Chapter 8:1-4
"There is therefore now"/ Now, consequently, all the things that I have said so far, come to bear in the following teaching. There is nothing against the Believer, because he is eternally secure in Christ.
John 10: 28-30; Rom. 8:33
"no"/ ouden / no, no man, nothing, none
"condemnation" / katakrina / not to pass sentence upon, "against judgment"/ We become the enemy of condemnation
John 3:18; 5:24; Romans 5:18
PRIORITY: "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"/ natural consequence - to walk in the Spirit is have a compelling drive to please God by every action, word and thought / Gal. 5:16
POWER: "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death"/ ***Power to live in the freedom of God’s pleasure. The Spirit of God would then control our lives, complete deliverance and freedom! Rom. 6:18,22
PLAN: for what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh"/ the law could not save because of the failure of the flesh.
Gal. 2:16
"God sending His own Son in the likeness...condemned sin..."/ It is the end of sin’s dominion over the believer. At Calvary Jesus brought sin down from its place of authority and placed it under the judgment of God, nailing it to the cross. Rom. 6:6; Phil. 2:7
PURPOSE: "That (ina) the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled (condition upon godly living in the Spirit and power of God) who walk (Pres Act Ptc)..."
The law could not produce righteousness, even though it was good and righteous. But the righteousness of the law was reckoned (declared) to the believer by God through the perfect work of Christ on our behalf.
8:5 "do mind"/ fronousin / what we have in our minds, thoughts, process of thinking, object of thought
"but they that are after the Spirit..."/ Gal. 5:22-25
8:6 Phil. 2:1-5
8:7 "enmity with God"/ ecqra / hateful, hostile, enemy, adversary / Matt. 13:39; James 4:4
"subject"/ military: put in subordination, voluntarily in subjection.
8:8 cf. Gal. 1:10
8:9 Conditional statement / I Cor. 3:16; Rom. 8:11
"now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"
Ezek. 11:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13; I John 4:4
8:13 cf. Rom. 6:21-23; I Cor. 15:22; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:5,10; Tit. 2:12
The Spirit of Adoption - Romans 8:14-23
8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God"/ bear, bring, carry).
I Cor. 2:12 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."
"they are the sons of God"/ offspring of a parent relationship
I Cor. 6:17-18 "...and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."
8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear"/ cf. 2 Tim. 1:7
"but ye have received the Spirit of adoption"/ from uioV meaning son and qesiV meaning to place. The giving of a position to a person to whom it does not naturally belong.
cf. Romans 8:23
Eph. 1:5 "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
"whereby we cry Abba, Father."/ Abba is Aramaic. It is a word framed by infants, unreasoning trust! "Father" expresses an intelligent understanding of the relationship.
8:16 "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." / tekna / a child that is begotten in a natural sense, stresses the dignity and character of that relationship.
8:17 "And if children, then heirs"
1. A person to whom property is to pass after the death of the owner / Gal. 4:1-7
2. One to whom something has been assigned by God, but they have not taken possession yet.
Abraham: Heb. 6:13-20
Jesus: Heb. 1:2
Saints: James 2:5
3. Of believers as they share the real "New Order" at the return of Christ. Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29
4. One who receives something by other than his own merit
Heb. 11:7
"heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ"/ co-inheritor - Acts 26:18; Titus 3:7
"glorified together"/ John 12:25; Phil.1:29 / "Made to partake"
8:18 "for I reckon"/ logizomai / Pres Mid Pass / think, suppose, reason, calculate / Refers to facts not supposition
Acts 20:24; 2 Cor. 4:17; Heb. 11:35; Col. 3:4; I John 3:2
8:19 "earnest expectation"/ apokaradokia / To look with an outstretched hand, strained expectancy, eager longing, being absorbed with the work and coming of Christ. No distraction from the purpose / intense character of the noun: "waiting in suspense for an important event!"
"creature"/ the entire creation, including man, under the curse of sin - waiting for the saints to be glorified, so that it may also be delivered from the curse!
*Turning our expectation and attention from other objects of affection to the promises of God!
"waiteth"/ arekdecetai / strengthened form meaning to wait eagerly and patiently
"for the manifestation"/ apokaluyin / to lay bare, reveal uncover, expose completely, manifest / the entire creation, including man, is under the curse, because of man’s sin. It patiently waits for the saints to be glorified, that it may also be delivered from the curse!
Exegete 8:20-22 / Freedom with those who are born again - restored earth, joined with the saved and rule by God’s sons and daughters. But until then the creation is like a woman in the pain of childbirth until the final day of renewal!
Rev. 21:22 to 22:6; 2 Peter 3:13
8:20 "creature"/ creation / the creation does not measure up to the purpose for which it was originally intended. Creation it does not honor God now because it has been cursed.
