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Book of Romans - Christianity 101
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Lesson 10 |
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In Paul’s systematic presentation of the Gospel, Romans 8 gives the clearest
description of the work of the Holy Spirit found anywhere in Scripture. Here
is where we learn who the Spirit is and how He imparts life to us. |
| WHAT DOES IT SAY? |
| Romans 8:5-17
5 Those
who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that
nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their
minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The
mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life
and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to
God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You,
however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the
Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But
if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is
alive because of righteousness. 11 And if
the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through his Spirit, who lives in you.
12 Therefore,
brothers, we have an obligation -- but it is not to the sinful nature, to
live according to it. 13 For if you live
according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put
to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry,
"Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself
testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17
Now if we are children, then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share
in his glory.
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| Look up the word "Spirit" in a Bible dictionary. Define spirit in your
own words.
Count the number of times "Spirit" is used in this passage.
Make a list comparing what Paul says about living according to the sinful
nature and living according to the Spirit (vv. 5-11).
| Sinful Nature |
Spirit |
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| What is the relationship of each mindset to the Law of
God? |
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Since we are not set right with God by doing good works, what is the
motive for changing our lives?
How are we to deal with our sinful nature (vv. 13-14; see 6:13, 19)?
What does it mean to be led by the Spirit (v. 14)?
How is that evident?
From v. 17 explain what Paul is describing by "share in His sufferings" (see
v. 18 & I Peter 2:21).
What type of suffering is Paul referring to?
What do you think he means by "glory to come"?
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Many people who are adopted
into the spiritual family of Christ remain ignorant of their new roots. What
a shame! Our heavenly Father has written over 1800 pages of family history
and has preserved it unadulterated for some 4000 years. What an insult to
our heavenly Father, to remain ignorant of our heritage!
We need to know that the Godhead
has three Persons, not just two - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many do not
even know how the third person functions. We may observe his fruit in our
lives without knowing who he is.
How can I know the Spirit is
leading me? What is the dominant characteristic of the Spirit-filled life?
Should I expect signs, wonders, miracles, and speaking in tongues? Good
news! In Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel, Romans 8 gives the
clearest description of the work of the Holy Spirit found anywhere in
Scripture. Although it is not exhaustive in detail, it is complete as to its
presentation of theme. This chapter covers everything from justification to
glorification. If this was all we knew, we could live a balanced life,
knowing who the Spirit is and how he imparts life to us.
Brian Morgan,
pastor at Peninsula Bible Church,
Cupertino, CA |
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| LIFE RESPONSE: What Does it Mean to
Me? |
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What does it mean, to you, that you are not God’s slave, but His
child?
How can this help you handle feelings of guilt and unworthiness?
When unhealthy thoughts enter your mind, what is most useful in dealing with
them?
Can you give an example from your life where you have depended on the Spirit as
you worked to “put to death” an area of sin?
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Christians
are called to sanctification. It remains the indispensable condition
of their communion with God. As the complement of justification it is, a
work of the Holy Spirit, both as a one-time act, and as an ongoing,
progressive work. In the latter sense, it also becomes a human work. It
takes place in our earthly lives, as a moral and spiritual cleansing and
dedication of soul and body, harnessing and deploying all human faculties in
the service of God, for the upbuilding of Christian fellowship and the
implementation of God’s will in the world. Holiness means to be at God’s
disposal. It is the restoration of the image of God in man, the gradual
assimilation of the believer to Christ and "the mind of Christ", and the
"demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (2 Cor. 2:4). Directed by the
double commandment of love of God and love of neighbour
as the fullest description of human dedication, it works by the instruction
and drive of the Holy Spirit through which we fulfill the requirements of
God’s law (Rom. 8:14, 4). Finally, sanctification, the eager pursuit of
holiness in the midst of an unholy world, is the positive alternative to
secularism, the attitude of a world turning away from God.
J.I. Packer,
New Dictionary of Theology |
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