Lesson 11

GOD GIVES US THE HOLY SPIRIT

WHICH EXERTS CONTROL OVER US

Romans 8:1–17

REVIEW

How is Paul’s teaching about the sinful nature and the new inner being in the believer confirmed in your own life?

ROMANS 8: 1 – 8

Paul said in chapter 7 that living the Christian life will not be easy. We have a sinful nature that is constantly with us and frequently leading us into sin. It is an ongoing battle. Now, he emphasized the Spirit and its mighty influence in the believer’s life. Anyone who is in Christ Jesus, think of it as in the sphere of Christ Jesus, there is no condemnation. There isn’t a single judgment that can be raised against a believer. The reason, “because” (vs 2), is Jesus set me free from the control of sin and death. Sin and its condemnation resulting in eternal separation from God is gone. The law itself could never accomplish this. It couldn’t produce a single acquittal before God. The law was powerless to do that, not because of a problem with the law, but the sinful nature only rebelled against God’s will. God went into action and solved the problem. Here is a listing of what God did:

sent his own Son - Jesus
sent him in human likeness – had a true humanity and real flesh and blood. Phil 2:7 “human likeness” however he had no sin.
to be a sin offering – he offered himself as the sacrifice for the sin of the world
condemned sin – instead of sin condemning us, Sin was condemned, it was paid for, it couldn’t threaten us with eternal judgment anymore.
righteous requirements of the law – Jesus lived a life that fully and perfectly kept the law. His perfection is credited to believers and is now “in us” (4).

The sinful nature of an unbeliever prompts a mindset, a way of thinking, that only reflects who they are. There whole being and existence conforms to the sinful nature. There whole thought process flows from the sinful nature. The contrast is equally true for the person who believes and thus has received the Holy Spirit. According to their new man, in the new way of the Spirit (7:6) the believers thought process flows from that Spirit.

Those controlled by the sinful nature are only hostile to God, they can’t submit to God’s will and can’t do anything pleasing to God. In the next verses Paul develops the thought of the Spirit’s influence on believers.

DISCUSSION

1. What Christ accomplished blessings does Paul celebrate in vs. 1-2?

2. How did God remove the sin that the Law exposed and condemned but we could not get rid of? (3-4)

3. What is the spiritual condition of those controlled by the sinful nature? (5-8)

4. By contrast, what is the spiritual condition of those who are controlled by the spiritual nature? (5-6)

5. Why can’t those controlled by the sinful nature please God? (8)

ROMANS 8: 9 – 17

It is impossible to be a believer and not have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit creates faith and so whenever the Holy Spirit is in a person, there faith has already been created by the Spirit and he is present. Paul said the Spirit of God lives in you – ongoing action. It isn’t that the Spirit created faith and then moves on to another person and we are left on our own. The Spirit of God lives in every believer. Although the Spirit lives in us, our body is still destined to die (10), but our spiritual nature is alive. It is alive “because of righteousness.” (10) The word translated righteousness has two basic meanings, (1) being declared not guilty before God because of Jesus, acquitted of all wrong before God (2) doing what is right in God’s eyes. Both options would fit here, but the second fits the context better. Our spiritual nature under the control of the Holy Spirit is guiding us to do what is right before God. This isn’t earning our forgiveness but it is the evidence that the Holy Spirit has created faith in us. Even though our bodies are destined to die, they will be raised to eternal life.

Through Christ and the Holy Spirit’s work we are the sons of God. The term sons of God refers to both male and females, through Christ we are the children of God. We have been adopted into God’s family and can call the Almighty God our Father. The Holy Spirit testifies and our spiritual nature also testifies that we are God’s children and thus heirs of eternal life. What gracious blessings the Spirit brings to us in Christ.

KEYWORD – SONS OF GOD- A term that includes every believer, male or female, ethnic group or occupation in a society (Galatians 3:26-28)

DISCUSSION

6. Comment “You cannot have spiritual life with God without God the Holy Spirit.”

7. What are some of the blessings the Holy Spirit brings to us?

1) vs 9

2) vs 10

3) vs 11

4) vs 13

5) vs 14

6) vs 15

7) vs 17

8. Paul said, “by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body” (13). “Put to death” is present tense. What does that mean about our daily lives?

9. How do we put to death the misdeeds of the body? How does that relate to what Paul said about himself in chapter 7:14-20?

[PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK’S CLASS]{.ul}

Read Romans 8:18 – 39
Read Romans – the People’s Bible Pages 133 - 145
Read Romans 8:18 – 39 a second time but this time out loud.

Since we aren’t slaves to fear in Christ (15) what kind of attitudes and confidence can we have in Christ?

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