"subject"/ upatagh / subdue, put under
"vanity"/ empty bubbles, futile, aimless
8:21 "delivered"/ eleuqerwqsetai / set free
"corruption"/ inferior present condition
8:22 cf. Rev. 21:22 - 22:6; 2 Peter 3:13
8:23 "And not only they, but ourselves also which have the first fruits of the Spirit"/ The believer is the first fruits of the harvest of the Cross! Rom. 5:5; 2 Cor. 5:5
"even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption"/ Eph. 1:14; 4:30
Adoption:
*By God’s grace: Rom. 4:16,17
*By faith: Gal. 3:7,26
*Only through Christ: Gal. 4:4-5
Blessings of Adoption
*New nature: 2 Cor. 5:17
*New name: Rev. 3:12
*Direct access to God: Eph. 2:18
*Fatherly love: I John 3:1
*An inheritance in Heaven: John 14:1-3
8:24 cf. Rom. 15:13; Jer. 17:7; Col. 1:5,27
8:25 cf. Rom. 12:12; Gen. 49:18; Psalm 130:5; 12:1
8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities"
sunantilambanetai
- Pres Deponent Ind - The Holy Spirit "lends a helping hand" as we are in need, but does not take our responsibilities from us. As we submit to His control, He directs. "Infirmities" - asqeneiaiV - indicates spiritual weaknesses associated with prayer. Cf. 2 Cor. 12:9-10"For we know not what we should pray for as we ought"/ He is the Spirit of truth. Cf. I Cor. 2:10; Heb. 4:12 / We are needy people, but we do not always see our need. So the Spirit makes intercession for us.
"But the Spirit maketh intercession for us"
"With groanings which cannot be uttered"
8:27 God knows perfectly the mind of the Spirit, and therefore can meet our needs. The Spirit will intercede for us within the framework of the will of God. We may need to be filled, comforted, guided, receive joy, etc.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:15-16
8:28 The Spirit prays for us to do the will of God (8:27), so that 8:28 will be totally implemented in our lives. There is a full assurance regarding all the events of his/her life.
"And we know" / oidamen / absolute
knowledge that God provides
"that all things"/ all areas of living
"work together"/ God is in absolute control of all circumstances for His
purpose.
"for good"/ His good will be done in your life
"to them"/ the redeemed of the Lord
"that love God"/ based on a true relationship with Christ.
"to them" / His particular sons in the faith who have become heirs of the
promise. Rom. 8:14+
"who are the called according to His purpose"/ divine calling or summons, or an invitation by name to partake of the blessings of redemption. Rom. 8:30; I Cor. 1:9; I Thess. 2:12-13; Heb. 9:15
Romans 8:29-30
|
Verbs |
Definition |
Persons of Godhead Involved |
|
Foreknow |
To know before hand |
The Trinity |
|
Predestinate |
To mark out or be conformed |
The Father |
|
Called |
Invite or summon by name |
Holy Spirit |
|
Justified |
Cleared of any guilt |
The Son |
|
Glorified |
Given us an honored position |
The Father |
All verbs: foreknow, predestinated, called, justified, glorified, are used in the past tense (Aor Act Ind). Already accomplished by God.
8:29 "for whom he did foreknow"/ proegnw / to know beforehand - as an aspect of God’s omniscience. This foreknowledge involves His infinite grace (2 Tim. 1:9). He is infinite and knows in advance the outcome of all future events. He also knows in advance who will be saved and who will reject His truth. It must grieve the heart of God that so many will reject His free offer of salvation. God knows all things: past, present, future and is not bound by time constraints. We, however, are limited to the present and our history. I Pet. 1:20; 2 Pet. 3:17
"He also did predestinate"/ prowrise / to determine a condition beforehand, ordain / Eph. 1:5,11; I Cor. 2:7
It is the effective exercise of His will by which all things determined before, are brought to pass. Predestination is linked to God’s love and concern for the future of the believer. God never acts contrary to His will. Rom. 9:23
"to be conformed"/ summorfouV / Lit. to make into the same form as another, conformity to His character and qualities and actions. Rom. 12:2; Phil. 3:10
"to the image of His Son"/ eikonoV / as in the image of a coin:
I Cor. 15:49; Col. 1:15; 2 Cor. 4:4
8:30 "...and whom he called, them he also justified"/ edikaiwsen / to declare righteous, a legal and formal acquittal from all guilt or judgment / Rom. 5:17-21; 5:9; 4:25; 10:4; 3:25-26; I Tim. 3:16
Justification is to declare someone righteous; the act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardons us all our sins, and receives us righteous in His sight because of the righteousness of Christ received by faith.
"he also glorified"/ edoxase / Heb. 2:9-10; Col. 1:27; 3:4; Jude 24; Eph. 1:14 / it is finished! No more sacrifice, heaven is sure, we are already glorified, it is an accomplished fact!
