Happy New Year!
Today's Sermon
Bible Study
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans
January 2, 2022
Opening Prayer
Dear God,
Thank You for new beginnings. What an incredible day this is with a fresh
year's potential stretched out before me. I want to be found faithful this year
in each and every opportunity You bring to me. Thank You, Lord, for new
beginnings. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.[1]
Romans 8
This is the first summit of the letter. Everything has been building up to this point.
“The whole of Chapter 8 will teach us how the condemnation of man has been abrogated.” – Karl Barth[2]
Watch for how often the Holy Spirit is mentioned. This
chapter is driven by the work of the Holy Spirit leaving no room for the works
for people to justify ourselves. (That is why there are no imperative verbs in
this section of the letter!)
Romans 8:1-8
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of
life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and
death. 3 For God has done what the
law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned
sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the
righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those
who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the
things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on
the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For
the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not
submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those
who are in the flesh cannot please God.
8:1
No condemnation – This section begins with a negation.
-
There is a shift in conversation here – a new
theme.
-
This is not related to the chapter number
o
Our chapters – Early 1200’s – Stephen Langton,
Archbishop of Canterbury (Roman Catholic).
o
Our verses – 1551 – Robert Estienne – printer
and scholar – first to the Greek N.T., then to French Bible.
o First English Language Bible with chapters and verses – Geneva Bible – 1560.
The first word of this sentence in Greek is – no, no one, nothing
It could be translated – Nothing, therefore, now [is] condemnation to those [who are] in Christ Jesus.
Condemnation stands in opposition to Justification.
- This is what it is to be saved from this body of death.
8:2
The Law of the Spirit of life
- Genesis 1:2 – Ruach Elohim – Spirit of God – At Creation
- Matthew 28:19 – The Trinity
- Nicene Creed – I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds …
In Christ Jesus has set you free
- KJV – has set me free
- Typical textual variant – in Geek – me vs se
o
When people say that the Bible is full of
contradictory errors, feel free to yawn. The vast majority are like this.
o
There is a science to recreating these texts.
§
Age of manuscripts/texts.
§
Attestations in early Christian manuscripts.
§
Location of manuscripts.
- If it says, “me,” it is a continuation of Paul’s statement in 7:24 – “I am a wretched man! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
o
Paul is using himself as an example for all
Christians.
- If it says, “you,” Paul has shifted from using himself as an example and is directly stating what is meant to be inferred in the other reading.
Set you free from the law of sin and death.
- Sin and death have been closely in Romans.
o
5:12 - Therefore, just as sin came into the
world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to
all men because all sinned—
o
5:17 - For if, because of one man's trespass,
death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the
abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life
through the one man Jesus Christ.
o
6:16 - Do you not know that if you present
yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom
you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to
righteousness?
o
6:21 - But what fruit were you getting at that
time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of
those things is death.
o
6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
o
7:5 - For while we were living in the flesh, our
sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to
bear fruit for death.
- We make this connection in Baptism, too.
o
What benefits does Baptism give? It works
forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal
salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.[3]
Key questions:
- What is the law of the Spirit of life?
- What does it mean to be free?
- What does it mean to be free in Christ Jesus?
- What are the consequences of being freed from sin and death?
- What are the benefits of being freed from sin and death?
[1]
Rev. David McGee - https://www.womansday.com/life/g30243133/new-years-prayers/
[2]
Barth, Karl, A Shorter Commentary on Romans, SCM Press LTD, London, 1959, p. 88
[3]
Luther’s Small Catechism, Baptism, Second part
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