Lesson for November 10, 2024
The Law of the Spirit of Life
Lesson 1
The principal teaching of Romans 8 is that the plan of God is greater than any condemnation, any sin, any failure, any personal suffering, any adversity, any historical disaster, or any problem of life. Our life in Christ is infinitely greater than anything else in life. By studying and applying accurate Bible doctrine consistently, we can have a life of victory over the circumstances of life. Through spiritual growth and using our volition to apply what we learn, life can never crush us, destroy us, or break us. We may bend but we never break!!!
Romans 8:1-8
Verse 1
“There is therefore now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
The Greek word for condemnation is “katakrima,” meaning to pass sentence or give a judgment against. The sentence of condemnation was passed on us at the moment of our birth by the justice of God through the imputation of Adam’s original sin to our sin nature, resulting in spiritual death. Therefore, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire at birth. However, for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, the sentence cannot be carried out. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin when He was judged on the Cross for those sins. Acceptance of His payment for our sin by believing in Him as our Savior means we are no longer condemned to the Lake of Fire. Instead, we are given eternal life. (John 3:18)
Verse 2
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
The word law refers to the point when the Holy Spirit made us alive in Christ and set us free from the penalty of spiritual death, imposed on us at birth by Adam’s original sin. This freedom was accomplished at salvation when the Holy Spirit placed us into union with Christ, gave us eternal life, and God’s righteousness. (I Corinthians 12:13; John 3:16; II Corinthians 5:21)
Verses 3-4
“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh (the weaker element of human nature), God did; sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (physical body) and as an offering for sin, He condemned (judged) sin in the flesh (Christ’s body), in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh (the sin nature), but according to the Spirit.”
Remember that the Law of Moses could not execute judgment upon sin. The Mosaic Law, though good, had a limited role to play (weak as it was). The Greek word for weak is “astheneo,” meaning lack of strength or limited. The Law only pointed the nation of Israel to the Messiah, Jesus Christ – it could not provide salvation (lack of strength).
The Greek word for flesh is “sarx,” which has numerous meanings. For example, it can mean the physical body, it can mean body, soul, and spirit, it can mean the humanity of Christ, it can mean the weaker element of human nature, it can mean state of the unbeliever, or it can mean the sin nature. As always, the use of the word is determined by the context.
God did; sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (physical body) and as an offering for sin, He condemned (was judged for) sin in the (His) flesh (physical body). Jesus became a human being like all other human being except without a sin nature or Adam’s original sin. At the Cross, Christ became “the offering” for the sin of the human race. His death was a substitutionary spiritual death on our behalf.
In order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh (human nature), but according to the (Holy) Spirit. The legal requirement of the Law was perfect righteousness, which could not be attained by keeping it. On the other hand, perfect righteousness could be obtained as a gift, by faith in Jesus Christ. (II Corinthians 5:21) Once the Law is “fulfilled” in believers through their faith in Christ, they are able to live out God’s perfect righteousness by means of the +power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 5
“For those who are in accord with the flesh (the sin nature) set their minds on the things of the flesh (the sin nature), but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Human Viewpoint Thinking versus Divine Viewpoint Thinking is what is in view in this verse. It refers to the battle for control of a believer’s soul. The battle begins the moment a person believes in Christ for salvation and continues until they are no longer in this world. Winning the battle is a matter of who a believer allows to control their thinking.
The Christian Way of Life is a life of thinking the way Jesus thought. Philippians 2:5, says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The mind of Christ is the doctrine found in the Word of God, the only source of absolute truth. In order to have the proper thinking, believers must be consistently learning, believing, and applying the Word of God to every circumstance in life.
God has given all believers a command to grow spiritually, and He never gives us a command without giving us the means necessary to obey it. God, therefore, has provided two power options for believers during the Church Age: 1) Bible doctrine and 2) the filling (power/guidance) of the Holy Spirit. Both are grace functions available to every believer, regardless of education or I.Q. Any believer with a positive attitude towards Bible doctrine can learn, believe, and apply doctrine.
Verse 6
“For the mind set on the flesh (the sin nature) is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Human Viewpoint Thinking destroys a believer’s Christian life. The temporal death that human viewpoint brings also carries with it self-induced misery and divine discipline. The less Bible doctrine you know, the more Human Viewpoint Thinking you are going to use. The more Human Viewpoint Thinking you use, the more insecure and unstable you are going to be. The more Bible doctrine you know and apply, the more Divine Viewpoint Thinking you will be able to use. Daily study of God’s Word keeps Divine Viewpoint Thinking fresh in the mind. (Psalms 119:129-135)
Thinking your way through life with God’s point of view will bring victory, peace, power, and stability into your life. (Isaiah 26:3-4, 33:6) Divine Viewpoint Thinking eliminates mental attitude sinning, such as maligning, character assassination, gossiping, jealousy, self-pity, resentment, etc. Vacillating between Divine Viewpoint Thinking and Human Viewpoint Thinking makes a believer unstable and unhappy. (James 1:8)
Verse 7
“Because the mind set on the flesh (the sin nature) is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the Law of God, for it is not even able to do so.”
The mind set on the flesh refers to Human Viewpoint Thinking which is hostile toward God. Subjecting one’s mind to the Law of God means to adhere to the doctrines, principles, and policies of God found in the Word of God through Divine Viewpoint Thinking. Without the power and guidance of God the Holy Spirit, believers cannot “subject” themselves to the instructions God has given them in His Word.
Verse 8
“And those who are in the flesh (the sin nature) cannot please God.”
Pleasing God is impossible when you are being controlled by your sin nature. Pleasing God requires a person to be a believer, to be in fellowship with Him, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to be applying their faith to the promises, principles, and doctrines of the Word of God. Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.”