The Blessings of Being Righteous Apart from the Law

1. Read: Romans 8:1-4

2. About the Text:

1) The previous chapter of Romans discussed how the Law cannot make on righteous.

2) It also discussed how the Christian is free from the Law to be righteous in Christ.

3) This chapter discusses the blessings of righteousness in Christ.

4) These blessings begin with understanding that Christ fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law.

5) That requirement is fulfilled in us too if we walk according to the Spirit.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Life comes from living according to the Spirit (5).

2. Death comes from living according to the flesh (5).

3. To be carnally minded is death (6).

4. To be spiritually minded is life and peace (6).

5. The carnal mind is at enmity with God (7-8).

1) It is not subject to the law of God.

2) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God

6. One is in the Spirit when the Spirit of God/Christ is in him (9-10).

1) Those without the Spirit of Christ do not belong to God.

2) The body is dead because of sin.

3) The Spirit is life because of righteousness.

7. God will also give life to our mortal bodies through Christ’s Spirit that dwells in us (11).

8. We are debtors to live according to the Spirit (i.e. we must be faithful, 12-13).

1) Living according to the flesh brings death.

2) If we put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, we will live.

1. As many led by the Spirit of God are children of God (14).

2. This is not the spirit of bondage that leads to fear (14).

3. This is the spirit of adoption by which we cry “Abba Father” (15).

1) Galatians 4:4-7.

4. The Spirit also testifies that we are children of God (16).

5. This means that we are also heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (17).

1) If we suffer with Him (Philippians 3:8-11).

2) So that we will also be glorified together.

1. The suffering of the present time is worth enduring to be glorified (18).

2. The creation is expecting glorification (19-23). (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).

1) The creation (physical body of man) was subjected to futility in hope.

2) The creation will be delivered from bondage to the glorious liberty of the children.

3) The creation groans with birth pains (when it experiences suffering).

4) The spirit within us also groans for the redemption (glorification) of the body.

3. The hope that we have expects glorification (24-25).

1) This hope is what we have when we are saved from our sins.

2) It is not a realized hope or else it would not be hope.

3) Hoping for glorification means that we still expect it to come.

4. The spirit also expects glorification (26-28).

1) The spirit helps in our weaknesses.

2) We do not know what to pray for sometimes.

3) The spirit intercedes in times of physical suffering with unutterable groanings.

4) The One Who searches the heart (Jesus) knows the mind of the spirit.

5) He makes intercession for the saints.

6) This means that even our sufferings work together for good if we love God.

5. God also expects our glorification (29-30).

1) Whom God foreknew, he predestined.

2) This predestination was conformed to the image of His Son.

3) When Jesus was glorified, He was the firstborn to do so.

4) Those who were predestined were also called (in Christ Jesus).

5) Those who were called were justified (in Christ Jesus).

6) Those who were justified were glorified (in Christ Jesus).

1. God is for us, not against us (31).

2. God did not spare His own Son (32).

3. God will freely give us all things in Christ (32).

4. God justifies, makes us righteous (33).

5. God offers Christ for our salvation (34).

1) His death proves He desires our salvation.

2) His resurrection demonstrates He can save.

3) His authority prevents all others from taking salvation away.

4) His intercession maintains our salvation.

6. No external thing can separate us from the love of Christ (35-36).

7. We are conquerors because of Christ’s love (37-39).

8. “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 1:21).

1. The Blessings of Being Righteous Apart from the Law are . . .

1) Life

2) Adoption

3) Glorification

4) Love

2. Invitation