Neither life nor death can separate us from Christ. 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? But such thoughts altogether vanish now, because, as the Gentile was unquestionably wicked and abominable, so from the law's express denunciation the Jew was universally guilty before God. Will usually post within 20 business days of receiving cleared payment. The object of this expectation. The resurrection is here called the redemption of the body. He felt guilty, but now through the work of Jesus Christ he makes this astounding declaration. It is apokaradokia ( G603) and it describes the attitude of a man who scans the horizon with head thrust forward, eagerly searching the distance for the first signs of the dawn break of glory. Now man today, humanism and all is saying just the opposite. How glorious it is to walk in the Spirit, to be in union with the Spirit of God, to be led by the Spirit of God, and to have that glorious assurance of God's Spirit bearing witness to mine. It was not merely better light in the conscience, which might be elsewhere, as is supposed in the early verses of our chapter; but the Jew's position was directly and unquestionably one of divine tests applied to man's estate. Romans 8 actually teaches us God is not interested in just "getting us into heaven", and heaven is not just a way of escape for us. Such moral judgments will, no doubt, be used to leave man without excuse; they can never suit or satisfy God. evil practices, but the devil made them subject, or slaves unto I think that the second way of taking this is right. )_ 2. This describes substantially the same condition as Romans 7:15-24. (b) Christ is risen; therefore nothing can ever separate us from him. (i) No affliction, no hardship, no peril can separate us. And the cities shall be full of good, things, and the fields rich; neither shall there be any sword, throughout the land or battle-din; nor shall the earth be, convulsed any more with deep-drawn groans. Paul says in effect: "God for us did not spare his own Son; surely that is the final guarantee that he loves us enough to supply all our needs." Paul's answer is this. The sense of the apostle in these four verses we may take in the following observations:-- (1.) That final adoption will be the redemption of their bodies. But, when he became a Christian, into his life there came the surging power of the Spirit of God, and, as a result, he entered into victorious living. It was undoubtedly enough for present purposes. What about His word passed and sworn to the fathers? Such men have never been wanting since the truth has shone on this world; still less are they now. Therefore, it is constant and it remains. Far beyond. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use the convenient, Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Living By Faith: Commentary on Romans & 1st Corinthians, Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of. But now the body appetites under the control of the spirit as God intended them to be. Accordingly Romans 8:1-39 pursues in the most practical manner the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. Nature was not interested in becoming hostile towards humanity. It is the same form of expression exactly as in the beginning of Romans 5:1-21 "being justified by faith" ( ). Then comes a great saying. Now if I am living body, soul, and spirit, then I have no fellowship with God, as long as I'm being dominated by my body appetites and all. Heaven is an inheritance that all the saints are heirs to. But now they were; and thus God vindicated Himself perfectly as to the past. The penalty of the past is removed and strength for his future is assured. They do not come to it as purchasers by any merit or procurement of their own; but as heirs, purely by the act of God; for God makes heirs. The soul therefore now is represented for the first time as already justified and in possession of peace with God. Now Paul asks a series of questions: "If God be for us, who can be against us?" 07-12-2022 12. Did they fall back on Abraham? If nature had a will (desire), Paul affirmed that it would have chosen to maintain a harmonious relationship with mankind. God doesn't love me when I am good and hate me when I am bad. How much soever then created things do naturally incline another way; yet as it has pleased God to bring them under vanity, they obey his order; and as he has given them a hope of a better condition, with this they sustain themselves, deferring their desire, until the incorruption promised to them shall be revealed. What would we have? 37a Acts 1-14* 37b Acts 15-28* John Nolland George R. Beasley-Murray Stephen J. Walton Stephen J. Walton 38a Romans 1-8 James D. G. Dunn 38b Romans 9-16 39 1 Corinthians* James D. G. Dunn Andrew D. Clarke 40 2 Corinthians, rev. But more than this "Whosoever shall call." They declare, "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor, for You have created all things," listen carefully, "and for Your pleasure they are and were created." Broadly speaking, he uses it in three different ways. When Adam and Eve sinned (Genesis 3:1-6), God subjected all of mankind to futility (Genesis 3:14-24), that is, Adam and Eve were separated from the tree of life. They would not hear of it. " " /Origen Commentaries on Romans 5:9 A.D. 