Chapter 8 is the best! I love this chapter of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Paul is going to drive home some of the practical outcomes of our justification. If you believe that Jesus is God’s Son, that He died on the cross, but three days later he rose from the dead, and you have given your life to Him, then you have been justified before God, Paul says.
Justification: We have been declared righteous as though we had never sinned.
It’s not that you have simply been forgiven, but the slate is wiped clean, your past, present, and future sin. When God looks at you, He does not see your sin. Instead, He sees the righteousness of His Son, Jesus. Now, we are free to live new lives in a new way. But Paul notes that living this new life is still a challenge. The struggle with sin is real for those of us who follow Jesus.
At the end of chapter 7, Paul says, some days it is three steps forward and two steps back, but we cannot take these three steps forward without the presence of Jesus, that is the Holy Spirit, empowering us. The Spirit empowers us to do what we want to do to please God and honor Him because of what He has done for us.
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When I was in college, one of my professors said when you teach, remember that repetition is the key to learning. I think Paul had the same professor. Because as we get to chapter 8, Paul will begin by reiterating a point he has already made in chapter 5.
Rom 8:1-2 (CSB)—Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Paul says there is no condemnation. That means there is no penalty for our sin, for those who are in Christ.
If you get stopped by a police officer for speeding down 395 in front of the building here, what will most likely happen? You’ll get a fine.
If you get a letter from the IRS that says you did not pay enough taxes in 2023, what will most likely happen? You’ll get a penalty and a fine.
What will likely happen if you don’t pay the water bill? You’ll have to pay a penalty to get your water turned back on.
There is a penalty! You will experience some sort of condemnation by way of a fine.
If you are in Christ and you sin, what will happen? Now you are beginning to understand.
That doesn’t mean that sin is okay. Paul said in 1 Corinthians that even though there is no condemnation, it is not beneficial or profitable to sin because we are a slave to what we serve. Now that we are in Christ, we serve God, not sin, so don’t become a slave again to sin.
That phrase, in Christ, shows up at least 75 times throughout the New Testament. If there is no condemnation, if we are in Christ, what does it mean to be in Christ?
Much of what is recorded in the Old Testament (Gen through Mal) is a picture or a foreshadowing of God’s plan to send His Son Jesus. One example of that is in Genesis 6 and the account of Noah.
God saw how wicked mankind was, and He regretted creating humanity and the earth, so He decided to wipe the earth clean with a flood. However, it says Noah found favor with the Lord.
So, God told Noah about His plan and that he was to build a big boat to house male and female species of animals. The boat would save the animals and Noah and His family when the flood came.
This is a foreshadowing of Jesus.
First, God told Noah to put one door on the ark. This door was the only way into the ark; it was the only way Noah could save himself and his family. In the same way, Jesus is the only door to the Father (John 14:16). Jesus himself said, “I am the door; if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…” (John 10:9).
Second, the ark was Noah’s refuge from the storm (Genesis 6:17-19), just as Jesus is our refuge from God’s wrath against sin (Romans 5:9).
God did not command Noah onto the ark but instead invited Noah to “come” onto the ark (Genesis 7:1). Once Noah was on the ark, his work was over, and now he could rest. In the same way, Jesus invites us to come to Him where we can find refuge and rest (Matthew 11:28). The choice is ours: do we heed God’s invitation to come and go to Him to be saved and find rest or do we run from Him and be condemned?
Third, once Noah was in the ark, he was secure. The Lord shut him in (Genesis 6:17). We should also be confident that we are secure in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, God has sealed us as His own, guaranteeing our salvation (Ephesians 1:13).
So, you see, once Noah was in the ark, he was saved from destruction. In the same way, Jesus is our Ark of Salvation. When we are in Christ, we are saved from condemnation.
Paul goes on in chapter 8 to talk more about Our Victorious Life in Christ.
In verses 1 and 2, we have already seen that we have no condemnation in Christ.
In Christ, we have no condemnation.
Next, he will remind us that we have victory over sin and death because of the Holy Spirit.
