Romans - November 2, 2008

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

4. (8:15) What is the significance of crying out, “Abba! Father!?
a. “Abba” emphasize the affection (emotion) of the relationship, “Father” emphasize the physical (progenitor) aspects of the relationship.
b. The attitude of fear is replaced with an attitude of respect, trust, and love.
(OBSERVATION 8:15)
Those in (influenced by) Christ are not wretched, are not filled with fear, for they have a spirit (inward man, attitude) of adoption as God’s son not of fear as a slave to the flesh (outward) as does the man of Rom 7:24 — those under a law of merit.
5. (8:16) PONDER: Readers are called sons of God at 8:14, but children of God here, is there any significance if so what is it?
a. Not two different types of Christians but two different aspects or characteristic of being a disciple.
b. “sons of God” = Those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others; those who revere God as their father; this is a characteristic of all Christians.
c. “children of God” = Those who are depended upon God; those who are addicted to God; this is a characteristic that is continually strengthened and developed as one matures.
6. (8:16) What does “beareth witness with” or “testifies with” mean?
a. To testify jointly, that is, concurrently corroborate the facts or evidence.
(1) Reader’s spirit (inward man) and the Holy Spirit both agree about the facts or evidence, namely, the reader is a child of God.
b. The testimony of two objective witnesses, not subjective (I think, I feel, etc.)
7. (8:16) Does this knowledge help the man of Rom 7:24 and if so how does it help?
a. If he has doubt he considers the fact or evidence informing him he is a child of God and if the Holy Spirit agrees (corroborates the facts) then he is a child of God.
b. Emotionally he may question his relationship with God, after he views the facts supporting the positions he is a child of God and the Holy Spirit agrees with the facts he now logically knows he is a child of God, thus, he is wretched free.
(1) Consider the question, “Am I going to go to heaven when I die?”
8. (8:16) PONDER: How does the Holy Spirit bear witness with, not to, the reader’s spirit?
a. To be an objective witness (more than a feeling) with our inward man the bearing of testimony must be tangible. Thus, the words presented to the reader’s spirit (inward man) by Holy Spirit inspired men {EPH 3:3-5}. Peter calls these words the gospel {1PE 1:25}. The gospel is God’s power of salvation (Rom 1:16).
9. (8:16) PONDER: How does the reader’s spirit bear witness with the Holy Spirit?
a. Readers use their “processing information” tools for understanding ...
(1) Memory = Capacity of retaining or reviving impressions and experiences.
(2) Reason = Power concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.
(3) Contemplation = To think fully or deeply about.
(4) Perception = Act of understanding by means of physical senses or of the mind.
(5) Judgment = Ability to make mental decision or form opinion wisely, objectively, and authoritatively, esp. in matters affecting action; good sense; and discretion.

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A LOOK AHEAD

D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — How can those freed from the law of merit know, during trying struggles and conflicts, they are God’s children, thus, not be “wretched”?
1.
E. Conclusion —

