Romans 8:1-39
The Law
The cold dark picture of the old law that dominated our lives is again described in this chapter, we are forcibly reminded of our past years of sin's guilt, its strangle hold and the slavery of sin in every area of our existence. A picture of prisoners bound shackled and condemned to death by our deeds in the body. The old law could and did condemn man to death and the law, which did this to us, was in fact unable to do anything to help in any way. The powerful Law was indeed powerless to remedy the desperate human condition. The arm of the old Law was withered in the ability to lift from the death cell. However in a very real sense the finger of the Law pointed to the One who could not only help but also completely reverse the condition of condemnation of sin by the Shedding of His Own Precious Blood. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the one sacrifice for sin forever.
Paul is an artist's apostle in the sense he composes his canvas of truth in a dramatic style. Composition means, simply and literally, putting several things
together so as to make one thing out of them. Expressing unity in all the complexities of sin and salvation portrays a profound depth of understanding and balance of the opposites in a profound and personal way.
Condemnation and Justification
Condemnation is the opposite of justification. Justification implies the absence of condemnation. The term 'justification' is a translation of the Greek
'dikaioma', meaning "righteous requirement, deed," "regulation," "judicial sentence" "act of righteousness," and
'dikaiosis' signifying "justification," "vindication," "acquittal." The related verb
'dikaioo', meaning, "be pronounced and treated as righteous," "be acquitted," "be justified, "be set free, made pure," "justify," "vindicate," "do justice," gives additional insights into the terms meaning.
In general, justification, as used theologically, is "the divine act by which God declares a penitent sinner righteous, or regards him as righteous." The basis for this justification is not our obedience, but our Lord Jesus Christ's, for "through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. By one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18,19). He gives this obedience to those believers who are justified freely by His grace. (Romans 3:24). Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us. (Titus 3:5).
Our experience of justification
Through justification by faith in Jesus Christ, his righteousness is imputed to us. We are right with God because of Jesus Christ our Substitute. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21).
As repentant sinners, we experience full and complete pardon. We are reconciled to God!
Freedom to walk in the Spirit
The law of the Spirit makes me free it is a new law we are free men, by our union with Jesus Christ. What is this new law of the Spirit? See Rom.
8:6,10,11; John 6:63; 1 Cor.15: 45; 2Cor.3: 6,17,18; Gal.6: 8. Life that is regulated activated and governed by the Holy Spirit. The birth has been difficult but now in Jesus Christ we see the light of day rather than the darkness of sin's cell, which imprisoned us and now cry "Abba Father" we are now His son's. The past is forgiven and forgotten in Him. We live for today, and the future is assured. The Christian need not sin constantly; he is not immune from the temptation to sin however he need not be dominated by sin. No longer compulsive sinners, we have freedom to renounce and refrain from sin. At times we may say (Rom.7:
24; Rom. 8:2).
After the Christian's walk of freedom through and in faith will come the Glory (Rom.8:8). Jesus is the One who will share His Glory with the believer, age after age of increasing blessing; it is almost unthinkable and incomprehensible. The eternal glory - we shall be glorified together (Rom.8:
17; 2 Thess.1: 10; 1Cor.15: 23) (Col.3: 4; 1John 3:2). Jesus and the Redeemed sharing the Glory!
Predestination (Rom. 8:28-30)
All things both good and evil are found in the circle of human history and take place within the boundaries of the plan and purpose of God. The unchanging eternal will of God is brought to pass. The Bible rejects 'Blind Fatalism' - impersonal blind fate in things physical and personal and reveals a Living God in control of all things. The eternal purpose of God in predestination is His Own Glory. This is a major Biblical truth; the ultimate purpose of all things is the Glory of God.
He is the Beginning and End of all things
God is supreme we are His in Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35-39)