Metro Calvary Men (Session 1) — Real Freedom (Romans 8.1-11)

Must we spend our whole lives frustrated by defeats to indwelling sin?

Theme: We are not destined for a life of struggle, but a life in the Spirit. Receive your position, believe in the power of the Spirit, and set your mind on the things of the Spirit.

  • Romans 1:16–17 (ESV) — 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
  • Romans 7:25 (ESV)—25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Spirit: He is referenced over and over again (20+) in Romans 8 (as opposed to “I” in Romans 7). He is the one whom Jesus uses to deliver us from the power of indwelling sin.

1 Receive Your Position: We are not condemned (8:1)

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The force of this is really strong — absolutely not one possibility of condemnation by God for everyone in Christ.

  • No is placed first in the Greek sentence for emphasis.
  • It means “none whatsoever.”

We might struggle, but God does not condemn us.

Condemnation: To have an unfavorable or adverse judgment made about you by God.

Believe it! Isaiah 54:17 (ESV)—17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment…

I have many reasons to be condemned, and Romans 1-3 listed many of them. But I am in Christ Jesus, and He was condemned for me (i.e. no double jeopardy).

Romans 8:34 (ESV)—34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

When does this absence of condemnation occur? Now.

  • We understand this when it comes to the future — when we are practically with him.
  • We understand this at conversion — when we have been washed and cleansed.
  • We may not as easily understand this at present — when we still fail quite often.

2 Believe In The Spirit’s Power: We have a new law of the Spirit (8:2-4)

2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

In Christ we are set free from the old law by a new law, a new operating principle.

We have a new law of the Spirit, the law of the Spirit of life — We are set free by the Spirit. There is a life in the Spirit which allows us to live a life of freedom.

The cross set us free, but the Spirit continually applies the cross to our lives.

He is pulling you up! Working to perfect you!

The righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us: POWER to obey. This is part of his description of freedom!

  • License: minimize the law’s demands.
  • Legalist: end up in despair.
  • God’s plan: living through his people, enabling them to live a righteous life!

Hebrews 8:10 (ESV) — 10 …I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

3 Set Your Mind On The Spirit: We are called to set our minds on the Spirit (8:5-8)

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

5-6. Live according to the flesh / 8. Those who are in the flesh: Believers are not in the flesh (technically), but we can revert to fleshly ways.

7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

7-8. Flesh / Cannot / submit to God’s law / please God: The unregenerate cannot please God, but neither can any flesh operation! But people who are transferred into Christ, given the Spirit, can.

We can, and must, set our minds on the things of the Spirit. For this leads to life and peace (6) — subjective and objective peace.

Could it be that much of your frustration in life is an outflow of where you place your mind?

5-8. Set their minds (2x) / set the mind (2x) / the mind that is set:

“CAN” / “SET THE MIND” areas:

  • Set their minds: Attitude, mindset, ponder, hold a view, thought.
  • Loving / Respecting spouse (Ephesians 5)
  • Honoring parents (Deuteronomy 5:16)
  • Making disciples (Matthew 28:19)

4 Reminder: We are in the Spirit (8:9-11)

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 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.

9 You, however: He reminds us and further teaches us regarding this law of the Spirit (2-4).

  • Note: to be in the flesh or in the Spirit in this paragraph is positional and total, not experiential and partial. In other words, Paul is describing unregenerate (in the flesh) and regenerate (the Spirit of God dwells in you).

We are in the Spirit.

  • The Spirit of God dwells in you! (9)
  • Christ is in you! (10)
  • God will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you! (11)

Feed the Spirit!

  • James 4:5 (NKJV) — 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Metro Calvary Men (Session 2) — Strong Identity (Romans 8:12-17)

Romans: The gospels give us the account of the cross; Romans gives us the implications of the cross.

Theme: We are debtors to the Spirit (no one else); He has made us children of God (radically so).

We Are Debtors. (8:12-14)

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

Paul uses two Greek “terms of conclusion,” meaning it could be translated “wherefore therefore.” This is strong way of saying he’s got a compelling conclusion to what we learned last night.

Last night — Freedom by law of Holy Spirit working in us — Romans 8:11 (ESV) — 11 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.

We are debtors: We have a debt to pay. We owe someone. There is an obligation that is ours as God’s children, but before Paul tells us who we are debtors to, Paul will tell us who we are not debtors to.

Not to the flesh, to live according to:

1 — We are debtors: Not to the flesh.

The law of the Spirit kills our obligation to the flesh.

