Romans Chapter 8
The Book of Romans is simple to understand for a reason-to make it easy:
- In order to thoroughly understand the summary of all of the history of all mankind spiritually and physically, from the Fall to now
- In order to thoroughly understand man's natural, fleshly state
- In order to utterly leave zero excuse for any sin
- In order to thoroughly understand God's Holiness, Righteousness, Justice, Character-God's Heart
- In order to thoroughly understand a complete lack/failure of salvation through our own works
- In order to thoroughly understand salvation through Jesus Christ
- In order to thoroughly understand the enormity of our sin through the enormity of the sacrifice of the Cross of Christ
(Isaiah 28:10)
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13)
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
If, where you go to fellowship, they regularly have a person who talks for an hour and covers only one verse or, who reads a few or even reads many verses, but only talks for an hour, giving illustration after illustration, or talks about the Scriptures a little and then spends the bulk of the time talking about "application", remember this. That is not how those IN the Scriptures taught. They taught the Word, and what it meant, and its rich history, and explained it. Not teaching through the whole Word of God line by line, explaining as one goes, using the context of all of Scripture, is not "teaching all nations"; it is a speech of feigned words to be given before the masses. It makes a person a great orator, not a great teacher. It makes a person interesting at best, a false teacher at worst. One does not need to go to a speech class to become a preacher and teacher of God's Word...they need to go to God's Word.
Prophets spoke FOR God, Jesus spoke AS God
(Romans 8:1)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- The "therefore" is now there for the purpose of reminding us that we are not condemned
- We are not condemned by God, so therefore we should not condemn ourselves, nor should others condemn us (ie. "Go to hell!")
- The condemnation is the declaration of being guilty before God, not before mankind
- In man's eyes, we will always be condemned as believers because the world hates us-because it hated Jesus first
- In God's eyes, man cannot condemn us in the people realm if we are walking in the spirit, but can do so if we are walking in the flesh
- This condemnation, however, is only in this life, with the consequences being temporal, and in this life
- The world hates us now, intensely, because we resist their evil
- The act of condemning; the judicial act of declaring one guilty, and dooming him to punishment.
For the judgment was by one to condemnation. Rom 5. - The state of being condemned.
Dost thou not fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation. Luke 23. - The cause or reason of a sentence of condemnation. John 3.
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
(John 15:18)
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
(Romans 8:2)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
- The "Spirit of life" in Christ Jesus is a capitalized word, meaning it is the person of the Holy Spirit
- That law of the spirit of life is a new law that frees us also from the law of condemnation, which is the law of sin and death spoken of here, in context
- That law of the spirit of life is a law of grace through faith and not a law of works we must live by
- This is provided we are IN Christ Jesus (saved) and saved
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
- God made mankind in His own likeness in Genesis 1:26-17, then God made His Son in the likeness of sinful mankind
- Being and walking in the flesh is sin and sinful
- "Weak through the flesh" means it is ineffective, useless because we have our sin nature, whereby we cannot keep that law perfectly
- The perfect substitute for SINFUL FLESH is SINLESS FLESH
- The perfect sacrifice for the sinful flesh is to become sin, be killed as sin, to condemn sin and to condemn the flesh
- Being under and walking in the Law is not able to save anyone, as it is weak and an attempt to get to God via the flesh (all religion)
(2 Corinthians 5:21)
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.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- The Spirit here has a capital "S", meaning not our Spirit, but God's
- The Law of Grace imparts and imputes God's righteousness to us
- The Law of Grace is the only law we can fulfill, but it is not us, but the Spirit in us who fulfills it
- As we walk in the Spirit, we fulfill the righteousness of the Law of Grace
- That law is only fulfilled in us who walk after the Spirit of God
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
- In other words, those "after the flesh minding the things of the flesh" are like saying, "The World thinks the World of the World!"
- The "after the flesh" here mean "In pursuit of, that is, moving behind, following; in search of." and "According to the direction and influence of."
- The minding is the focusing of, the thinking of, the actions of that life
- There is always a focus on something, even when idle, even when we think we are thoughtless, actionless or "neutral"
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
(Luke 11:23)
He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
'AFTER, a. [The comparative degree of aft. But is some Teutonic dialects it is written with g.]
