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Condemned! What an ugly word; what an ugly feeling;
what an ugly future!! There is nothing good that condemnation
brings to mind. On the other hand, justification is about things
that are all good. There is no 'down side" to justification.
Romans 7 speaks the dark and foreboding words of condemnation;
Romans 8 turns the spiritual tables and declares bright and wonderful
blessings that result from the spiritual mindset and from obeying
the Gospel of Christ!
A New Relationship with Christ Results from the
Spiritual Mindset (8:1-11) "No condemnation!" What a contrast to
Romans 7. Every fiber of one's being under the law screams "Condemnation!"
In Christ, the message is exactly the opposite. Hear the relief
in Paul's voice as he writes, "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. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the
law of sin and death." (8:1-2).
The one who knows no condemnation is the one that
walks according to the Spirit. As used in this context, it is
clear that Paul contrasts 2 systems (i.e. the system of law delivered
by Moses vs. the system of grace delivered by Christ). This type
of contrast was clearly spoken of by John when he wrote, "For
the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through
Jesus Christ." (John 1:17). From the outset of the book of
Romans, Paul labored to show that salvation only comes through
the gospel (1:16). He has clearly proven his case in the intervening
chapters; now he tallies the results. One result is the spiritual
mind that comes by following Christ and turning away from the
carnal ordinances of the Law of Moses. The detested result of
the law was death; the glowing result of the gospel is life.
The spiritual mindset seeks God and godliness.
It hates the things of the flesh knowing that death is the sure
fate of the carnal mind. Just as right thinking people physically
prefer pleasant and good things over the unpleasant and ugly,
the Christian seeks that which edifies and strengthens. The spiritual
mind dwells on God and enjoys prospects of life and peace (8:6).
The spiritual mind subjects itself to God, but the carnal mind
cannot function in that way (8:7-8). The eternal hope of the spiritually
minded is a glorious resurrection (8:11).
The Spiritual Mindset Results in Sonship and Heirship
(8:12-25) Those who walk after the Spirit are called "sons
of God" (8:14). Sonship results from our relationship with
Christ. When He becomes our elder brother, His Father becomes
our Father! What an exhilarating thought! To think that Jesus
is my Brother and that His Father is my Father is literally beyond
human comprehension.
Beyond the thought of Sonship is the fact of Heirship;
I am heir to a fortune that excels a million-fold the fondest
imaginations of my heart. The collective creation travails as
it longs for the perfection that will some day be realized in
Christ. The individual creature eagerly but patiently desires
the change that will some day come. Tribulation now; glory later!
Like the souls that cried out under the altar
in the book of Revelation (6:9-10), the heirs of God presently
cry, "How Long, O LORD? How long?" Some day the purchased
possession will be claimed by the Father and the hope of creation
will be realized. Until then, Paul and those of kindred faith
are "... eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption
of our body." (Romans 8:23). Sonship and Heirship Blessings
that exceed our abilities to imagine!
The Spiritual Mindset Results in Special Work
by the Spirit (8:16, 26-28) We know that Christ becomes our Brother and His
Father becomes our Father, but what of the Spirit? The chapter
under consideration says two things of which we take note at this
time. First, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God." (Romans 8:16), and "Likewise
the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what
we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26).
Before declaring what the first passage teaches,
lets state what it doesn't teach. This is necessary due to the
appeal of error to mystical acts and deeds of all kinds as confirmation
of a multitude of equally erroneous doctrines. For instance, all
who claim that salvation (forgiveness of sins) is an experience
that can be confirmed by feelings contradict the scriptures. Consciousness
may tell us how we feel, but it cannot tell why we feel that way.
Reason tells why. This fallacy is used by numerous proponents
of false religions (Mormons, Pentecostals, Shamans, Witchdoctors
and others). As a simple statement of fact, the Bible teaches
that feelings come from faith, not vice versa!
The verse simply states that the Spirit bears
witness with our spirit; it does not say "to our spirit."
To bear witness "with" is to give testimony that is
consistent with that of another. The verse does not declare how
He does this. It would seem reasonable that He does it in the
same way He bears other testimony of Divine Facts, namely through
the scriptures. The Spirit declares what one must do in order
to be saved and declares the promises that are to be received
based on that obedience. Our spirit knows whether or not we have
obeyed these commands. If we have, our spirit is in agreement
with the testimony of the Holy Spirit, thus confirming forgiveness
and the receipt of other blessings promised by the gospel.
The second passage says that the Spirit helps
us by interceding before the Father on our behalf with regards
to prayer. He does this because "we do not know what we should
pray for as we ought." How and when He does this is not revealed
in the inspired record. The fact that He does it is a matter of
faith that must be accepted on the evidence given. Any claim as
to how the Spirit does this is a matter of human speculation that
is beyond our ability to know. Also, any theory that has the Spirit
of God speaking with unintelligible sounds is inconsistent with
the fact that He is God, the third member of the Trinity. It seems
likely that the groanings that cannot be uttered are ours, not
His. He hears our groanings just as He heard the groanings of
His children in Egypt (see Stephen's comments at Acts 7:34). He
takes our malformed and mis-formed thoughts and joins Christ,
interceding on behalf of His saints before the throne of God (see
Romans 8:34).
The Spiritual Mindset's Grand Finale "What then shall we say to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare
His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not
with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge
against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day
long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all
these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved
us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels
nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to
come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall
be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
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