8:31 "what shall we then say to these things?" - eroumen - Fut Act Ind - One conclusion
"if God be for us," - puper - in behalf of, for the sake of, over, beyond, over. No fear for the believer! What foe can defeat the purpose and plan of God.
"who can be against us?" - kaq - oppose, disagree, act contrary to / it is apparent that what God has accomplished in the life of the believer cannot be questioned, and no one can change or alter the work of God.
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen 15:1
Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. Deut 33:29
8:32 "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" - efeisato - Aor Ind, paredwken - Aor Act Ind Cf. Romans 4:25; 5:6-10
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor 5:21
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10
"How shall He not with Him" - In conjunction with the gift of Christ, God also has provided certain great benefits for the believer: grace, mercy, compassion, life, etc.
"freely give us all things?" - carisetai - Fut Ind - to do something pleasant or agreeable to someone, to do a favour, gratify, show one's self gracious, kind, to grant forgiveness, to pardon, to give graciously, bestow as a gift, to preserve someone in trial.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalms 84:11-12; Cf. 1 Cor 3:21-23; 2 Cor 4:15-18
"Who shall lay anything" - egkalesei - Fut Act Ind - accuse, call in question, to come forward as accuser against, bring charge against.
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54:17
"To the charge" - kata - "of God’s elect?" - eklektwn Cf. I Pet. 2:4-6; Col. 3:12 / NO ONE - only God and He won’t! Only God can produce righteousness and acquittal.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
"It is God that justifieth." - dikaiwn - Pres Act Ptc - Cf. Romans 3:24-26; 5:1; 8:1
Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.25 In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory. Isaiah 45:24-25
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Romans 6:22
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:11
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Cf. 2 Cor 5:19-21
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Gal 2:16
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jer 23:6
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7 Cf. Phil. 3:8-11
8:34 "Who is he that condemneth?"- katakrinw - Pres Act Ptc passes sentence for a crime, to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment. To condemn by one's good example to render another's wickedness the more evident. Rom. 8:1-2
No mere man can bring a judgment. That mere man is not good enough to compare himself to you. His example would not be righteous in itself and no man has his own righteousness. BUT
"It is Christ that died." - apoqanwnn - Aor Act Ptc - Rom. 4:25; 5:6-10; 14:9
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matt 20:28
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18
"Yea rather, that is risen again," - egerqeiV - Aor Pass Ptc
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. John 14:19
"Who is even at the right hand of God" - estin - Pres Ind
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Heb 1:3
"Who also maketh intercession for us." - entugcanei uper (Pres Act Ind)
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb 9:11-12; Cf. John 16:23-27
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Heb 7:25
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Heb 9:24
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1
The Great Power of Christ - Romans 8:35
"Who shall separate us" - cwrisei - Fut Act Ind - to separate, divide, part, put asunder, to separate one's self from, to depart, to leave a husband or wife, of divorce, to depart, go away.
"From the love of Christ?" -
apo thV
agaphV tou cristoV
"Shall tribulation" - qilyiV-
a pressing, pressing together, pressure, oppression, affliction, tribulation.
"Or distress" - stenocwria -
narrowness of place, a narrow place, dire calamity, extreme affliction.
"Or persecutions" - diwgmoV - to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away, to run swiftly away, to be pursued in a hostile manner, in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one or persecute, to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something.
"Or famine" - limoV -
scarcity of harvest.
"Or nakedness" - gumnothV -
unclad, without clothing, in undergarments only, of the soul, naked, i.e. open,
lay bare.
"Or peril" - kindunoV -
"Or sword" - macaira - a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh, a small sword, as distinguished from a large sword, curved sword, for a cutting stroke, a straight sword, for thrusting.
8:36 Everyday persecution and continuous concern for life
8:37 "conquerors"/ upernikwmen - "hyper-conqueror" - surpassing victory
"Through Him that loved us" - teaches that the past performance of Christ is the true picture of His love for us, demonstrated at Calvary.
8:38 "For I am persuaded" - pepeismai - Pres Pass Ind. to induce one by words to believe, yield to, comply with, to trust, have confidence, complete change of mind by sound reasoning.
"That neither" - not time itself, not any person or
thing, nothing!
"Death nor life" - qanatoV oute
zwn -
"angels" - aggeloi -
"principalities" - arxai -
"Powers" - dunameiV -
"Things present" - ebestwta - Pf
Act Ptc -
"nor things to come" - melonta -
Pres Act Ptc -
"Height nor depth" - uywma oute baqoV
-
"Nor any other creature" - ktisiV
- thing created, of individual things, the sum or aggregate of things created,
ordinance.
"Shall be able to separate us" -
cwrisai - Aor Act Inf - to separate, divide, part, depart, go away
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph 1:21-23
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col 1:16-17
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 1 Peter 3:22
"From the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus."
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. John 16:27
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph 1:4-6
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16