ROMANS “CHAPTER 8 (A.D. 60) LIFE IN THE SPIRIT 1 There is therefore now no condemnation (guilt) to them which are in Christ Jesus (refers back to Rom. 6:3-5 and our being baptized into His Death, which speaks of the Crucifixion), who walk not after the flesh (depending on one’s personal strength and ability or great religious efforts in order to overcome sin), but after the Spirit (the Holy Spirit works exclusively within the “Christ Jesus (refers back to Rom. 6:3-5 and our being baptized into His Death, which speaks of the Crucifixion), who walk not after the flesh (depending on one’s personal strength and ability or great religious efforts in order to overcome sin), but after the Spirit (the Holy Spirit works exclusively within the legal confines of the Finished Work of Christ; our Faith in that Finished Work, i.e., “the Cross,” guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit, which guarantees Victory). 2 For the Law (that which we are about to give is a Law of God, devised by the Godhead in eternity past [I Pet. 1:18-20]; this Law, in fact, is “God’s Prescribed Order of Victory”) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit, i.e., “the way the Spirit works”) of Life (all life comes from Christ, but through the Holy Spirit [Jn. 16:13-14]) in Christ Jesus (any time Paul uses this term or one of its derivatives, he is, without fail, referring to what Christ did at the Cross, which makes this “life” possible) has made me free (given me total Victory) from the Law of Sin and Death (these are the two most powerful Laws in the Universe; the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” alone is stronger than the “Law of Sin and Death”; this means that if the Believer “attempts to live for God by any manner other than Faith in Christ and the Cross, he is doomed to failure). 3 For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh (those under Law had only their willpower, which is woefully insufficient; so despite how hard they tried, they were unable to keep the Law then, and the same inability persists presently; any person who tries to live for God by a system of laws is doomed to failure, because the Holy Spirit will not function in that capacity), God sending His Own Son (refers to man’s “helpless condition, unable to save himself and unable to keep even a simple Law and, therefore, in dire need of a Saviour) i n the likeness of sinful flesh (this means that Christ was really human, conformed in appearance to flesh which is characterized by sin, but yet sinless), and for sin (to atone for sin, to destroy its power, and to save and Sanctify its victims), condemned sin in the flesh (destroyed the power of sin by giving His Perfect Body as a Sacrifice for sin, which made it possible for sin to be defeated in our flesh; it was all through the Cross): 4 That the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us (the Law finding its full accomplishment in us can only be done by Faith in Christ, and what Christ has done for us at the Cross), who walk not after the flesh (not after our own strength and ability), but after the Spirit (the word “walk” refers to the manner in which we order our life; when we place our Faith in Christ and the Cross, understanding that all things come from God to us by means of the Cross, ever making it the Object of our Faith, the Holy Spirit can then work mightily within us, bringing about the Fruit “the Spirit; that is what “walking after the Spirit” actually means!). 5 For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (refers to Believers trying to live for the Lord by means other than Faith in the Cross of Christ); but they who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit (those who place their Faith in Christ and the Cross, do so exclusively; they are doing what the Spirit desires, which alone can bring Victory). CONTRAST “6 For to be carnally minded is death (this doesn’t refer to watching too much television, as some think, but rather, it’s trying to live for God outside of His Prescribed Order; the results will be sin and separation from God); but to be Spiritually Minded is life and peace (God’s Prescribed Order is the Cross; this demands our constant Faith in that Finished Work, which is the Way of the Holy Spirit). 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God (once again, this refers to attempting to live for God by means other than the Cross, which places one “against God”): for it is not subject to the Law of” “God, neither indeed can be (in its simplest form means that what is being done, whatever it may be, is not in God’s Prescribed Order, which is the Cross). 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (refers to the Believer attempting to live his Christian Life by means other than Faith in Christ and the Cross). 9 But you are not in the flesh (in one sense of the word is asking the question, “Since you are now a Believer and no longer depending on the flesh, why are you resorting to the flesh?”), but in the Spirit (as a Believer, you now have the privilege of being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit; however, He will do such for us only on the premise of our Faith in the Finished Work of Christ), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (if you are truly Saved). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (Paul is saying that the work of the Spirit in our lives is made possible by what Christ did at Calvary, and the Resurrection). 10 And if Christ be in you (He is in you through the Power and Person of the Spirit [Gal. 2:20]), the body is dead because of sin (means that the physical body has been rendered helpless because of the Fall; consequently, the Believer trying to overcome by willpower presents a fruitless task); but the Spirit is life because of Righteousness (only the Holy Spirit can make us what we ought to be, which means we cannot do it ourselves; once again, He performs all that He does within the confines of the Finished Work of Christ). 