Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

Nov 12th Monday’s Blog: Paul Series “Romans 8”

I am sorry this message is a little late. I have my house up for sale and we had an increase in showings last week. I wasn’t able to be at home much. When I was at home, I was busy keeping it clean for the showings. After an exhausting weekend focusing on my house, God led me last night to 2 Peter 3, humbly reminding me to set my mind on things above.

2 Peter 3:10-12 says:

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

My house is temporary. Everything in this world is temporary. It’s easy to get caught up in the things of this world and take our minds off God’s Spirit. In our study of Romans 8 this week, Paul begins the chapter talking about how “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 (v. 5).”

Those who are not in Christ do not have the Holy Spirit, so they cannot set their minds on things above and please God.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because 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, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

v. 6-8

Those who are in Christ have the spirit of God dwelling in them, working in them to know Him and live a life pleasing to Him.

However, 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. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But 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.

v. 9-11

Since the Spirit of God is in us, we have an obligation to set our minds on following His Spirit instead of our flesh.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—for 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.

v. 12-13

Last week, in Romans 7, Paul talked about how our flesh leads us in opposition to the Spirit. When we follow the Holy Spirit our flesh will inevitably suffer.

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and 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. ^ For 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.

v16-18

God wants to set us free from everything that keeps us in bondage to sin. As He sets us free, He can glorify Himself through us to reach and set others free.

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope^ that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;^ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

v. 19-21, 29-30

At the end of the chapter, Paul explains how the Holy Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses as He intercedes for us along with Jesus in accordance with God’s will.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

v. 26-27, 33-34

If God is on our side, and we have His Holy Spirit living in us and interceding along with Jesus for us, what can possibly defeat us in this world?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?^ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

v. 31-33

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for Your unconditional love for us.  We praise You for always knowing how to get our attention and turn our hearts in the right direction. Help us to keep our minds set above, and follow and yield to Your Holy Spirit. Let Your glory be seen in us so the world can know You and the freedom You have given us in Christ Jesus.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

*This series will continue next Monday as we study Romans 9.