248) There are two very obvious reasons why we cannot pray as we ought. And, of course, the tent blew over and it had holes in it. I can say, "God, I bring John before you, oh, oh, oh . If that be so, is there anything in this or any other world that can separate us from our Risen Lord? When you finally see it, it becomes then a rational reality. The law demanded, but could never receive righteousness from man. On the contrary, it was the Jew provoked by the Gentiles "By them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you." Because the carnal mind [or the mind of the flesh] is enmity against God ( Romans 8:7 ): It is opposed to God, because God has declared that the spirit is superior to the material. The Liberating Law of the Spirit of Life. Man is an inferior trinity: spirit, soul, and body. So he said that his problem was that the law was spiritual and he was carnal. There followed a ceremony called vindicatio. Childbirth changed. And so God speaks, and this is what thrills me, He speaks of my being glorified, because God knows He is going to do it. The confusion of tongues, by which true religion was lost in the world, is a proof that the builders of this tower sinned against God in the highest degree. Thus corruption not only overspread morals, but became an integral part of the religion of men, and had thus a quasi-divine sanction. Nature did not want man to sin. This section is the start of looking at how exactly should we stop doing bad things, without turning to legalism (meaning that we start believing that we can become holy and please God just by obeying the law, therefore . of the thunder and the lightning, of cold and heat, of the seasons. the Jew was none the better for this, unless there were the submission of his conscience to God. Those who live according to the dictates of the Spirit are absorbed in the things of the Spirit. We are told that our heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it. We, having received such clusters in this wilderness, cannot but long for the full vintage in the heavenly Canaan. Thy Strong Word. To those that were under it, to be sure. 3. We all know where it is and must be for the Christian. Any duration. All the days of our appointed time we are waiting, till this change shall come, when he shall call, and we shall answer, and he will have a desire to the work of his hands, Job 14:14; Job 14:15. The notion that this passage (Romans 8:19-23) is a reference to all creation lower than the level of humanity "yearning in hope" is contrary to reason. "What shall we then say that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? Hey, you're a child of God. In the most solemn way he appeals to man with the demand, whether he thinks that God will look complacently on that which barely judges another, but which allows the practice of evil in the man himself (Romans 2:1-3). But we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. But oh, I am going to have an eternal weight of glory. The King James Version rendering is famous. No war shall be any. From the very first we have these characteristics of the epistle disclosing themselves. The Christian waits, not for death, but for life. Then you really aren't a part of God or His kingdom. for on your own showing, according to that word to which we all bow, you must admit that one man's sin brought in universal moral ruin and death. I was constantly feeling condemnation. But now it is "the wrath of God from heaven;" and consequently it is in view of eternal things, and not of those that touch present life on the earth. The chapter closes with the day of the Lord in its practical force on the Christian walk. If we are ever to understand it we must grasp the basic fact that Paul never meant it to be the expression of theology or philosophy; he meant it to be the almost lyrical expression of Christian experience. Observe, (1.) Just as Abraham was so loyal to God that he was prepared to sacrifice his dearest possession, God is so loyal to men that he is prepared to sacrifice his only Son for them. "God surely can't love me anymore. After the fall, many things became frail and futile. Now that new body doesn't grow tired. In Romans 8:32 there is a wonderful allusion which would stand out to any Jew who knew his Old Testament well. But it is quite possible for the unconverted to be tenacious of the truth, yet unrighteous in their ways; and so much the worse for them. Observe again, it is not victory here; for that would give place to human pride. 18). God elected me. Not bearing witness with my intellect, not bearing witness with my body, bearing witness to my spirit where I have joined with God that I am the child of God. And, upon the view of both, he gives this judgment here. II. They too should live. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified ( Romans 8:30 ). It is for the saints to learn, of course; but it is that which goes out in its own force and necessary aim to the need of man a divine righteousness, which justifies instead of condemning him who believes. When it rains, it is starting to leak. The great point is to note the true picture given us of a soul quickened, but labouring and miserable under law, not at all consciously delivered. Not only man, but all of creation is groaning under the curse of sin. How we appreciate this marvelous position that we have in Christ Jesus where nothing can separate us from Your love. