Romans - September 28, 2008

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

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. Was an offering that judged sin as evil, i.e., show the evilness of sin. (cf 7:8-11)
c. God also proclaimed sin has no right to reign in mankind.
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. Sin is not so bad for God did not think breaking one of His commandments was that evil or His commandments were not that good.
OBSERVATION (8:3) Law Of Moses could not remove condemnation for it operated through the flesh, thus, God condemned sin by providing His Son as the propitiatory sacrifice for sin (Rom 3:25) in the flesh, flesh that did not succumb to what made the Law weak (cf. Mat 4:1-11).
12. (8:4) According to this passage why did God send His Son (the Word) in the flesh.
a. So those in Christ (those walking in the Spirit) could fulfill the requirements (righteousness) of the Law.
13. (8:4) What is the requirements (righteousness, ordinance) of the Law?
a. Not to give life (Gal 3:21) but to regulate conduct so God could honorable be served — to enable the pure God to have nothing impure in His presences.
14. (8:4) What is meant by “do not walk after the flesh”?
a. Could mean depending on their own ability or after their sinful desires. Am inclined to believe it is the desires God’s Law controls, the sinful desires.
15. How does this verse answer the question of Rom 6:1-2?
a. Those is Christ no longer walk after the desires of the flesh but after the desires of the Spirit (the gospel), thus, do not continue is sin.
OBSERVATION (8:4) Jesus’ sacrifice enabled those walking according to the Spirit of life, not the law of sin and death, i.e., the flesh, to fulfill God’s good requirements.
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. Those walking in the Spirit of life (the gospel) have been set free from the body of death (outward man is mastered by the law of sin for flesh does not have the self control to perfectly serve the pure God) by the offering of the one (Jesus Christ) who was in the flesh but had the self control to not walk according to the flesh, thus, fulfilling the requirements of God’s good commandments for all who walk in the gospel.
E. Conclusion — The reason one saved by grace does not continue in sin (Rom 6:1-2) is they have been set free from Mr. Sin as their master by God’s offering of His Son for those not walking after the desires of the flesh but after the gospel. Christians have the help of deity, specifically Christ Jesus, in their war with Mr. Sin (Satan) [Rom 8:1]

XII. {Rom 8:5-14} Second Argument — Sons of God led by the Holy Spirit
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.
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A LOOK AHEAD
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.
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.
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 — Assurance of the relationship (The Spirit’s testimony)