11 But if the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of Him (from God) Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you (and He definitely does), He Who raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies (give us power in our mortal bodies that we might live a victorious “life) by His Spirit Who dwells in you (we have the same Power in us, through the Spirit, that raised Christ from the dead, and is available to us only on the premise of the Cross and our Faith in that Sacrifice). 12 Therefore, Brethren (means that Paul is addressing Believers), we are debtors (refers to what we owe Jesus Christ for what He has done for us on the Cross), not to the flesh (we do not owe anything to our own ability, meaning that such cannot save us or give us victory), to live after the flesh (“living after the flesh” pertains to our works, which God can never accept, and which can never bring us victory, but “rather defeat). 13 For if you live after the flesh (after your own strength and ability, which is outside of God’s Prescribed Order), you shall die (you will not be able to live a victorious, Christian life): but if you through the Spirit (by the Power of the Holy Spirit) do mortify the deeds of the body (which the Holy Spirit Alone can do), you shall live (shall walk in victory; but once again, even at the risk of being overly repetitive, we must never forget that the Spirit works totally and completely within the confines of the Cross of Christ; this means that we must ever make the Cross the Object of our Faith, giving Him latitude to work). DELIVERANCE 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (the Spirit will always lead us to the Cross), they are the Sons of God (we live as Sons of God, which refers to total Victory within every respect of our lives; if the sin nature is dominating a person, he certainly isn’t living as a son of God). 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage (to try to live after a system of works and laws will only succeed in placing one in bondage”) again to fear (such living creates a perpetual climate of fear in the heart of such a Believer); but you have received the Spirit of Adoption (the Holy Spirit has adopted us into the Family of God), whereby we cry, Abba, Father (the Holy Spirit enables the Child of God to call God “Father,” which is done so because of Jesus Christ). 16 The Spirit itself (Himself) bears witness with our spirit (means that He is constantly speaking and witnessing certain things to us), that we are the Children of God (meaning that we are such now, and should enjoy all the privileges of such; we can do so if we will understand that all these privileges come to us from God, by the means of the Cross): 17 And if children (Children of God), then heirs (a privilege); heirs of God (the highest enrichment of all), and joint-heirs with Christ (everything that belongs to Christ belongs to us through the Cross, which was done for us); if so be that we suffer with Him (doesn’t pertain to mere suffering, but rather suffering “with Him,” referring to His Suffering at the Cross, which brought us total Victory), that we may be also glorified together (He has been glorified, and we shall be glorified; all made possible by the Cross). “18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time (speaks of the world and its condition because of the Fall) are not worthy to be compared with the glory (the glory of the coming future time will bear no relation to the misery of this present time) which shall be revealed in us (our Glory will be a reflective Glory, coming from Christ). 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature (should have been translated, “for the earnest expectation of the Creation”) waits for the mani festation of the sons of God (pertains to the coming Resurrection of Life).” “20 For the creature (Creation) was made subject to vanity (Adam’s Fall signaled the fall of Creation), not willingly (the Creation did not sin, even as such cannot sin, but became subject to the result of sin, which is death), but by reason of Him Who has subjected the same in Hope (speaks of God as the One Who passed sentence because of Adam’s Fall, but at the same time gave us a “Hope”; that “Hope” is Christ, Who will rectify all things), 21 Because the creature (Creation) itself also shall be delivered (presents this “Hope” as effecting that Deliverance, which He did by the Cross) from the bondage of “corruption (speaks of mortality, i.e., “death”) into the glorious liberty of the Children of God (when man fell, Creation fell! when man shall be delivered, Creation will be delivered as well, and is expressed in the word “also”). 22 For we know that the whole Creation (everything has been affected by Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s Fall) groans and travails in pain together until now (refers to the common longing of the elements of the Creation to be brought back to their original perfection). 23 And not only they (the Creation, and all it entails), but ourselves “also (refers to Believers), which have the Firstfruits of the Spirit (even though Jesus addressed every single thing lost in the Fall at the Cross, we only have a part of that possession now, with the balance coming at the Resurrection), even we ourselves groan within ourselves (proclaims the obvious fact that all Jesus paid for in the Atonement has not yet been fully realized), waiting for the Adoption (should be translated, “waiting for the fulfillment of the process, which Adoption into the Family of God guarantees”), to wit, the Redemption of our body (the glorifying of our physical body that will take place at the Resurrection). “24 For we are saved by hope (means that the greater part of our Salvation is yet future): but hope that is seen is not hope (proclaims in another way the great Truth that all Salvation affords is not yet given unto the Believer): for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? (In effect, this bluntly tells us that what is coming is so far beyond that which is here at the present, as to be no comparison.) 