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for it? What blindness! Faith respects the promise, hope the thing promised. In Romans 8:19 he uses a wonderful word for eager expectation. If we take it that way two great truths are laid down. January 17, 2023. Israel is indeed the only people of whom there is always a portion that believe. The very sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, Prov 15 8. The Rabbis had a legend that when God appeared on Sinai to give Moses the law he was attended by his hosts of angels, and the angels grudged Israel the law, and assaulted Moses on his way up the mountain and would have stopped him had not God intervened. Who is the one condemning? who would defraud God of that which He delights in the blessedness of bringing in deliverance by that One man, of whom Adam was the image? Hence the depravity of the heathen found little or no cheek from conscience, because it was bound up with all that took the shape of God before their mind. Thus the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against (not only the open ungodliness of men, but) the orthodox unrighteousness of those that hold the truth in unrighteousness. If I think of prayer as an instrument by which I can get my will done, I totally misunderstand prayer. But did this satisfy the apostle? Never think of him opposite of God. The connection is fully owned with that which had been from God of old. May we not say, it became vain willingly, but was made subject to vanity unwillingly? While striving for holiness under the law, Paul had focused on the commands (e.g., "lust") so that his mind-set was fleshly: "I must steer clear of all lust." This fleshly orientation doomed him to commit the very sin he sought to avoid. I think that this particular verse has meant more to me than almost any other passage of scripture, because I lived so many years of my Christian life in constant condemnation. In both Old and New it is the same substantial testimony. It is an ancient tradition among the Jews, that this tower was built on an idolatrous account. Paul used figurative language to clarify and emphasize his point. Although circumcision began with Abraham, manifestly it had nothing to do with his righteousness, and at best was but the seal of the righteousness of faith which he had in an uncircumcised state. God loves me good or bad. One that they cannot understand, and when a person cannot understand you, you will always become a threat to them. "You only have I known of all the families of the earth," said God to Amos ( Amos 3:2). That there is going to come in the last days a great power of God's Spirit upon the church and God is going to manifest Himself through you, His church, and you are going to be endowed with all kinds of supernatural powers. The creation was subjected to vanity (see verse 19 for information on this word as well as the word subjected). Romans 8:18b Romans 8:20 2 Comments He was inalienably co-heir with them. But the thing that amazes me is that foreknowing me He predestined that I should be one of His children, that is the thing that amazes me most. Hence he infers (v. 8), Those that are in the flesh cannot please God. We do not need to be very old to look back and see that things we thought were disasters worked out to our good; things that we thought were disappointments worked out to greater blessings. Thither He shall come, and thence, go forth. They weren't quite sure though. Jesus had come and died; Jesus had been a propitiatory sacrifice; Jesus had borne the judgment of God because of the sins He bore. There is a new law that is working in me. A soul may as truly, no doubt, be put into relationship with God be made very happy, it may be; but it is not what Scripture calls "peace with God." Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. In regard to his father, a Roman son never came of age. And it is not predicated upon you but upon His own nature of love. There are three statements in this verse: (1) the creation was subjected to vanity; (2) this subjection was not voluntary, but imposed by God; and (3) the very subjection is a basis of hope, for otherwise there would have been no point at all in granting to rebellious humanity any further tolerance at all. But there is another incompleteness of man. Because that is where the mind of natural man is, because the body is in control, what he is thinking about constantly are those body needs, the body drives.But when a man is born again by the Spirit of God and the spirit, then, is in control in his life, that man, then, is concerned with spiritual things and he is going to be talking about God, his relationship, the work of God within his heart, the work of God, spirit, how to please the Lord, how to serve the Lord. No matter how old he was, he was still under the patria potestas, in the absolute possession and under the absolute control, of his father. He lays down such a summary as no Jew ever gave since they were a nation. Free postage . This was the key to their difficulties this alone, and fully explains their coming ruin as well as God's solemn warnings. In one scale he puts the sufferings of this present time. 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