Flesh: that ugly complex of human sinful desires that includes the ungodly motives, affections, principles, purposes, words, and actions that sin generates through our mortal bodies.

We owe the flesh nothing. But there is a battle: The mere presence of these statements help us see that we will battle flesh vs. Spirit.

Unsaved man — no battle / Christian man — conflict.

Cross: IT IS FINISHED! I don’t owe the flesh at all!

2 — We are debtors: With a no-brainer choice.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

We now operate with a decision; flesh or Spirit, death or life.

Put to death: Kill sin or it will kill you!

1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)—27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Starve it by eating otherwise. Replace it with different habits (praxis). Refill your mind with God’s word. Speak instead in prayer.

By the Spirit: The Spirit will help you! He is interested in this.

3 — We are debtors: To the Spirit.

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Led by the Spirit / sons of God: Now Paul tells us who we are indebted to; we owe the Spirit because He made us into sons of God.

He convicted us. He showed us our need for Jesus. He implanted the new nature within us. He daily serves us. We owe Him!

Christ loved us so much, He died for us. The Spirit loves us so much, He lives in us.

This is not guidance during moments, but a continuous submission to the Holy Spirit’s direction.

Because We Are Children. (8:15-17)

15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

For: We are indebted to the Spirit because we are sons of God! What is that?

1 — Adoption, not slavery.

Adoption in Roman culture: More than become his technical child, but gaining a position of sonship, taking a minor and making him or her the rightful heir.

  1. Old family rights were lost. The adopted legally received a new father. (Father’s name)
  2. They became an heir of their new father’s estate. (Heaven)
  3. The old debts and life were completely wiped out, he was a new person. (Sins gone)
  4. The law considered him the son of his new father. (Satan has no claim)

2 — Affection, not fear.

Cry / Abba: intensity.

This is not doctrinal affirmation, but an irrepressible cry from us to God.

So the Spirit does not produce a slavish fear, but a childish longing.

Intimacy / Trust / Leadership / Definition / Protection / Peace

3 — Double assurance.

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit: His Spirit, along with our spirit…

He comforts us. He stirs us to pray. He convicts us. He calls us out of our comfortable places. He urges us to share Christ’s love.

4 — With Christ’s radical position.

17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Heirs / Heirs of God / Fellow heirs with Christ:

Incredible. I wouldn’t say this if it weren’t written in the text! A sinner like me becomes a joint-heir with Christ. A co-heir. Equal! Incredible.

2 Corinthians 1:5 (ESV)—5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

 

Metro Calvary Men (Session 3) — Wild Hope (Romans 8:18-25)

Theme: Our suffering today is incomparable to the coming glory, which is eagerly anticipated by all of creation and all of us with groaning and with patient hope.

This whole section is the living in between times. Adopted now, but not yet adopted. / Redeemed, but not / Resurrected, but not / Kingdom, but not

Present Sufferings (18-19)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

For: He had just spoken of our position as co-heirs with Jesus, including our suffering with Him. Consider how some of you are suffering with Jesus.

I consider: Numerical calculation from the business world, as opposed to personal opinion.

The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory: Human suffering + Uniquely Christian suffering.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) — 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…

So what is glory? The full and awesome display of God! All of His nature, presence, likeness. Manifestation of God!

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Revealed to us / The revealing of the sons of God: Wait. There is more. There is a strong possibility this ought to read ‘revealed in us.’

When Christ returns we will share in His glory.

  • Colossians 3:4 (ESV) — 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
  • Hebrews 2:10 (ESV) — 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Paul tell us the creation is waiting for this!

Futility and Corruption (20-21)

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For the creation: Why does the creation, personified, look forward to the revealing of the sons of God?

Subjected to futility, not willingly: Creation is has been effected by the curse man brought on through sin.

  • Genesis 3:17–18 (ESV) — 17 …cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
  • Genesis 9:2 (ESV) — 2 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.
  • It is fascinating to consider the brokenness of the universe. It is not, apparently, all it could have or should have been.

Creation itself will be set free from its bondage:

  • God can make a person into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
  • God will make the world into a new creation as well.
  • Isaiah 65:17 (ESV) — 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
  • Revelation 21:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. How will he create this new world?

Groanings and Pain (22-23)

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Groaning together / pains of childbirth: The creation groans over its current condition. This is not pointless groaning, however, but is productive groaning (like childbirth).

Could it be that the running down of our planet is a birth pain?

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

But we ourselves / Groan inwardly: We groan as well. We groan because we are “half-saved” (already, not-yet). Our groaning comes from the fact that our outward man has not entered the world our inward man has already entered into.