- In marine language, more aft, or towards the stern of the ship; as, the after sails; after hatchway.
- In common language, later in time; as, an after period of life. In this sense, the word is often combined with the following noun; as in afternoon.
- Behind in place; as, men placed in a line one after another.
- Later in time; as, after supper. This word often precedes a sentence, as a governing preposition.
After I have arisen, I will go before you into Galilee. Math. 26. - In pursuit of, that is, moving behind, following; in search of.
After whom is the king of Israel come out? 1 Sam 24.
Ye shall not go after other Gods. Deu 6. - In imitation of; as, to make a thing after a model.
- According to; as, consider a thing after its intrinsic value.
- According to the direction and influence of.
To walk after the flesh; to live after the flesh. Rom 8.
To judge after the sight of the eye. Isa 11.
To inquire after is to seek by asking; to ask concerning.
To follow after, in scripture, is to pursue, or imitate; to serve, or worship.
After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but retaining its genuine signification. Some of the following words are of this kind, but in some of them after seems rather to be a separate word.
(Romans 8:6)
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- Every thought that is not spiritual is lethal when acted upon and ends so, with a complete lack of peace accompanying it
- Every thought that is led by the Spirit of God is the exact opposite of that in result
- Fleshly mindedness is a constant mindset of not thinking about God, His character, goodness, righteousness, plans for our lives as laid out in Scripture
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
- There is no such thing as thinking neutrally, harmlessly about God if we are thinking carnally, fleshly thoughts
- The "enmity" here is a hatred, lack of friendliness, being the enemy
- "Enmity" stretches in Scriptural usage from Genesis (Even and the serpent) through to James (the world versus God)
- Sinning "in enmity" was a penalty in the Law (Numbers)
- Herod and Pontius Pilate were at enmity until Pilate sent Jesus to Herod in Jerusalem at His trial (Luke 23)
- Jesus abolished our enmity with God on the Cross (Ephesians 2), so that we no longer have to hate God, and He us (in our flesh), as Paul says that Jesus killed that enmity on the Cross through His body, His death
- In James 4, we are told that friendship with the world system (walking carnally) being at enmity with God, calling us adulterers and adulteresses
- "it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" simply means our carnal mind cannot both be on Christ and on the world, the flesh, at the same time!
EN'MITY, n.
- The quality of being an enemy; the opposite of friendship; ill will; hatred; unfriendly dispositions; malevolence. It expresses more than aversion and less than malice,and differs from displeasure in denoting a fixed or rooted hatred, whereas displeasure is more transient.
I will put enmity between thee and the woman. Gen 3.
The carnal mind is enmity against God. Rom 8. - A state of opposition.
The friendship of the world is enmity with God. James 4.
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
(Numbers 35:21)
Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.
(Numbers 35:22)
But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,
(Luke 23:12)
And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
(Ephesians 2:15)
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
(Ephesians 2:16)
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
(James 4:4)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
(Romans 8:8)
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
- Plain and simple-our flesh is the mortal enemy of God, as is the enemy
- "They that are in the flesh" can be said of the lost, who can do nothing to please God
- "They that are in the flesh" can be said of us, when we are walking in the flesh
- So us "in the flesh" is the same as the lost and the enemy, the serpent-not a good side to be on
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
- But....three letters, an interjection, an injection as a reminder of who we are
- The "ye" is a plural word, to all believers-that includes us
- This not having the Spirit of Christ is the Holy Ghost indwelling us, at salvation, meaning the unsaved, the lost who "have not the Spirit of Christ"
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
- First the "but", now the "IF", a condition is that we are saved (If Christ be in you)
- We are either (in God's eyes) alive (Christ in us quickening us) or dead because of our sin, unredeemed, lost, spiritually dead
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
- The same thought is continued from the previous verse, "if the Spirit of Him that raised Christ dwells in you"
- The verse is also a verse in support of the Trinity
- The Spirit (God the Spirit)
- Of Him that raised up Jesus (God the Father)
- Jesus Christ (God the Son)
- Because God the Father raised Jesus the Son by the power of the Spirit, he will also raise us who believe, at death or at the Rapture
- God will raise our mortal bodies and change them into immortal, and not the same flesh that dies (is mortal), but a new body will be given us which is immortal
