! The nature of that relationship is also very interesting: marriage relationship! Right the way through the NT scriptures the relationship between Christ and His church is consistently viewed as a marriage relationship: (Eph 5:24ff; Rev21). In verse 4 we are "dead to the law" but it is by the "body of Christ" - the death of another! Notice the logic of verse 4: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” Notice that nothing less than the “body of Christ” is needed to break me free from the demands of the law! The theme of redemption in scripture: the person of Christ, the work of Calvary, the sacrifice of the lamb, the sufferings of Christ (Ps22; Ps69; Isa53) all of this mighty work and sacrifice impacts upon my life at this point! To release me from that which binds me that I might be free to “bring forth fruit unto God.” What is this fruit? “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Rom 6:22) Holiness is no add on to Christianity Holiness is no after thought on Gods part to Christian experience Holiness is the very essence of Christian experience! Holiness is the impression of Calvary upon my being! Being released from law by death I am free to serve another In this complex parable of death releasing us from the law we see illustrated a point that could not be illustrated by a simple example of the death of the accused releasing him from the rule of law: (a)Ahithophel - what happened next? - Nothing he's dead. (b)Naomis' two sons - what happened next, after they were released from the law? Nothing - they were dead! (c)Eli's two sons - what happened to them next after they had been released from the law? Nothing - they were dead. But in the parable of Romans 7 after the release from the law there is a 'what happened next...' The woman released from the law is ready to move on and be married to another (7:4) And in our case: "that we should bring forth fruit unto God" (7:4) So this death is not simply an end but a beginning! Only because of the complex nature of this illustration is this point possible! Some take 7:1-4 to indicate that divorce and remarriage effectively exclude people from assembly fellowship (7:3) That interpretation sheds more light on the thinking of those who teach it than it does on the teaching of scripture on divorce and remarriage! The teaching in this section relative to the woman marrying another is whilst she is "bound by the law." There is no provision in the law for operation of Divine Grace. Those who draw their teaching on divorce and remarriage from this section likewise draw no provision from Divine Grace. The conclusion of this section brings us to our true standing today of being "dead to the law" (7:4) and in our dealings with men and women we must likewise recognise that there is likewise "therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." There is good indication elsewhere that people from a background of divorce and remarriage were received into assembly fellowship: 1 Tim2; 1 Co7, John 4. Salvation isn't the end it is the beginning! Once you are save, you haven't 'done it' but rather God has 'begun it.' https://graceinchrist.org/romans