To appreciate what Paul is saying in Romans 8:5-17, a quick review of what’s he’s said so far is helpful. In chapters 1-4, Paul has been concerned with showing us God’s fulfillment of the promises to Abraham through the gospel of Jesus.That’s a mouthful, but it lays down the foundation for Romans by showing us how in Jesus Christ God has been faithful to His promises—His righteousness has been validated for all to see.
But the cross does more than provide humanity with the way of salvation—it also “saves” God in the sense that sin is not only forgiven—it is forgiven in a just manner that doesn’t compromise God’s character or undermine His law so that He can be “just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus” (3:26).
Paul builds on this in chapters 4-8 as he shows the new creation moving toward glorification. Adam is the old humanity of sin and death, while Christ represents the new creation of grace and life (5). We become part of that new creation when we join Jesus in baptism and are immersed into His death and raised with Him to a new life (6). We are no longer under the law of sin and death (7), but under the grace of Jesus where there is no condemnation (8). Truly we are new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) moving toward the glorification promised by God in 8:18-25.
1. This new creation is characterized by life in the Spirit (v. 9-11). Paul has spoken of the Spirit just 4 x’s in the first 7 chapters, but he mentions Him 22 x’s in Romans 8—he’s clearly trying to tell us something!
The same Spirit that was “hovering over the waters” in Genesis 1:2 and being used by God to bring light and life to our planet is doing the same for us. Listen to what Paul has to say:
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
We have life now, but the Spirit also points to our coming glorification.
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 because of his Spirit who lives in you.
2. We have an obligation to the Spirit (v. 12-13).
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
Since we receive life from the Spirit, we have an obligation to live life through the Spirit. Especially helpful is his statement that “if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” I know of nothing more helpful when struggling with some kind of sin, than to ask God, through the Spirit, to help us put it to death.
This not only provides us with the power we need—it’s the correct process. Too many times, we focus on changing the behavior (i.e., treating the symptom) and ignore the root cause of that behavior—a sinful attitude or heart. “Putting to death” steers us toward dealing with both the fruit and root of our sin.
If we can enlist the Spirit’s aid in putting to death the misdeeds of the body, does it make sense to do anything else? If you want to put a sin in your rearview mirror—this is how you do it.
3. We should focus on the Spirit (v. 5-8).
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
Paul makes it simple: what you think about, you bring about. You set your mind on the flesh, and you’ll live that way. You set your mind on the Spirit, and you’ll live that way. Flesh brings death and the Spirit brings life and peace. Flesh is hostile to God and cannot please Him.
And how do we set our minds on what the Spirit desires? We spend time consistently in His word, with His people, and in prayer. In other words, we feed our faith.
4. We are to be led by the Spirit (v. 14-17).
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 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.
Those led by the Spirit are children of God. And how does the Spirit lead us? We’re told in v. 7 that, “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law.” The Spirit desire is just the opposite—we submit to God’s law. This is what it means to be led by the Spirit (v. 14).
This isn’t just common sense, it’s biblical sense. And while you can certainly know the Bible and not be a Spirit-led person, but you can’t be a Spirit-led person apart from God’s word.
When we base things upon God’s word (rather than our emotions, moods, or circumstances), we stand on something solid. In this manner, the Spirit of sonship enables us to speak to our Father in the most intimate, assured terms (v. 15-16). Experiences are fine; experiencing the word is better.
As we travel down the road of faith, we can see the Spirit’s fruit develop in our lives. It’s not our fruit—we’re just the soil out of which it grows. Nonetheless as we see patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control and the like coming into our lives, we know we’re on the right track because these are the markers of the Spirit’s activity in our lives (8:13-14).
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 