- That Spirit lives in us, because we believe
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
- There is a phrase often used in sales and marketing, "We owe it to ourselves..." or, "You owe it to yourself...", but God says that this is not true
- If we convince ourselves of this, we live like this. If we live like this, that life kills us
- Who we owe anything to is God, not our flesh
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
- Because they are death to us, we must kill the fleshly desires and thoughts and actions
- "Aahhh, this is the life" is spoken of retirement, with ease, on a tropical beach, toes in the sand
- God says, "That is death", dying to ourselves and doing His will is life
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
- The moment we walk in the flesh we acts like a son of the enemy, at enmity with God
- The moment we walk in the Spirit, we walk like we are sons of God
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
- The flesh, sin, death is all bondage, a life of being incapable of not sinning, enslaved to the enemy of God as an enemy of God
- While we as Christians can no longer be the enemy of God, we can live like it
- We are to have a healthy fear and respect of our Heavenly Father, like we would our earthly father, as in a relationship
- A natural born son will rarely appreciate their Father as much as one who was adopted, taken in, as a former stranger
- The Holy Spirit of the Living God is our Spirit of adoption
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
- The Spirit itself not only adopted us, but reminds us that we are adopted
- This is always comforting when we fall away or are going through a tough trial
- This verse combined with its context teaches that we are Tri-une beings of Spirit, Soul and Body (Flesh, Carnality)
- The world likes to think and proclaim that, "We are all children of God!", by sheer virtue of being born
- But God says we are all creations of God, not children of God
- By that logic, cats, dogs, bears, horses and cows are God's children
- When we get saved we are a NEW creation, not an old creation
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (Romans 8:16)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:4)
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
(Matthew 7:21-23)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(Romans 8:17)
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
- We have an inheritance in Heaven, awaiting us
- This life will be a life of suffering for us
- We are joint heirs, sharing in the same thing-but different parts of that same thing
- Co-heirs on earth share of the same will, but different items from that will
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(Romans 8:18)
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
- We in America have no idea about Paul's sufferings then
- As bad as his sufferings were, the glory far exceeded it when he entered into Glory.
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
(Romans 8:19)
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
- Many words here, lots of meat and meaning
- Earnest: Ardent, eager, intent, fixed, serious, important, zealous, intently engaged,
- To wait means to rest in anticipation, expectation, to stop or stop something, stand still until something, some hour, or someone arrives
- It can also in a sense mean to continue on, like abiding
- The manifestation (appearance) is us in our glorified bodies, inheriting our inheritance, ruling, reigning with Christ in His Glory and in His Glorious Kingdom
- Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain; having a longing desire; warmly engaged or incited.
They are never more earnest to disturb us, than when they see us most earnest in this duty. - Ardent; warm; eager; zealous; animated; importunate; as earnest in love; earnest in prayer, First fruits; that which is in advance, and gives promise of something to come. Early fruit may be an earnest of fruit to follow. Or also a deposit, first payment, giving assurance and a promise.
- Intent; fixed.
On that prospect strange
Their earnest eyes were fixed. - Serious; important; that is, really intent or engaged; whence the phrase, in earnest. To be in earnest, is to be really urging or stretching towards an object; intent on a pursuit. Hence, from fixed attention, comes the sense of seriousness in the pursuit, as opposed to trifling or jest. Are you in earnest or in jest?
- Seriousness; a reality; a real event; as opposed to jesting or feigned appearance.
Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest.
And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest. - First fruits; that which is in advance, and gives promise of something to come. Early fruit may be an earnest of fruit to follow. The first success in arms may be an earnest of future success. The Christian's peace of mind in this life is an earnest of future peace and happiness. Hence earnest or earnest-money is a first payment or deposit giving promise or assurance of full payment. Hence the practice of giving an earnest to ratify a bargain.
This sense of the word is primary, denoting that which goes before, or in advance. Thus the earnest of the spirit is given to saints, as a pledge or assurance of their future enjoyment of God's presence and favor.
