Romans - September 21, 2008

SECTION --- Four: Sanctification (6:1-8:39) .
(continued from previous Class Follow Up)

10. (7:25) Does this teach when we sin it is only the outward man sinning and not the inward man sinning, thus, I cannot sin enough to not go to heaven?
a. This verse is stating we have two options serve law of God or the law of sin not both. No one can serve two master (Luk 16:13) and to suggest Paul is saying “cannot sin enough to not go to heaven” fails to understands what it means when an accountable person is given two choices (one evil and one good) in everyday life.
OBSERVATION (7:25) Thanks to Christ he has a choices: 1) Serve the good laws of God with the inward man (what he wants to do) or 2) Serve the law of sin with his flesh (what he does not want to do). One sin committed and Mr Sin owns you (6:12-14, 19) but thanks to Christ perfectly keeping God’s good laws this man has the help he needs (Rom 3:21-26). (cf. Luk 16:13, two masters)
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What enables one to live a sanctified life — serve God the way God expects to be served?
1. Christ’s, by His perfect obedience to God’s law, provided mankind the way to be justified and sanctified; a way to know our war against sin is not hopeless, a way to know we are not alone in our daily fight with sin.
E. Conclusion — We know God’s laws are good, we also know we do not have the ability to keep the perfect laws of a perfect God perfectly without the help of a perfect Savior; and that Savior is Jesus the Christ our Lord.

XI. {Rom 8:1-4} First Argument — No Condemnation, Thanks to Christ Jesus
A. Introduction
1. Review — Thanks to Christ this man that wanted to obey God’s good commandments but knew such was not possible without God’s help recognizes the help was through Jesus the Christ.
2. Preview — Chapter eight is the explanation of the help those in Christ (Christians) receive from the three members of the (those containing the Godhead; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; cf. Col 2:9) Trinity in the Christian’s Sanctification and eventual Glorification (final victory). This passage give the how the inward man serves God while the outward (flesh) serves sin.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. According to this passage how is the man of Rom 7:24 set free from the body of death
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (8:1)To who or what does “now” make reference?
a. Those trying to obey God’s good commandments but falling short, i.e., being condemned (Rom 7:19)
2. (8:1)Who is now without condemnation?
a. Not those serving the Law of Moses but those in Christ?
3. (8:1) This verse does not inform how one gets into Christ, why not?
a. This is written to those in Christ, thus, it is not necessary to tell them how to get in Christ (cf. Rom 1:6-8; 6:3-4)
4. (8:1) Is Paul saying, in this verse, once in Christ Jesus a person will never again be in condemnation?
a. Paul is discussing how one becomes un-condemned, he is not addressing if a person can leave Christ. To answer if one can leave Christ and be condemned will require studying other letters written by those inspired by the Holy Spirit.
5. PONDER: How long does one need to be “in Christ” before they can be a happy toiling Christian confident in their salvation.
a. When they recognize Jesus the Christ as their Lord and come up out of the water of baptism.
OBSERVATION (8:1) Point to be proven — Why those in Christ are not now condemned.
6. (8:2) What two laws (rules) are under discussion in this verse?
a. Rule of Sin and death and the rule of Spirit and life (gospel). One appealing to the flesh and one appealing to the inward man.
7. (8:2) Why are the two laws (rules) defined as they are?
a. Rule of Sin leads them to guilt and death (Rom 7:9) and rule of the Spirit leads to freedom from guilt and sets them free from their body of spiritual death(7:24).
b. Rule of Sin is the good rules of God misused by Sin to bring death.
OBSERVATION (8:2) The law (rule) of the Spirit of life set those in Christ free from the all laws (rule) of Sin and death (all laws of merit, including the Law of Moses).
8. (8:3) What prevented Law from controlling the desires of mankind, i.e., being obeyed?
a. Mankind’s physical desires were stronger than mankind’s ability to control them.
9. (8:3)What did God do to overcome this weakness in the Law’s ability to control mankind.
a. He send His Son to be a “flesh” offering for sin.