25 But if we hope for that we see not (plainly tells us that more, much more, is coming), then do we with patience wait for it (proclaims the certitude of its coming, because the Holy Spirit has promised it would).”“26 Likewise the Spirit (Holy Spirit) also helps our infirmities (the help given to us by the Holy Spirit is made possible in its entirety by and through what Jesus did at the Cross): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought (signals the significance of prayer, but also that without the Holy Spirit, all is to no avail): but the Spirit itself (Himself) makes intercession for us (He petitions or intercedes on our behalf) with groanings which cannot be uttered (not groanings on the part of the Holy Spirit, but rather on our part, which pertains to that which comes from the heart and cannot properly be put into words).” “27 And He Who searches the hearts (God the Father) knows what is the Mind of the Spirit (what the Spirit wants done, and not what we want done), because He (Holy Spirit) makes intercession for the Saints according to the Will of God (the overriding goal of the Spirit is to carry out the Will of God in our lives, not our personal wills; in other words, the Spirit is not a glorified bellhop). CONQUERORS 28 And we know that all things work together for good (but only if certain conditions are met) to “them who love God (the first condition), to them who are the called according to His purpose (this means it’s “His Purpose, and not ours,” which is the second condition; otherwise, all things will not work together for our good). 29 For whom He (God) did foreknow (God’s foreknowledge), He also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of His Son (it is never the person that is predestined, but rather the Plan), that He (Jesus) might be the Firstborn among many Brethren (doesn’t mean that Jesus was Born-Again as a sinner, as some teach, but rather that He is the Father of the Salvation Plan, having paid the price on the Cross, which made it all possible). 30 Moreover whom He (God) did predestinate (to be conformed to the Image of His Son), them He also called (without that “Call,” man cannot be saved; sadly, many refuse the “Call” [Prov. 1:24-33]): and whom He called, them He also justified (those who responded faithfully to the Call): and whom He justified, them He also glorified (shall glorify at the Resurrection; Justification guarantees it will be done). 31 What shall we then say to these things? (This refers to the “suffering presently endured [Vss. 17-18] in comparison to “the Glory which shall be revealed in us.”) If God be for us (should have been translated, “since God is for us”), who can be against us? (It is who can be against us that will really matter.) 32 He Who spared not His Own Son (concerns the Great Gift of God, i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ), but delivered Him up for us all (the Cross), how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (We can have all things that pertain to Life and Godliness, which Jesus paid for at the Cross, providing our Faith is ever in Christ and the Cross” “[II Pet. 1:3-7].) 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? (In effect, means, “Who shall pronounce those guilty whom God pronounces Righteous?”) It is God who justifies (it is God Who sets the rules for Justification, not man). 34 Who is he who condemns? (No man has the right to condemn God’s Justification Plan.) It is Christ Who died (if one condemns a Believer who is trusting Christ solely for Justification and Sanctification, he is at the same time condemning Christ and His Death on the Cross), yea rather, Who is risen again (the Resurrection ratified the fact that Jesus was the Perfect Sacrifice, and that God accepted Him as such), Who is even at the Right Hand of God (refers to the exaltation of Christ), Who also makes intercession for us (at the Right Hand of God, showing that His Sacrifice has been accepted, which guarantees intercession for us). 35 Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? (This speaks of the Love of Christ for the Believer, instead of the Believer’s Love for Christ.) shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (We are protected against all outside “influence, but not from ourselves. If a person so desires, he can separate himself from the Love of Christ by rejecting the Cross.) 36 As it is written (Ps. 44:22), For Your sake we are killed all the day long (the world has always been opposed to Christ and what He did at the Cross; regrettably, so is most of the Church); we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter (the way the world looks at us; in their eyes, we are fit only for slaughter). 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (it is a Holy arrogance of Victory and the Might of Christ) through Him Who loved” “influence, but not from ourselves. If a person so desires, he can separate himself from the Love of Christ by rejecting the Cross.) 36 As it is written (Ps. 44:22), For Your sake we are killed all the day long (the world has always been opposed to Christ and what He did at the Cross; regrettably, so is most of the Church); we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter (the way the world “us (He loved us enough to give His Life on the Cross, which alone makes us “more than conquerors”). “37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors (it is a Holy arrogance of Victory and the Might of Christ) 38 For I am persuaded (the Apostle has faced the things of which he now speaks), that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (this Love of God extended to us is made possible solely by Christ, and what He has done for us at the Cross; once again, this is God’s Love for us, which never wavers because we are “in Christ Jesus”).” Excerpt From: Swaggart, Jimmy. “The Expositors Study Bible.” Holy Bible Concordance, 2011. iBooks. 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Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 13:08:09 +0000
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