Set Free!

In Chapter 8 Paul explains how God looks upon the mind and heart of the Christian who desires to serve and follow after Him. God sees his faith in Jesus Christ, and There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death (8:1-2).

For years mankind was under the law of sin and death. When we would want to do good, evil was present. We were bound by sin and death just as we're bound by the law of gravity. It was holding us earthbound or, more accurately, flesh-bound.

However, the law of gravity can be overcome by the proper application of certain natural laws, such as the principle of aerodynamics. Though aerodynamics doesn't negate gravity, it can overcome its force. Likewise, the application of certain spiritual laws can overcome the law of sin and death.

I'm no longer condemned by the Law of Moses, because the new law of faith operates in my life. I enter this new relationship with God through Jesus Christ and experience the life of Christ, which sets me free from the old Law. This new law of faith in Christ overcomes the effects of the old Law of condemnation.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (8:3). The Mosaic Law couldn't make me righteous, because my sinful nature prevented true obedience.

In contrast, this new law of life makes me righteous before God. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, not by us (8:4a). I no longer try to attain my righteousness by observing the Law of Moses. The Law and its righteousness is fulfilled in me, because Jesus Christ has fulfilled it for me.

Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (8:4b). The requirements for fulfilling the righteousness of the Law are met by living according to the Spirit and not walking after the flesh.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (8:5-6). Since I'm walking after the Spirit, I now live according to the things of the Spirit. With this spiritual-mindedness I have life and peace.

The two main parts of man's nature are flesh and spirit. He also possesses a consciousness, his mind, which is controlled by either his body or spirit. If he walks after the flesh, his mind is controlled by the flesh; if he walks after the Spirit, it's controlled by the Spirit.

When God created Adam, He formed the body from the dust of the earth. At first Adam's body had no life. Then God breathed into that figure "and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7c), a trinity of spirit, mind, and body.

Because God's breath was in him, man became a spiritual creature with a consciousness governed by God. Since Adam had the mind of the Spirit, he walked and communed with God in the Garden of Eden. Though he had his bodily appetites, he wasn't ruled by them. When he disobeyed God and obeyed the lust of his flesh by eating the forbidden fruit, his nature was turned around. Its order became body, soul, and spirit. The flesh took control of his mind, and he lost the consciousness of fellowship with God. Coming to the Garden to commune with him, God cried, "Adam, where are you?" Adam was hiding because he had alienated himself from God.

Even today, every man dominated by his body is alienated from God and the life of God. The mind of the flesh is death (8:6), and such a mind has no awareness of the presence or love of God. It is dead to God and the things of the Spirit.

Jesus said, "Whatever is born of flesh is flesh. To be born of the Spirit, you must be born again" (John 3:3, 6). When I'm born again, the old things pass away and all things become new. Conversion takes place by the Spirit of God, and I become as new as when God created Adam.

The order of my nature is now spirit, soul, and body, the order that God intended for man. I begin to have the mind of the Spirit, which is life. The awareness of God's presence pervades my life and I desire more of Him and the things of God. Peace with God, peace within myself, and peace with my brothers now fills me, because God has brought me back to life.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (8:5a). Jesus described the people of the world as always concerned with eating, drinking, and clothing themselves. "What shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we wear?" (Matthew 6:31).

But they that are after the Spirit do mind [have their minds set on] the things of the Spirit (8:5b). Those who are born again are absorbed with the ways of God, His love, and His Word. They seek Him first.

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (8:6-8). The carnal mind brings death, because it's in a losing war with God. The mind of the flesh doesn't yield to God's Law, since it's in rebellion. Thus it cannot please God.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness (8:9-10). We find the delivering power of the Spirit through the indwelling of Jesus Christ. What we cannot do for ourselves He does for us.

Bob Munger wrote a wonderful booklet, "My Heart Christ's Home" (Inter Varsity Press, 1954). In it he describes a Christian who invites Christ to come in, settle down, and make Himself at home in his heart. The day this fellow invited Christ into his heart was glorious. Every morning the Lord and he would rise early, sit together, plan the day, and talk in beautiful, warm fellowship. As the days went by, the Christian gradually began getting up too late to enjoy this fellowship. Seeing Jesus sitting and waiting for him, he'd say, "Lord, I'm in a hurry today. But I'll be back tomorrow." Then he'd rush out the door.

After many days passed, the man longed for real fellowship with the Lord. Early one morning he stopped by, sat down, and said, "Oh, Lord, I've missed this!" He was surprised to hear Him say, "I've missed it, too."

One day the Christian came home from work and the Lord said, "There's a horrible smell in this house. I located it in the closet upstairs, but the closet door is locked."

The man said, "I've given You the whole house. All I've kept for myself is that little closet upstairs. Why can't You just ignore it?"

"I can't live in the same house with that smell," Jesus said. "Either it goes or I go."

The man softened. "Actually, I've tried to clean that up for a long time, but I don't think I can, Lord."

The Lord said, "Will you give me the permission to clean it up for you? Just give me the key, and I'll take care of it."

The man reluctantly handed over the key. The Lord went to work. He cleaned and scrubbed until He got rid of the stink and filth in that closet. Though the Christian was unable to do the job himself, he discovered that the Lord would do it, if only he would yield. After the work was done, fellowship between the two was better than ever.

