Sermon Tone Analysis

Alêtheia Christian Fellowship ~~ 052508 ~~ Romans 8a

 

*Romans 8:1 ~~ *Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The “therefore” can tie us back to *7:6* or *7:25*.

\\ Romans 7:6 ~~ But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

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This means *eternally speaking* we who are “in Christ,” will not be condemned in any way!

\\ Romans 7:25 ~~ Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

This means that as we *struggle with sin in this life*, so long as we are “in Christ,” we will not be condemned in any way!

The first has to do with salvation, while the second deals with sanctification – both are absolutely true.

Now in context going forward…

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*Romans 8:1-4 ~~* 1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (KJV: who walk…).

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

3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The reason there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ is because we are *in Christ* – it is God’s plan.

Rest assured because *it is not my plan* or your plan or America’s plan or the Pope’s plan – *it is God’s plan*.

Verse 2, the law of the Spirit means the *fixed and certain realities*, while the Spirit of life is the *Holy Spirit enabled or activated* when we are in Christ.

These wonderful verses *do not apply* to people without Christ or for people dabbling with Christianity.

To be “in Christ” means we are *filled* with the Holy Spirit.

It is the Holy Spirit *deposit *that is the* proof* we are free.

Paul said the Law, like an x-ray, is good, but because of our *fallen state the Law could never produce obedience*.

The law can expose, condemn and kill but it could not produce righteousness.

We stand condemned!

So God sent His own Son in order that through Him, He could *rescue us* from certain condemnation – Jesus paid – that’s why there is *now no condemnation whatsoever for those so rescued*.

The proof is the Holy Spirit deposit and *what is one of the certain results?*

We no longer *walk* according to the *flesh* but according to the *Spirit*.

“The requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us,” This is passive – someone else makes it happen to us!

If you do not *walk, i.e. continually move, in the direction* of self-control by the Holy Spirit you need to examine your true beliefs.

Christ’s character and sacrifice condemn un-holiness!

Positional – *fight the correct war* – are you in Christ?

Does the Holy Spirit dwell in you?

Do you live for *God’s glory or your comfort*?

*Romans 8:5-8 ~~* 5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

“*Walking*” and now “*setting your mind on*” are good translations of Biblical concepts.

*1 John 1:6&7 ~~* 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

1 John 3:7&8 ~~ 7Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

*Slide:* Romans 8:5-8 again…

1) A mind set is a *mindset*, it is the mind set on only one thing – it is *impossible* for the non-Christian to *think correctly* about God, to *understand the Bible* or to *do good* because they do not possess the Spirit.

People may do nice, but they are unable to do good because their mind cannot comprehend.

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*Mark 8:31-33 ~~* 31And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32And He was stating the matter plainly.

And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.

33But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Many would see *Peter’s efforts as good*, especially when he later hacks the dude’s ear off – but Jesus saw something else.

Slide:

 

2) The *unregenerate mind is death*!

Such a mind is limited only to a *totally distorted illusion* anchored in the physical, never the genuine reality of the true nature of things.

There is no profit; no life.

3) The fleshly mind is *hostile* to God always and in all ways – whether *consciously or unconsciously* they *refuse to submit* to God.

Since these things are true it is *utterly impossible for an unsaved person to please God in any way*!!!!

Only through salvation in Christ Jesus by faith can a *human please God* - at least some of the time.

*Romans 8:9-14 ~~* 9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.

But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

If you are *truly saved you have the Holy Spirit* and are therefore able to walk in the Spirit.

Another proof that Christ’s bodily *resurrection is the pinnacle of Christian Truth* – if the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead to be alive forever then we can be certain that *He will raise us as well*.

In verse *12*, he says, “So then, brethren, we are under obligation…” Paul speaks of obligation rather than duty because we are *obligated to those we owe*.

We *owe the flesh* nothing except death and despair – *we owe God* for our eternal life.

*Romans 8:15&16 ~~* 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba!

Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

 

God has saved us, but more than that He has *adopted* us as His very own children jointly with our Lord Jesus.

Papa because His Spirit “*testifies together with*” our spirit.

*Romans 8:17&18 ~~* 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Not just children, but *chosen children* with all the rights and privileges of *membership in the family*.

Not just civil status and the rights, privileges and inheritance, but also *the duty and burdens* – the specially adopted son became a *vicar *of the father – like a *duplicate that a natural son may never be*.

*If *and it is a big if, if we actively walk in the Spirit and are clinging to Christ…

 

*Bearing our cross* as He bore His, then we can be certain of the future.

Notice it isn’t *just suffering*!

It is suffering with Jesus

 

*Biblically, no middle ground exists*.

You are either saved or unsaved, bound for heaven or bound for hell, walking in the Spirit or walking in the flesh – it is black & white.

Are you saved?

Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?

Do you want to be?