Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ROMANS 8:1-4 NIV
The Spirit assures us that God will never change his mind about us
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ROMANS 8:1 NIV
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. PSALM 103:10-12 NIV
Let’s not insult Jesus by carrying our guilt that he crucified.
The Spirit liberates us from the power of sin
Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ROMANS 8:2-3 NIV
Sin is not just an act that we do but a power we’re under.
The Spirit empowers us to do what God expects us to do
In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ROMANS 8:4 NIV
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. ROMANS 13:8 NIV
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
Walking signifies…
Path: We follow the Spirit’s power not our will power
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. ROMANS 8:5 NIV
Progress: We see such little growth because we think so little of the Spirit
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. ROMANS 8:11 NIV
Place: Our destination is the love of God
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither 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. ROMANS 8:35-39 NIV
My Notes
Personal Reflection Guide
Find a place where you can be alone with God. Maybe take a walk or sit in a quiet place where you will be uninterrupted. Take some deep breaths and allow your mind and heart to attend to God and his love for you. When you’re ready, begin a conversation with God about where he wants to empower you to freedom from sin. Talk to God about those particular sins that hold back your progress. What keeps you tied down? What keeps you from living more fully in the love of God? How do those struggles impact your everyday life? Then, talk with God about how he wants to set you free to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Ask him to inspire and encourage you in these areas. What does freedom to live in the Holy Spirit look like in your everyday life? What does it look like for you to cooperate with God in these areas where you’ve struggled? Allow God to inspire your imagination and give you his redemptive vision for you. Give yourself some time and space to sit in God’s love for you, marinating in it, as he ministers to your soul. And, over the course of the next few days, return to this experience. And, if you feel so inclined, share God’s vision for you with a close friend who will both honor that and pray that for you.
Discussion Questions
- What have you been learning about yourself, God or others in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
- When have you seen something inside yourself that needed to change, but you were unable to change it? What feelings did you experience as you tried to change? What did you do as a result?
- Read Romans 8:1. As you look at the way you live your life, what parts tempt you to think God will change his mind about his grace for you? What do you feel, knowing that he won’t?
- Continue reading Romans 8:2-3. In what practical ways do you see sin as not simply an act we commit, but rather a power we are under? What specifically has the Spirit done to set you free from that power?
- Continue reading Romans 8:4. As you look at your choices over the last month, on a scale of 1-10, what number would you rate your choices as it comes to following the Spirit vs your sinful nature? What do you need to do about it?
- Continue reading Romans 8:5. We tend to think about the things we allow into our eyes and ears. What is one practical thing you can do this week to either listen to or watch things that help you follow Jesus?
