#32 HCBC 7-29-07 AM
True Strugglers Are Not Condemned
Romans 8:1-4
Last Week:
I. Who is the Man of Romans 7:14-25?
The Unsaved Man
The Immature Christian
The Man Under Conviction -- Seeker
The Mature Christian
II. What is the Message?
The Statement of the Problem The knowledge that we are unspiritual:
The Description of the Problem We are unable to carry out our desire to do good:
The Reason for the Problem Sin (the flesh) lives in us:
III. How are we Winning?
The Process:
The five means of growth:
Bible Man shall not live by bread alone…
Prayer And pray in the Spirit on all occasions…
Worship Offer you bodies as living sacrifices…
Fellowship And our fellowship is with the Father and His Son
Witness You will be my witnesses…
The Product:
Jesus Christ has saved us from the penalty of sin when He took our sin upon
Himself on the cross.
Jesus Christ is saving us from the power of sin in our lives on a daily basis as we
grow in Him!
Jesus Christ will save us from the presence of sin when He takes us home to glory!
Are you struggling with sin?
The answer should be YES! Mature Christians struggle with sin!
…what we eat!
…how we speak to one another!
…how to deal with anger!
…what we wear!
…relating to one another in marriage!
…coveting what belongs to someone else!
…managing our finances!
And we come now to Romans 8!
We would do well to notice that throughout the history of the church,
many have referred to this as the greatest chapter in the Bible!
It has been observed that this chapter begins with “No Condemnation!”
It ends with “No Separation!”
And in between, “No Defeat!”
Charles G. Trumbull:
The eighth chapter of Romans has become peculiarly precious to me,
beginning with “no condemnation,” ending with “no separation,” and in between,
“no defeat.”
This wondrous chapter sets forth the gospel and plan of salvation;
the life of freedom and victory;
the hopelessness of the natural man and the righteousness of the born again;
the indwelling of Christ and the Holt Spirit;
the resurrection of the body and blessed hope of Christ’s return;
the working together of all things for our good;
every tense of the Christian life, past, present, and future;
and the glorious climactic song of triumph, no separation in time or eternity “from
the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:1 begins with the word “Therefore”: “Because of this…”
Romans:
The Wrath of God 1:18 – 3:20
The Grace of God 3:21 – 8:39
The Plan of God 9 – 11
The Will of God 12 – 16
The Grace of God:
Righteousness thru Faith
Example of Abraham
Peace with God
Reconciliation with God
The hope of glory
Rejoicing in suffering
Dead to sin – Alive in Christ
Reckon ourselves dead to sin
Slaves to righteousness
Struggling with sin
Living by the Spirit
Chapter 8:
No condemnation from the law
Deliverance from our sinful nature
Sons and daughters of God
Hope of future glory
The intercession of the Holy Spirit
The purpose and character of God
Today: -- verses 1 – 4
1. No Condemnation verse 1
Judgment of guilt with a sentence of death!
This is the theme of the chapter.
This is the theme of Romans.
This is the theme of the Gospel.
How can Paul say there is no guilt and no sentence of death?
2. In Christ verse 1
The security of the believer
Dying to sin with Christ
Never separated from Christ
Members of one body
New life in Christ
Sin does not reign
We do not offer our bodies to sin
We offer ourselves to God
We are slaves to righteousness
But what is this being “in Christ?”
The boat illustration.
3. Law of the Spirit vs law of sin and death verse 2
The contrast is between the controlling power of the Holy Spirit
And the written law that points out sin and brings death!
The controlling power of the Holy Spirit results in life!
The controlling power of sin results in death!
4. Written law powerless verse 3
The law is powerless to justify.
The law is powerless to sanctify.
The law reveals sin.
The law provokes sin.
The law brings us to the end of ourselves.
5. God sent His Son to be a sin offering verse 3
This is the gospel story.
This is true theology.
This is doctrine.
This is the incarnation.
This is the sinless sacrifice.
This is substitutionary atonement.
This is justification.
This is sanctification.
This is God expressing His love for mankind!
6. Sin is condemned verse 3
God put sin to death in sinful man.
We are now dead to sin
7. Requirements of the law are met in us verse 4
The result of dying to sin is living in such a way as to meet the requirements of the
law.
And how do we do that?
8. Living not according to the flesh but the Spirit verse 4
By living according to the Spirit.
By walking in the Spirit.
By following the leading of the Spirit.
By obeying the Spirit.
By listening to the Spirit.
By being taught by the Spirit.
By being convicted by the Spirit.
By being led by the Spirit.
By being controlled by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-22