Romans Chapter 8 Part 3

Part 3:

Please see Intro, Prayer, and Foundation in Part 1.

I’m trying to navigate and express in a clear and simple to understand way. What I am being taught about Bible engagement here, is still unfolding. It is Bible study, the focus is on Scripture but more so on the Teacher leading us and directing our learning.

Many years ago while teaching the youth Sunday School/Bible Class, we had designated books based on the children’s age groups. I would try to follow the outline and cover the topics listed. But each Sunday after class, the children would stand and each one would say what they learned; unrehearsed.

The church, including myself, would be astonished at the things they learned. I would think, now I know I didn’t teach them that. I presented on the surface however, the Teacher in the room gave those children deeper revelation that fit specifically to each one of them. As if the lesson had been tailored to help each child as an individual. It was Amazing.

The words are not found right not but I feel like we are experiencing, the ministry and work of the Holy Spirit. This is different for me. I pray that you are able to capture what God is doing. The Presence of the Lord is here. My hands are on fire as I type.

Father, we honor you. We worship you Lord. Please forgive us. Oh God we humble ourselves and repent before you. God we need you. Hallelujah hallelujah Hallelujah Holy holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty. Lead us and guide us; open our understanding in the name of Jesus. Thank you Father in the name of Jesus. Speak Lord. We need to hear what the Spirit is saying to us. Obey Obey Obey Obey Obey. In the name of Jesus. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 esv Lord teach us how to love one another in the name of Jesus

Let’s pause and pray in the Spirit

As we continue please write down any thoughts, experiences or visions you may have. Even if it seems off or insignificant or unrelated and develop a habit of making a record/note. And pray. We want to steward well and honor Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus. It might be an invitation to come closer, to sit with God, to lean in and give Him our undivided attention.

We are continuing with Romans 8:3—-but first I need to add this. Please take time on this. Even if you know it; take time and read it slowly; read it several times if you can.

1 John 4: 1-21

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Romans 8:3-9

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

(The bullet points listed are taken from or referenced in Tyndale Life Application Study Bible KJV)

Add in after finishing off with verse 10:  led to come back to vs. 3 and read it again. As I read it a few times……my mind went to ‘angelic assistance’. God will send you help.

Please take time to look at Luke 1:26-56 –please please pretty please read it in NCV-New Century Version

• An Angel Appears to Mary
• Mary Visits Elizabeth
• Mary Praises God

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Romans 8:3 KJV

Continued

• Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. In Old Testament times animal sacrifices were continually offered at the Temple.
• The sacrifices showed the Israelites the seriousness of sin: Blood had to be shed before sins could be pardoned.
• Animal blood could not really remove sins. The sacrifices could only point to Jesus’ sacrifice which paid the penalty for all sins.

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

• Read Galatians Chapter 5: 13-26

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 (unspiritually) minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against (hostile to) 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.

• “Paul divides people into two categories-those who let themselves be controlled by their sinful nature (carnally minded) and those who follow after the Holy Spirit.”
• “All of us would be the first category if Jesus had not offered a way out. We choose to center our lives on Jesus.”
• “Use the Bible to discover God’s guidelines and then follow them (obedience).”
• When we are not sure what to do, or find it difficult to do what is right, ask Holy Spirit to help and do it.
• These verses speak to our mindset. We want to be aware of how our thoughts are running. If our thoughts are running wild and out of alignment—we pray and bring every thought captive.
• We do this, it is our responsibility. We can handle it through prayer but we must take action and ‘do it’.  2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Our goal is to please God and we must be intentional about it. What are we thinking about or keeping our minds on. Not the devil, we choose what to think about. The devil might initiate the thought be we choose to let it linger or to dismiss it immediately. Just like we generally decide what we are going to eat for lunch we also decide what we choose to feed our minds. Some thoughts please the flesh, so we have to cast those down quickly.

Think about casting down as having a beautiful ceramic or glass bowl in your hand. You just happened to run across it. While cleaning out and getting rid of useless clutter. It’s a bowl your ex gave you and certain memories come with that bowl. You began to think of all the ways you can use that bowl. You can use it to put your keys in or whatever. What should you do?

Stand there and look at the bowl and think about it, entertain all the memories the bowl brings? Or should you immediately Cast it Down. Take it out and Smash it to pieces, sweep up and put it in the trash where it belongs. Get rid of it and every thought that accompanied it. Annihilate it in prayer. Then go wash and dry your hands and carry on.

[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) 2 Cor. 10:5 AMPC

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.

‘Let’s Dive In’: Earlier I mentioned that what some people consider as shallow water; others consider as deep water. Apply this thought throughout this Bible Study.

• Have you ever worried about whether or not you really are a Christian? A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God living in him. This note from Life Appl. Study Bible is connected to ‘Freedom’. Some believe that a person is not saved if that person does not worship God in the same way they do.
• If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and acknowledged him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life, and you are a Christian.
• It’s about faith in God. You won’t know the Holy Spirit has come if you are waiting for a certain feeling; you will know he has come because Jesus promised he would.
• When Holy Spirit is working within you, you will believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and that eternal life comes through him (1John 5:5)
  • You will begin to act as Christ directs-Romans 8:5; Galatians 5:22-23
  • You will find help in your daily problems and in your praying -Romans 8:26,27
  • You will be empowered to serve God and do his will-Acts 1:8; Romans 12:6ff
  • You will become a part of God’s plan to build up his church -Eph. 4: 12,13

You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God’s Spirit, who lives in you. People who don’t have the Spirit of Christ in them don’t belong to him. Romans 8:9 CEV

Vs. 10- And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides]. AMP

But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. CEV

Our goal is to please God! Why waste time trying to please your dead flesh? (Okay Holy Spirit I’m going to remember that when it’s time to eat; when I’m craving fresh glazed donuts……….The Word will cut you and get all Up in your business. Amen

References for verse 10:

John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (Whewwww….this is so rich—spend some time right here)

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Colossians 1:26-27 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Recap:

Be Ruled by the Spirit (NCV)

8 So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty.[a] 2 Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you[b] free from the law that brings sin and death. 3 The law was without power, because the law was made weak by our sinful selves. But God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son to earth with the same human life that others use for sin. By sending his Son to be an offering for sin, God used a human life to destroy sin. 4 He did this so that we could be the kind of people the law correctly wants us to be. Now we do not live following our sinful selves, but we live following the Spirit.

5 Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want. But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do. 6 If people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if their thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace. 7 When people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, they are against God, because they refuse to obey God’s law and really are not even able to obey God’s law. 8 Those people who are ruled by their sinful selves cannot please God.

9 But you are not ruled by your sinful selves. You are ruled by the Spirit, if that Spirit of God really lives in you. But the person who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Christ. 10 Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God.

Do you know how good and pleasant it feels when you know that you are ‘right’ with someone. You know, you are right with them. You can go to them with just about anything. In there book, you are good, you are alright with them. Y’all are connected connected, ain’t nothing and nobody coming in between Y’all. You are secure with them. You are right with them.

Declare: I am right with God. I am the righteous of God in Christ Jesus. I am the beloved of God. I am connected connected with the Great I Am. Jesus…my forever Love. The lover of my soul. My soul loves you Jesus.

Jesus…………………………………………………………………………………………….If you are able, put on Instrumental Worship music and just sit with God, soak in the presence of Holy Spirit. Sit with Him and Rest!

Shhhhhhh. Quiet yourself and Rest. Christ in you-the Hope of glory. Rest