[Chapter 8-1] Introduction to Romans Chapter 8
Chapter
8 can perhaps be described as the most important chapter of the Book of
Romans. Through the several themes that are present in this chapter,
Paul reveals to us just how wondrous the work of the righteousness of
God is.
The
first theme is: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who
are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). This means that regardless of how
vulgar and degraded we may be in our flesh; the righteousness of God has
freed us from all our sins.
The
second theme is: “For what the law could not do in that it was weak
through the flesh, God did” (Romans 8:3). This means that because people
in their flesh could not follow the Law given by God, Jesus Christ, by
taking all their sins upon Himself with His baptism and His death on the
Cross, saved them from their sins and judgments. It is because Jesus
came to this earth and took upon all the sins of the mankind at once
with His baptism by John that He could carry all the sins of the world
on His Cross, be crucified on it, and arise from death to save all those
who believe in this truth. All these works of our Lord were meant to
fulfill the righteousness of God to save the sinners from their sins, in
obedience to the will of our God the Father.
The
third theme is: “For those who live according to the flesh set their
minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the
Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (Romans 8:5). This means that when we
decide to believe in God, we should believe in Him not by following our
own thoughts, but by following the Word of God.
The
fourth theme is: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Romans 8:9). Those who believe
in the righteousness of God have received the Holy Spirit in their heart
and become the children of God. This also means that you cannot become
God’s child just because you attend church diligently.
The
fifth theme is: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh” (Romans 8:12). This theme tells us that
those who have been saved from all their sins by believing in the gospel
of our Lord that has fulfilled the righteousness of God cannot be
debtors to their flesh and slaves to it.
The
sixth theme is: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to
fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,
‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15). Because those who believe in God have
received the Holy Spirit, they now call God the Father, “Abba, Father.”
The
seventh theme is: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:16-17). Those who believe in the
righteousness of God are those who have received the Holy Spirit, and
those who have received the Holy Spirit are those who will become,
together with Christ, heirs to His Kingdom of Heaven.
The
eighth theme is: “For we know that the whole creation groans and labors
with birth pangs together until now” (Romans 8:22). This tells us that
even the believers in the righteousness of God face suffering in this
earthly world, along with all other creatures, but it also tells us that
in their next world there will be neither groans nor pain.
The
ninth theme is: “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called;
whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He
also glorified” (Romans 8:30). This tells us that God has called the
sinners in His Son Jesus Christ, and that He has made them His children
by taking away all their sins at once with His righteousness.
Finally,
the tenth and last theme is: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s
elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33). No one can judge God’s
children who have received the Holy Spirit as their gifts for their
deliverance from sin by believing in the righteousness of God.
These
ten themes are then the basic outlines of Romans chapter 8. We will now
turn to examine them in detail with our main discussion.
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