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A LOOK AHEAD
10. (8:3) What was, according to this verse, the results of God’s action?
a. “condemned” = to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment; to condemn; by one’s good example to render another’s wickedness the more evident and censurable.
b.
11. PONDER: What would be implied if God’s judicial wrath for breaking His good commandments only required saying we are sorry and repenting.
a.
12. (8:4) According to this passage why did God send His Son (the Word) in the flesh.
a.
13. (8:4) What is the requirements (righteousness, ordinance) of the Law?
a.
14. (8:4) What is meant by “do not walk after the flesh”?
a.
15. How does this verse answer the question of Rom 6:1-2?
a.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — According to this passage how is the man of Rom 7:24 set free from the body of death.
1.
E. Conclusion —

XII. {Rom 8:5-14} Second Argument
A. Introduction
1. Review — Paul is continuing his logical response to the, perhaps rhetorical, question of Romans 6:1-2 on why a Christian saved by grace and not restrained by the Law of Moses will not continue in sin. Paul has presented the first of seven arguments or reasons found in Romans chapter eight on why or how the man of Roman 7:24 has been set free from the body of death by the efforts of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When a person saved by grace understands what deity has done and is doing to help them overcome sin it would be illogical for one to think they require the Law of Moses to keep them from continuing in sin. The ones Paul is addressing are not interested in only using the Law of Moses as personal tool but want to bind the Law’s requirements, and perhaps some of their own, on those saved by the gospel as a means to be sanctified.
2. Preview — The part played by the Holy Spirit in helping the saved remain saved. A failure to understand how the Holy Spirit operates has caused some misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit’s efforts or work in our salvation and sanctification.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. What does being led by the Holy Spirit mean?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (8:5) “do mind”; “mind”; “set mind” = verb; to have understanding, be wise; to direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for, to judge. Paul is not addressing one obeying (minding) but a person that is understanding.
2. (8:5) Is the contrast of masters between the outward man (flesh) and the inward man (spirit) or the Holy Spirit?
a.
3. (8:5) What is the contrast in this verse?
a.
4. NOTE: (8:6) “minded”; “mind” = noun; what one has in the mind, the thoughts and purposes (the inward man)
5. (8:6) Is the issue the results of a mind set on good and a mind set on evil?
a.
6. (8:6) What is the death Paul is discussing?
a.
7. (8:7-8) Why can the mind (inward man) set on the flesh not able to serve God?
a.
8. PONDER: What is required for a mind set on the physical (flesh) to be saved?
a. he needs to hear and accept the gospel.
9. PONDER: Considering Rom 7:24 why does a person with mind set on flesh serve flesh, even when he does not want to do so?
a.
10. (8:9) “dwell” (reside) is used in Romans only at 7:17,18,20 and 8:9,11. As Paul is using the word what does he mean by “dwell in”?
a. “in” = with the Impersonal Dative (impersonal recipient of action) it means “in a car”, “in heaven”, etc. or with the Personal Dative (personal recipient of action), as used here, it means “influenced by”, i.e. does not mean living in someone but “influencing” someone.
11. (8:9) What are your thoughts on flesh and Spirit, i.e., is Spirit referring to the Holy Spirit or the inward man (spirit)?
a.
12. (8:9) Is this verse teaching God has a Spirit, Christ has a Spirit, and there is also a Holy Spirit?
a.
13. (8:10) Considering the contrast is it “Spirit” or “spirit”?
a.
14. (8:10) Is “dead” and “life” referring to physical, spiritual, or something else?
a.
15. (8:11) The conflict of 7:16 is the inward man wants to serve God but the outward man will not let him. How does this verse prevent the doctrine that our relationship with the Holy Spirit means the inward man can serve God and the outward man can or will continue to serve evil and will not impact their spending eternity with God?
a.
16. (8:12-13) When a disciple of Christ is obligated to the flesh does this mean they are obligated to do evil?
a.
17. (8:12-13) What is meant by “shall die”?
a.
18. What is the eternal consequences of being obligated to the flesh?
a.
19. PONDER: Does “putting to death the deeds of the body” mean just stop doing evil?
a. .
OBSERVATION (8:12-13)
The readers do not have an obligation or a debt to serve the outward man, to strive to please the outward man, to live according to the desired (be they good or bad) of the flesh. For living as if you have a relationship with (serving) the flesh you will die spiritually, if you live as if you have a relationship with (serving) the Holy Sprit you will not die a spiritual death.
20. In what sphere of influence does a son of God live?
a. .
21. Paul does not inform how one is lead by the Holy Spirit, why not?
a.
OBSERVATION (8:14)
Those belonging to God are lead by the Holy Spirit, not feeling, emotions, or desires (be they good or bad) of the flesh. If one ceases to walk in the sphere of Holy Spirit influenced they cease being a son of God, even if they have been baptized to receive remission of their sins.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What does being led by the Holy Spirit mean?
1.
E. Conclusion —

XIII. {Rom 8:15-16} Third Argument