The Greatest Chapter In The Bible? [Romans Part 2 Begins]
Romans 8
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 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. 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. 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. 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.
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 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!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.
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. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ATTENTION!
Romans Part 2 begins TODAY. Pick up your new Romans book at Asbury, or email Sandie and she can mail you one.
TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY: All-Church Bible Study, 6:30-8:00 PM. We’ll be looking at what is arguably the greatest chapter in the Bible—Romans 8. Please make every effort to attend—it’s important.
Is Romans chapter 8 the greatest chapter in the Bible?
To quote Kip Dynamite: “Like anyone could even know that.”
However, it is justifiably loved and treasured as one of the greatest sustained arguments and passages of writing in the Bible. The insights that Paul provides into God’s plan for humanity deserve to be studied and considered over and over again.
And that’s exactly what we are going to do for the next month.
We are going to take our time and look carefully at each verse in Paul’s great chapter, some days reading only one verse, and at other times re-reading larger passages to see how it all fits together.
Our theme for this Romans study is taken from Paul’s words in chapter 12: Do not conform. Be transformed.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect [Romans 12:2].
This next month is an opportunity for us to really focus on the words of Scripture, and in the process, to have our very mindset—the patterns of our thoughts—transformed.
This won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. This eighth chapter of Romans is Paul’s masterpiece.
In the previous seven chapters, Paul has explained that both Gentiles—who didn’t have the Law—and Jews—who did—were enslaved by sin and death.
In Romans 8, Paul will first explain how Jesus has set people free from sin and death. Then he will describe the vocation—the calling—of the Jesus-people: What is the particular mission of a Christian? Finally, Paul will assure us that despite life’s difficulties, those who are in Christ are ultimately completely safe.
Overall, as we read Romans 8, we will learn what the new life looks like in the midst of the old world.
Is there a particular verse from chapter 8 that jumps out at you?
P.S. Personally, I’ve come to love every word of Paul’s great eighth chapter of his Letter to the Romans, but if I had to pick one verse that shocks me with its implications, it would be v. 17. What Paul is saying here is HUGE: The way to glory and victory lies through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. I can’t wait to share some thoughts with you when we get there.