- To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary, till the arrival of some person or event. Thus we say, I went to the place of meeting, and there waited an hour for the moderator or chairman. I will go to the hotel, and there wait till you come. We will wait for the mail.
- To stay proceedings, or suspend any business, in expectation of some person, event, or the arrival of some hour. The court was obliged to wait for a witness.
- To rest in expectation and patience. All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job 14.
- To stay; not to depart. Haste, my dear father, tis no time to wait.
- To stay; to continue by reason of hindrance.
- To lie in ambush, as an enemy.
Such ambush waited to intercept thy way.
To wait on or upon, to attend, as a servant; to perform menial services for; as, to wait on a gentleman; to wait on the table.
To wait on, - To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony. Tell the gentleman I will wait on him at ten oclock.
- To pay servile or submissive attendance.
- To follow, as a consequence; as the ruin that waits on such a supine temper. [Instead of this, we use await.]
- To look watchfully. It is a point of cunning to wait on him with whom you speak, with your eye. [Unusual.]
- To attend to; to perform.
Aaron and his sons shall wait on their priests office. Num 3, 8. Rom 12. - 6. To be ready to serve; to obey. Psa 25. Prov 20.
To wait at, to attend in service; to perform service at. 1 Cor 9.
To wait for, to watch, as an enemy. Job 15.
- To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of the arrival of.
And with these words, in camps they still abide, and wait with longing eyes their promised guide. [Elliptical for wait for.] - To attend; to accompany with submission or respect.
He chose a thousand horse, the flower of all his warlike troops, to wait the funeral. [This use is not justifiable, but by poetical license.] - To attend as a consequence of something.
Such doom waits luxury--
[Not in use. In this sense we use attend or attend on.]
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
- This creature is us, living under sin
- We were born into this sinful nature because of the Fall, when we were not even here yet
- Sin, death, all in this life are vanity therefore because they will pass away as a vapor, and as fast as a vapor
- Without that adoption, without that future hope, there is nothing to wait for but the grave, and to not exist (Nihilism)
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
(Ecclesiastes 12:8)
Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
(Romans 8:21)
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
- We, being that creature itself, await our release from the bondage of the corruption of our flesh into Glory one day
- We are currently delivered in part, in that we are free not to sin, but still capable, still subject to sin and its effects
- Then we will be glorified, incapable of sinning
- The phrase "children of God" is used nine times, and thrice in Romans, with various references and meanings to it
- Peacemakers
- Like angels, and also children of the resurrection
- From all nations into the church
- As opposed to the children of the flesh
- By faith in Christ Jesus
- Loving one another
- Love God, keep His commandments
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
(Luke 20:36)
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
(John 11:52)
And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
(Romans 9:8)
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
(Galatians 3:26)
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
(1 John 3:10)
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
(1 John 5:2)
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
(Romans 8:22)
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
- Sin and death are the universal curse on all living animals, plants, creeping things and people
- This a temporal condition, and will soon end
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' (cobra, asp, baselisk lizard) den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
(Romans 8:23)
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
- Even though we are saved and going to be in glory with perfectly renewed eternal bodies, we still have to go through this life now.
- We are looking forward that day, and the the word "adoption" in the context (built-in dictionary) here means our moving into our new body, the marriage of us to it
- The firstfruits of the Spirit is the Holy Spirit sent to us to indwell us
- We both have and are the firstfruits after Jesus Christ
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
(1 Thessalonians 1:10)
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
(Romans 8:24)
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
- Our total redemption, salvation and glorification after this life is a hope, currently unseen, unexperienced
- This hope is beyond our words and understanding
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(Isaiah 64:4)
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
(Romans 8:25)
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
- If we instantly were raptured at the moment we got saved, we would not have to look forward, hope for, await the redemption of our mortal bodies
- We do have to have patience, because it is a certainty, and it is not necessarily today at all
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- When we cannot pray, but only sit quietly and mourn, grieve, go through a trial alone, God the Spirit is there, praying for us to the Father
- This gives us an unseen hope-something that the lost world cannot have
- If you have not gone through a trial bad enough to experience this, just wait. It will come
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(Romans 8:27)
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
- Yet another verse in support of the Trinity
- "He that searcheth the hearts" is God the Son, the LORD Jesus Christ, "the Spirit" is referring to the Holy Spirit Who is God the Spirit, and "according to the will of God" refers to God the Father
- Intercession is prayer on our behalf, because we are too grieved to pray sometimes
- There can be no more perfect prayer than one that God the Spirit Himself prays for us, perfectly, according to God the Father's perfect will
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
(1 Corinthians 2:10)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(Romans 8:28)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
- Several things can be gleaned from this verse:
- All things are not good
- No matter, good will eventually come out of it, no matter how bad it is
- This is only for those who love God, not for the lost
- All things will work for bad to the lost, in the end, no matter the life of ease now.
