Chapter 8: Life in the Spirit

v.1 Because in our hearts we desire to serve God, He doesn’t condemn us when we fail.

v.2 The law of sin and death is still in effect, but the new law of life in Christ Jesus supersedes the old law.

v.3–4 The law of sin and death couldn’t make us righteous, but the new law of life is fulfilled in us by Christ (not by us) as we walk after the Spirit. Through Him we’re accounted righteous.

v.5 The main concerns of the flesh are: What shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we wear?

v.6 The mind of the flesh is death; the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. As we allow the Spirit to govern our minds, we think in conformity to the will of God.

v.7–8 The flesh is in rebellion to God’s laws, so we cannot please God as long as we’re in the flesh.

v.9 We’re not in the flesh when we allow God’s Spirit to dwell in us.

v.11 The Holy Spirit brings us into the resurrected life of Christ.

v.12 We don’t owe the flesh anything!

v.13 Through the power of the Spirit, we’re enabled to put to death the deeds of the flesh.

v.15 Abba means “Father.”

v.17 Matthew 25:34.

v.18 2 Corinthians 4:17.

v.19 All of creation waits expectantly for the redemption of our bodies when we’ll finally be in a body that is in harmony with our spirit.

v.20 Vanity means “emptiness.”

v.23 “They” refers to the world around us.

v.24–25 Our hope is for that new body from God.

v.26–27 Infirmities means “weaknesses.” The purpose of prayer is never to get our will done, but to get God’s will done. It’s a waste of time to pray for things that are contrary to God’s will. Sometimes we don’t know God’s will in a certain situation; then the Holy Spirit interprets our groanings and intercedes with God for us, according to God’s will.

v.28 This beautiful verse sustains us in times of painful trials.

v.29 God predestined those He knew would respond to His love and grace. When God watches our lives, it’s as if He were watching a rerun, because He knows what we would do (Psalm 90:9). Christ was the first-born.

v.30–31 God chose us, called us, justified us, and glorified us. He is for us. The world, the flesh, and the devil are against us, but they’re no match for God.

v.33 Satan accuses us, but God justifies us.

v.34 The difference between Satan’s condemnation and the Holy Spirit’s conviction is that the condemnation makes us want to pull away from God, because we feel unworthy, while the conviction makes us want to go to God to make things right. Jesus doesn’t want to condemn us. He pleads our case for us.