In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:3-4 (CSB)—For what the law could not do since it was weakened by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh as a sin offering, in order that the law’s requirement would be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Because we were controlled by sin, we could not fulfill the law. So God satisfied the old law about animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin by sending a perfect sacrifice, Jesus. When we give our lives to Christ, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit takes us residence in us. So now, instead of walking in the flesh, we walk according to the Spirit that lives in us.
Look what Eph 1 says about us and the Holy Spirit:
Eph 1:13-14 (CSB)—In him (in Christ) you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
Because we are now in Christ, we have been given the Holy Spirit. God’s presence now lives in us. One day, Jesus will return, and God will create a new Heaven and Earth. Until then, God has given us the Holy Spirit as a downpayment. Part of the Holy Spirit’s role is giving us a new mindset.
In Christ, we have a new mindset.
Rom 8:5-6 (CSB)—For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace.
These big ideas and concepts we have been discussing in Romans are all synonymous with a single goal; they are all leading us to one place. What is the goal of our faith?
The goal of our faith is to become more like Jesus.
When we talk about justification, sanctification, and walking according to the flesh versus walking according to the Spirit, you should know that it all leads us to the same goal: becoming more like Jesus.
We partner with the Holy Spirit to change our mindsets when we are in Christ. That means God is changing how we think, how we view our lives, how we view our relationships, how we view our money, and how we view our time.
Rom 8:7-9 (CSB)—The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.
That phrase “if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you” is better translated “if the Spirit of God is at home in you.” Is He at home in your life?
In 1951, Pastor Robert Boyd Munger wrote an allegory about allowing Jesus the freedom to change our mindsets so we can become more like Him. It is called My Heart Christ’s Home. The story likens inviting Jesus into your life to inviting Jesus to your house. The story is about a guy who invites Jesus to his house and how he tries to clean up and organize all of the different rooms of his house for Jesus.
However, the man recognizes that he can’t keep his heart clear for Christ. As soon as he works in one room, another room is dirty.
He says, “I am so tired and weary trying to maintain a clean heart and an obedient life. I am just not up to it!”
Ultimately, the man decides that the only way forward is to sign the house over to Jesus.
I saw it in a minute and dropping to my knees, I said, “Lord, You have been a guest and I have been the host. From now on I am going to be the servant. You are going to be the owner and Master and Lord.”
Running as fast as I could to the strongbox, I took out the title deed to the house describing its assets and liabilities, location and situation and condition. I eagerly signed it over to belong to Him alone for time and eternity. “Here,” I said. “Here it is, all that I am and have forever. Now You run the house. I’ll just remain with You as a servant and friend.”
He took my life that day and I can give you my word, there is no better way to live the Christian life. He knows how to keep it in shape and deep peace settles down on the soul. May Christ settle down and be at home in your heart as Lord of all!
This is what Paul means when he talks about changed mindsets and not walking in the flesh. Paul will later revisit this in chapter 12 when he says:
Rom 12:2 (CSB)—Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Paul then reaffirms that Jesus’ heart for us is abundant life, and walking with the Spirit produces that kind of life in us.
Finally, look what he says to end this section:
Rom 8:14-17 (CSB)—For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
In Christ, we are God’s children.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. So, don’t fall back into worry and fear because you are God’s sons and daughters. You have been adopted by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Your Papa is the Creator of the Universe.
Last week, Olivia called me, “Dad, I have a flat tire.” I said, “I’ll be there in a minute.” A couple of days later, she wasn’t feeling too great, and I said, why don’t you let me take care of the horses tonight so you don’t have to go out?
I don’t tell you that so you will think I’m a great dad because that’s what dads do. I’m not unique or special that way. That is just what we do. If we, as dads, though broken and imperfect, are willing to protect and care for our kids in these ways, how much more will the King of Kings care for His children?
We are heirs of the King of Kings and co-heirs with Jesus. After Jesus suffered on the cross, God raised Him from the dead, and today, He is in Heaven advocating for the children of God. This is the hope that we have in Christ. A glorious future in the presence of our Heavenly Father where there are no more tears and no more pain. This is our hope and our inheritance.
Jesus is the ark of our salvation. In Christ, we have a victorious life. Take some time today to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us so we could find our refuge in Him.
In light of all we have talked about today, tell God, thank you for …
Chris Hankel 
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