XIV. {Rom 8:17-25} Fourth Argument — In hope we have been saved
A. Introduction
1. Review — This section (Rom 6:1- 8:39) begins with the question, “If one is saved by grace what would motivated then to not continue serving Sin?” The foundation for this question is Paul’s (Jesus the Christ’s) position humans are justified by grace, not law of merit. Paul is showing those in Christ (those influenced by Christ) do not require any law of merit to make them serve Christ, i.e., not serve sin. Paul shows an obligation to any law of merit does not really set a person free from sin (Rom 7:24). The man at Romans 7:24 is either a Christian trying to pleased God using a law of merit or a non-Christian trying to please God by a law of merit, but failing. The man recognizes it is not his efforts that set him free from sin but Christ’s efforts (Rom 7:25). In Romans 8 the readers are presented with seven arguments supporting the position Christian have Deity’s help in their battle with Sin for their eternal soul. Three arguments have been presented: 1) Thanks to Christ there is no condemnation; 2) Sons of God are led by the Holy Spirit; 3) Holy Spirit’s assurance they are children of God.
2. Preview — (8:17-25) Fourth argument is Deity’s assurance, during suffering, of the hope of redemption from this present world into the glories of Heaven. Does not discuss the why of suffering but the dealing with suffering — the not giving up while suffering.
B. Question For Discussion?
1. How can the Justified endure suffering?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (8:17) What class or type of suffering is being addressed?
a.
2. (8:17) How does one suffer with Christ? (cf. 2TI 3:10-12}
a.
(OBSERVATION 8:17)
As children the readers are heirs of God, thus, will suffer with and be glorified with Christ.
3. (8:18) Does Paul’s “reckon” or consider” carry any weight on what is of value or worth — if so why?
a.
4. (8:18) While suffering has little worth it does have a purpose, consider: 2CO 4:17; JAM 1:2-3; 1Pe 1:6-7)
a.
(OBSERVATION 8:18)
Paul, a man inspired by the Holy Spirit, a man having seen and heard things he cannot tell, says heaven far surpasses what this life offers — it would be foolhardy to reject his testimony because I have not seen or heard it first hand.
5. (8:19) What is the meaning of “earnest expectation” [“anxious longing”]?
a.
6. (8:19) What is the meaning of “creation” or “creature”?
a.
7. Who are “the sons of God”?
a.
(OBSERVATION 8:19)
Staying with the context of why one is no longer wretched because of Christ the creation’s response assures the justified (the ex-wretched) heaven is worth the suffering.
8. {ROM 8:20-23} Four views or positions regarding (what it is) “the creation that anticipates” the revealing and deliverance of the sons of God considered...
a. Millennialist view of the creation – Earth will be made new when Christ returns and sets up His earthly (physical) kingdom...
(1) Scriptures clearly show kingdom (abstract noun meaning “rule”) now exits and there will not be a physical kingdom (concrete noun) set up [Mar 9:1; Act 2:30,33; Col 1:13; et al.].
(2) Scriptures teach the earth will be destroyed when Christ returns [2Pe 3:1-13; Rev 21:1] — Time, Space, Mass cease.
b. The creation is the unredeemed portion of humanity...
(1) Not likely for the unredeemed will not be “set free...into freedom of glory”. [8:21]
(2) This portion of humanity will be delivered into condemnation [Joh 5:29; Heb 10:27], thus, they are not “waiting eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God” [8:19]
c. The creation is the church...
(1) {8:19,23} Creation is a group separate from “sons of God”.
(a) (8:23) “firstfruits” does not mean ones who first receive fruits (Apostles) , but those receiving “best fruit” — those receiving salvation (sons of God) [1Co 15:20; Col 1:18].
d. The creation is the personification of the physical creation...
(1) Creation longing for time when its purpose has been served...
(a) {Cf. 8:20 w/ GEN 3:17-18} Adam’s sin had a negative impact on creation — this globe is in physical turmoil.
(b) {PSA 114:1-8} Earth’s reaction when Israel left Egypt.
(c) Also see {PSA 96:12; 98:8} & [Isa 35:1; 55:12].
(2) When all of God’s children leave this “vail of tears” to enter the spiritual Promise Land the rejoicing will surpass rejoicing when God’s children left Egyptian bondage to enter physical Promise Land for the spiritual is superior to the physical
(OBSERVATION 8:20-23)
View four (d) seems to have less problems than the other three views.
9. (8:24) What is the meaning of “hope” as used here?
a.
10. (8:24) What, in this place, is meant by seen and sees?
a.
11. PONDERING: What is there about “the hope” (redemption) that prevents it from being in the possession of a Christian at this time. (Consider the realm of the Christians and the realm of the hope.)
a.
12. (8:24) Considering 8:23 as the reason or foundation for 8:24, what is “not “hope”? What is “hope”?
a.
(OBSERVATION 8:24)
Suffering does not damping the Christian’s positive confidence in their unseen, but promised, salvation (redemption).
13. (8:25) What is the meaning of “patience” as used here?
a.
14. (8:25) What, as used here, is the meaning of “wait”?
a.
15. (8:25) What is the “it”?
a.
(OBSERVATION 8:25)
Informs why those in Christ, led by the Spirit, testified by the Spirit as being children have positive confidence in the “hope” — are actively looking forward to the promised glory, the released from their physical bodies.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — How can the Justified endure suffering?
E. Conclusion —

XV. {Rom 8:26-27} Fifth Argument — He intercedes