The Roman church Paul wrote to was started by people who had witnessed the Day of Pentecost referenced in Acts. It was not led nor founded by any of the Disciples. Paul had hoped to meet with this church long before he was able to, & when he finally did, it was as a Roman prisoner. Peter did not start the Roman church. He arrived in Rome about the exact same time Paul did. Without going too far down river, Peter became “a” Pope retroactively a few centuries later under Emperor Constantine. The current title of “the” Pope didn't begin until the 11th century.
So, this is the reason Paul spends so much time with doctrinal issues. The old saying is All Roads Lead to Rome, & this was true. At the time of writing, Jerusalem was the flag-ship Christian church. Antioch was second, but Rome would soon overtake both as the church center. Paul wanted a strong belief system ingrained into the Roman church. We see in other letters by Paul, John, James, & Jude that false doctrines had already been introduced into the church.
Have any of you heard of the gnostic gospels? Two of the most known are the gospels of Thomas & of Judas. They are part of the Nag Hammadi library discovered in 1945. If you've read or seen the movie “DaVinci Code”, you are familiar with these gnostic teachings. The idea that Jesus did not die on the cross is also found in the Koran. Paul knew that if the Roman church did not have the correct doctrine, many false churches would spread like wild-fire as Rome dominated Europe, North Africa, & the Middle East for another 400 years.
It is not by mistake, then. that the Protestant Reformation began after the careful study of the book of Romans. Martin Luther & John Wesley both cite this letter as the basis for their beliefs. A careful study of this book will reveal most of the doctrinal ideals shared by traditional Protestant churches. Its been slow going, but Paul builds on the foundation he started. This morning, we will see the role the Spirit plays in a Christians life. The Spirit, GODs Spirit, Holy Spirit & Holy Ghost refer to the same thing in different translation.
As a Christian, can you imagine having Jesus greet you with the phrase “Well done, thou good & faithful servant”? (Mt 25:23) That is our goal, is it not? The first 2 verses of chapter 8 says something just as important. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus... 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Lets do a quick comparison with another of Pauls “therefore” statements, Rom 3:20 which said Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: This is a 180* turn-around between the two statements, isn't it? Mankind went from “No flesh justified” to “now no condemnation”. Jesus is the difference between these two fates of man.
Continuing in chapter 8, verses 4-11. 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” This is a pretty simple statement, but it means so very much. Lets look first at what it doesn't say. It doesn't say no condemnation only for those who don't sin, does it? It doesn't say no condemnation only for those who live perfect lives. It doesn't say no condemnation only for those who have not failed? We have only one condition that must be met.... “to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
The role of the Spirit can not be ignored in a Christians life. Exactly what role the Spirit plays has caused many denominational rifts with some groups downplaying the Spirit, while others seem to teach primarily on the Spirit. John 14:26 records what Jesus said about it. But the comforter, the Holy Spirit (or ghost), whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. The Spirit of GOD is not a New Testament invention. If we jump back to Genesis 1:1-2 we see the Spirit working from the very start. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
From the passage we read this morning, we learn a few things about the Spirit. The first is that the Spirit is linked directly with Jesus. Without Jesus in your life, there is no Spirit in your life. Secondly, the Spirit is what overcomes sin & death. This Spirit is what helps to keep our minds focused on GOD and on HIS plans for our life. Man in his natural state focuses on earthly desires. If there was ever an explanation for the current state our world is in, this is it.
As Christianity has declined, we see a majority population that is concerned only with themselves, ...generally at the expense of everyone else. As each person sees themselves as the center of their own universe, they would have no issue with a total disregard of society's laws, or lying, cheating, stealing & killing. This is what keeps the news shows in business.
And finally, verse 9 speaks of the Spirit living within us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 states Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
It is this Spirit within us that makes Christians different. We act differently. We talk differently. We see the world from a different viewpoint. We have different priorities & goals. Over the years, false religions & New age sciences have tried to either mimic this difference or to explain it away. For me, it continues to affirm the validity of the Bible.
I have a couple of examples. One will be a Bible verse, and one will be from a new-age self-help book. See if you can tell which is which.
The first: A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts.
The second: For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.....
Which is in the Bible? 2Cnd. Proverbs 23:7. The first was As a Man Thinketh, published in 1903.
Next one is: Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The 2cnd is: “As we think, we change the physical nature of our brain. As we consciously direct our thinking, we can wire out toxic patterns of thinking and replace them with healthy thoughts.”
Which is from the Bible? 1. Romans 12:2. The 2cnd is from the book Switch on Your Brain, published in 2007.
One more example. First: ...whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
And the other: Shift your reality to the reality you want to experience. .. there are billions of different realities going on right now. This means that the universe that you experience is Custom Made for you.
The first one is Philippians 4:8. The 2cnd is an excerpt from Zest Point-The Power of Choice. Written by a “Theta Healer and Master Neuro Linguistic Practitioner.”
The point is that people are spending a lot of time and wasting a lot of money to find what Christians have within us that makes different. The answer is simple. The Holy Spirit. The cost is free to all those who accept HIM.
The last thing I want to discuss this morning is from verse 11. Nancy had actually asked a question about this last Sunday. What happens to our soul & the Spirit when we die? Easy question, right? Different denominations have varying ideas they developed to fit their belief. I believe what the Bible says.
First, this is what I believe & then I'll tell you why based on the Bible. I believe that at death, people are judged accordingly to whether they are found to be righteous & justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ,...or not. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment...
I believe the soul is taken to heaven immediately. 2 Corinthians 5:6 & 8 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Luke 16:22 Jesus speaking So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. Abraham's bosom is an Old Testament reference to heaven. As Jesus hung on the cross alongside two thieves, HE told the one that believed in Luke 23:43 “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
I believe that our physical body remains on earth until the end of the age when it too is raised in perfection to re-join our soul & heavenly body. 1 Corinthians 15:40; 42-44. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
2 Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
I do not believe in soul sleep. I do not believe in many heavens or many hells. I do not believe in purgatory. I am sure these topics will come up again and we can spend more time on them.
As Christians, we can rejoice in that we ARE different from the world. We have something within us noticeably different that the world tries to copy, but fall short. We have a hope that no one can ever take away from us. We have a peace & a knowledge of an eternal life. We know death is not the end, but a renewed beginning. Most importantly, we are certain that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