Who have the firstfruits of the Sprit: We’ve begun to experience the redemptive and transformative work of the Holy Spirit.

The redemption of our bodies:

David — Psalm 17:15 (ESV) — 15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

You are groaning inwardly.

  • God knows this.
  • God has done the thing that will remove this forever. God can use this in your life.

What We Can See (24-25)

24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

In this hope we were saved: Past liberation is most definitely ours, but there is more!

Patience: This is a difficult balance to maintain.

  • Error: Patience that turns into lethargy or apathy or pessimism.
  • Error: Patience that turns into impatience and an over emphasis on experiences.
  • But we are to be patient! Not grim resignation, but triumphantly facing the matter.

Advanced hope:

  • Introductory/Raw — Romans 5:3–4 (ESV) — 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
  • Advanced/Refined — here.

What does this patient hope get us through?

  1. Present Sufferings (18-19)
  2. Futility And Corruption (20-21)
  3. Groanings And Pain (22-23)
  4. What We Can See (24-25)

 

Metro Calvary Men (Session 4) — Glorious Destiny (Romans 8:26-30)

Theme: We have hope as we suffer and groan, but do we have anything else? Yes. So much more. The Spirit intercedes for us, powerfully uses our sufferings, and guarantees his goal will be accomplished; we will be perfected.

How the Spirit helps. (26-27)

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Likewise: So hope helps us through, but there is more help than just hope! LIKEWISE the Spirit helps us!

Weakness / We do not know what to pray for:

  • The weakness is spiritual: We don’t know what to pray for as we ought to pray.
  • This is so true, but why?
  • We know the general categories for prayer, but the specific prayer is often confusing.
  • We know prayer is effective when we pray according to God’s will, but we don’t always know that will.
  • 1 John 5:14–15 (ESV)—14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words: We’ve seen the creation groans, we groan, and now the Spirit groans.

  • Both creation and we groan because of the presence of imperfection (the lack of glory).
  • But the Spirit is perfect and glorious, but he is groaning over our incomplete state.
  • This is not the gift of tongues, but unintelligible groanings from the Spirit for our glory!

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

He who searches hearts: God searches the seat of man’s emotions and intellect (mind).

Knows / Hearts / Mind of the Spirit: God searches and knows man. God certainly knows his own Spirit.

According to the will of God: The Spirit is in communion with the Father about you!

  • The Son intercedes as well: Romans 8:34 (ESV)—34 …Christ Jesus…who indeed is interceding for us.
  • Father as well: searching hearts.
  • God is plotting and planning for his children!

Our confidence regarding the Spirit’s help. (28)

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

And we know: We know it because it is a famous verse. The Roman church knew it partly from experience, but mostly from the cross!

For those who love God / those who are called according to his purpose: Two sides of the same coin. This is a promise for real believers.

All things work together for good: Like a pharmacist putting in various medicines (shake the bottle), God uses the “all things” of life for the good of His children.

Illustrations of this in the Bible:

  • David — Saul (character) / Church — Persecution (spread of gospel) / Philip — desert calling (Ethiopian eunuch) / Naomi — when others sinned (line of Christ) / Job — suffered immensely (Job 42:10 the Lord restored) / Jospeh
  • Genesis 50:20 (ESV)—20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
  • Jacob (Genesis 42:36 all this has come against me)
  • The Cross: Acts 2:23 (ESV)—23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

This truth takes great care to unfold.

  • We don’t know how God will work all things together for good. Usually a teaching on Romans 8:28 includes marvelous stories of a tragedy turning out well in the end (i.e. Beethoven losing his hearing, Louis Braille losing his sight).
  • Don’t try to explain the unexplainable.
  • You don’t know that a better fiancé/job/house is coming…
  • God needs no defense (remember the cross). God does not want praise for evil, either. Just praise him for who he is, including his ability to work good in the darkest days of a life.

The destination of the Spirit’s help. (29-30)

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Foreknew: He knew you in advance — Not simply advanced knowledge, but pre-knowing us.

Predestined: He predestined you — To decide beforehand. We thank God for our salvation.

Conformed to the image of His Son: What we are predestined to! The Spirit will get us there! His groaning will be accomplished!

Firstborn among many brothers:

  • 1 Corinthians 15:23 (ESV)—23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Called: He invited you.

Glorified: Past tense.

There is much that has happened to a believer in this text: The Spirit helps in our weakness by interceding for us / All things work together for good / Foreknown / Predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus / Made into a little brother of Jesus / Called / Justified / Glorified