“Some Really Important Questions”

(Romans 8:1-17)

Series: Romans – United in the Gospel [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

May 15, 2022

Introductory Comments:

I mentioned last week how challenging Romans 7 is and how I couldn’t wait to get to Romans 8. The funny thing is, several of you said how much you enjoyed Romans 7, so praise God for that. 

Now, we are in Romans 8, which is one of the most beautiful chapters in all of the Bible. Romans chapter 8 carries with it assurance of great victory found in the work of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. So, let’s get started. 

Before we do, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us miraculously. 

(prayer)

So, in Romans chapter 7, Paul just finished talking about the wretched way that he feels when he lives his life as his old self, in his flesh, in sin. He also spoke about his total inability to do the things that he wants to do. He needs Jesus to give him the power! So do you and I! We need the power of God to help us live our lives for God! That’s what today’s passage is all about. 

Paul asked this question and provided this answer in last week’s passage (Romans 7:24-25): 

Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! [on screen]

So, we learn that it is in Jesus that we have any hope at all. In Romans 8, Paul is further pursuing this idea that our only hope is found in Jesus. So, look with me at today’s passage in Romans 8:1-17.

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, 2 because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 What the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, 4 in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 because if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

As we look at this passage, notice how much the Holy Spirit is mentioned. We’re going to talk more about the work of the Holy Spirit in the weeks to come. 

For now, let us notice that a few important questions arise from what Paul is saying. We’re going to look at these questions. The title of today’s sermon is, “Some Really Important Questions.” [