September 18, 2000
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Oct. 15 Lesson
Freedom from the law is not freedom to sin
_Romans 8:1-2; 12-28; 38-39
___1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ...
___12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For 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, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ... 15And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now 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.
___18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from the bondage of decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
___22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
___26In the same way, the Spirit helps in our weekness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
___28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ...
___38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
___By Alan Lefever
___Although Corrie ten Boom was not a Texas Baptist, her testimony had a profound impact on Baptists in this state as well as Christians around the world. Her personal papers, housed at Dallas Baptist University, document her remarkable life and the extent of her influence. Boom, who was Dutch, spent months in a concentration camp during World War II for hiding Jews. Boom would later admit that during her time in the camp, her faith in God was strained. When she was in solitary confinement, she once prayed: "God, how much longer do I have to take this? If you're alive, if you really care, will you please show me a sign that you are alive and that you hear my prayers?"
___As she went to sleep that night, crying and feeling abandoned, Boom wondered why God would not answer her prayers. She awoke the next morning to discover a beam of sunlight coming through a crack in the ceiling of her cell. A few blades of grass were illuminated by the light. This was the sign she had been looking for! From that moment on, she knew that God was alive and with her. In Chapter 8, Paul reminds us once again that God is alive and with us.
___There's a new law in town
___Once again, the word "therefore" alerts us to the fact that we have joined Paul in the middle of a discourse. In Chapter 6 Paul encourages us to remain dead to sin. In Chapter 7 Paul indicates that he knows from firsthand experience that this will not be easy and details his own struggle against sin. Paul then opens this chapter by letting us know that, even though we struggle against sin, we are under a new law that sets us free from the law of sin.
___In the Old West, many towns experienced periods of lawlessness where the only law was the "law of the gun" and outlaws, gunslingers and saloon owners were the "keepers" of the law. However, the law would begin to be enforced in the towns by the establishment of public offices. Marshals and sheriffs were appointed and elected. People were free to move about town without fear of a shootout. No one answered to outlaws or gunslingers. In verses one and two of Chapter 8, Paul is reminding us that with Christ's death and resurrection there is "a new law in town." We do not answer to sin anymore. We are free from the "outlaw" of sin.
___Living according to the new law
___Freedom from the law of sin does not mean we are free from responsibility. In fact, Paul notes in verse 12 that we have an obligation not to sin but to God. The Holy Spirit helps us to conquer sin. We are then "adopted" by God into the family. When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit dwells within us and, at that moment, we become heirs with Christ and part of the family of God.
___Several years ago, I worked with a young woman whose family I had the opportunity to meet. I was struck with the similarities between the young woman and her mother, both in physical appearance and mannerisms. Never before had I met two people who were more alike than this mother and daughter. Imagine my surprise when I found out the young woman had been adopted! They were so much alike I still have difficulties believing that the young woman was not the birthchild of the mother.
___This is the type of "adoption" Paul speaks of in verses 12-17. If we envelop ourselves in the family of God as the young woman did with her family, we too, will reflect the image of our parent--God. We are saved by faith because of the actions of Christ on our behalf. Through the Holy Spirit, we become sons and daughters of God. As part of the family, we also become heirs to the family "fortune," which is eternal life.
___Paul realizes he is asking the audience to overcome the temptation of sin and endure possible hardships and suffering for an unseen, but promised, reward. He notes the Holy Spirit is just beginning his work in us. Although we are saved through faith, our relationship with God as our father is a progressive one. We will not see our inheritance as a part of the family of God until the "redemption of our bodies." It is this eager anticipation which causes us to "groan" for the coming reward (v. 23).
___Hope is part of the faith process (v. 24). Paul explains that you cannot hope for something you can see. Often hope feels like a longing for something or someone. When a loved one is away, you long or hope for their return. If the loved one is in your presence, there is no need for the hope of their return. True hope can only be found in the anticipation of something that has not occurred. Therefore, because of the law of the Spirit, we can hope for an end to our present suffering and eternal life for it is "in this hope we are saved."
___Help in the hard times
___When we are weak in times of suffering, Paul wants us to know we are not alone. Even when we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit helps us. The Holy Spirit helps us by entering our hearts and enabling us to pray as we should and for what we should. In times of suffering, God is often the last person to whom we want to talk. In these times, the Holy Spirit prods us to begin a conversation with God through prayer.
___Verse 28 is one of the most well known in the New Testament. It does not teach that all things are good; it teaches that all things work together for good. There was nothing "good" about the experience Corrie ten Boom had in the concentration camps during World War II. However, the "good" thing resulting from her experience was her strengthened faith. It is only through the power of God that all things, good and bad, can work for good. Corrie ten Boom's resulting testimony has led many to a saving knowledge of Christ. The power of God is so great that he can use any of life's experiences "for good."
___Nothing to fear
___Through the power of God we can overcome sin and suffering. In fact, because of the love of God we have no reason to fear anything. Paul uses verses 38 and 39 to explain that there is nothing that has been created or could be created that could separate us from the love of God.
___Paul began this passage by stating that there is no condemnation for those "in Christ Jesus." He concludes it by noting that for the believer there is no separation from Jesus Christ. Even in the solitary confinement of our lives, we are not alone.
For thought and discussion
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