- All things work out because we are called according to His purpose, and all things work out according to His purpose
An Example, NOT a Parable: The Rich Man and Lazarus
(Luke 16:20-26)And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
(Romans 8:29)
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
- This is predestination because God knew ahead of time who would accept His Son Jesus Christ as Savior
- This image is our glorified bodies, like His
- This image is also a 100% certainty for us, in sanctification
- Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father; we are the express image of Jesus Christ
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
- God has called all men everywhere, but only those who respond to the call are justified and glorified
- All people are written into the Book of Life, but those who reject Christ are then blotted out
- Interesting to note here is the past tense of glorified, because God does not dwell in time, we are already with Him in Glory
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
(2 Peter 3:9)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(Ephesians 1:3)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
(Ephesians 2:6)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
(Romans 8:31)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
- This is our response to God's solution for our problem of sin
- The implied answer here, spelled out in the verses to come, is "NO ONE" can be against us!
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- God, when Adam and Eve sinned, could have just let them eat from the tree of life, and stay in that state forever, and never sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins
- Instead, God chose to send Jesus Christ to die on our behalf, willfully
- God did what He did not have to do in saving mankind, freely, graciously, generously
- We have all things in the future as an inheritance, not guaranteed to any believer in this life at all
- This is a future hope here
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
- Once again the implied answer is a huge, resounding "NO ONE!!"
- We have been declared "NOT GUILTY!" by the only Judge Who can ever eternally judge or condemn us
- We are justified through God the Son to God the Father, and raised up and sanctified by God the Spirit
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
- Again, the death of Jesus Christ was one thing, (as in Adam all die) but death being the perfect sacrifice and payment for the sins of all mankind was because Jesus was perfect, Holy and sinless
- The resurrection is proof that He was sinless; else He would have stayed in the grave like any person who dies at any time, then, before then, now or in the future
- Clearly here Jesus is our lawyer before the Father, declaring us "not guilty" and praying for us also
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
(Romans 8:35)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
- Yet another implied answer of "NO ONE!"
- We can go through all of these tests and trials, but God is still with us and His love is everlasting besides
- This further states that. for some of us, especially those in Muslim countries today, this is to be expected
- This puts a stick in the eye of the "Word of Faith" movement and preachers of the "Prosperity Gospel"
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
- This was foretold in Scripture in the Old Testament...
- ...and in the New Testament
- There is a 2,000 year history of Christians being killed, and it is getting worse daily
(Psalms 44:22)
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
(Matthew 5:11-12)
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
(Isaiah 53:7)
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
(John 15:18)
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
(John 15:25)
But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
(1 Peter 4:14-19)
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
(Romans 8:37)
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
- The Word "Nay" simply means "No, not at all".
- This last part of the verse must never be detached, namely "through Him who loved us" because, without Him who loved us, we conquer nothing and no one.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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 pretty much covers everything there is states (life or death), spiritual beings(angels), hierarchies of power on earth (principalities), any powers behind them in the spiritual or physical (powers) realm, now or in the future (nor things present nor things to come), us in any locations or dimensions (height, depth), everything else alive on earth, in the air, water, space, heavenlies (any other creature)...
- Can take us away from God's love, no matter the time, place, condition, circumstance, distance, interference, or anything else
- in other words, nothing can take us away from God's Love