Maybe you have a locked closet in your heart. The Lord is saying, "This area of the flesh that you still serve must go." Simply give Him the key. He'll do a terrific job of cleaning the mess in that old, smelly closet.

And if Christ be in you, the body [old nature] is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (8:1-11). As Jesus was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, we also are made alive by the Holy Spirit. We have a new life, the resurrected life of Christ.

As a Christian, I need to recognize that my old nature was crucified. I'm now living according to my new nature and walking after the Spirit. With the Spirit of God dwelling in me, I'm not following after the flesh but after the Spirit.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh (8:12). I don't owe my old nature anything, because I've been freed from that bondage.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live (8:13). Who will deliver me from the deeds of the body? God has provided the plan of victory through the Holy Spirit. The disciples were promised, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). He gives us the power to live as He wants us to live, freeing us from the bondage of the flesh.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (8:14). Many people claim to be children of God; but it's not what they claim that counts, it's what they are (see I John 4:20-21). Do they follow the Spirit of God, or do they live without seeking His will?

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (8:15-16). Abba is Aramaic for "father." I've been adopted by God into His family, and His Spirit bears witness with mine that I'm His son. So, it's only natural for me to cry, "Father! Father!"

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (8:17a). God has given Christ everything because He is the Son. Becoming a child of God through Jesus Christ makes me a joint-heir of all things with Him. Jesus said, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). As a child of God, all the Father owns belongs to me, potentially.

If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (8:17b). When Moses came of age, the Egyptian throne was his for the taking. He chose "to suffer affliction with the people of God, [rather] than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Hebrews 11:25-26).

Moses could have been the Pharaoh of Egypt, spending all the years of this life in pomp and glory; or he could choose to suffer with the children of God on earth and spend eternity in the glory of God's kingdom. Moses made a wise decision. He chose the worst that the Lord had to offer, the reproach of Christ, rather than the best the world had to offer, the kingdom of man. If you were to ask him about it today, he'd say, "I made the right choice. For the past 3800 years I've been enjoying its benefits. I have no regrets!"

For enduring the reproach of Christ we'll be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (8:18). Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Corinthians 4:17). Notice the contrast between "light affliction" and "eternal weight," affliction for a "moment" and "eternal glory." Our present sufferings aren't worth comparing with the glory to be revealed.

For the earnest expectation of the creature [creation] waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (8:19). Certain egotistic Christians apply this Scripture to their own fellowships, claiming that the world is waiting for their manifestation. I can understand their self-centered feelings. When I graduated from seminary I thought the world was waiting for me, too. After years in school, I was thrilled to get my diploma, receive my assignment, and head out to save the world. I was shocked. Nobody was waiting for me. I had to bribe people to attend church by giving them lollipops. The fact is that the world isn't waiting for any group to be manifested. Besides, Paul isn't talking about such a manifestation here.

Paul explains the meaning. For the creature [referring to us] was made subject to vanity [emptiness], not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope (8:20). For His own reasons God created man with an emptiness. This spiritual void causes man to seek after God, to find Him, and to fellowship with Him. Tragically, man often tries to fill that spiritual void with the things of this world. However, his physical and emotional experiences only lead to a greater sense of emptiness.

As man exists on the three levels of body, soul, and spirit, so his needs create drives on these three levels. We're all too familiar with our bodily drives, such as air, thirst, hunger, bowel and bladder or sex. We also recognize our soulish drives for security, love, the need to be needed, etc. What man so often tries to ignore is the crying need in his spirit for a meaningful relationship with God. As the psalmist David said, "My soul longs after thee, O God" (Psalm 84:2).

As long as you're trying to fill that spiritual void in your life with the things of this world, you'll find that the inner cry for God goes on. The moment you invite Jesus Christ to come and dwell in your spirit, you'll begin to experience the fullness that God desires you to know through Him.

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they [the world around us], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (8:21-23).

Paul speaks of bringing the creation into the glorious freedom of the children of God. This doesn't mean that Christians will be manifested as sons of God taking over earthly governments and ushering in God's kingdom of righteousness and peace. Paul is saying that God will exchange my old body for a new one, and I'll be with Him when He returns in power and glory to establish the kingdom of God on earth. I'm waiting for a new body to be in perfect harmony with my redeemed spirit. Then the war against my flesh will finally be over. Oh, how I long for that day!

In I Corinthians 15:51 Paul speaks of a new revelation from God: we will not all sleep as in death, but "we shall all be changed" in a moment. This corruptible body will be changed into an incorruptible one; this mortal body will be exchanged for an immortal one. The greatest problems in my Christian life have come from the weakness of my flesh. Once I experience that glorious metamorphosis, my problems will be over. Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it (8:24-25). If this body of flesh was already perfected and free of all worldly lusts, why would I hope for deliverance? My hope is in God's promise of His future work.

As long as I'm in this body, I'll be subject to its imperfections; but there's no condemnation against me, because I'm walking after the Spirit. I love Christ, and so God doesn't impute my unrighteousness to me. He has accounted me righteous, because with my mind I'm serving the law of the Spirit, even though with my flesh I'm still stumbled and sometimes fall. My failures are painful to me just as they're painful to Him. Thank God that my anxiety will one day be over. Paul says that while we're locked in this body "we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven that mortality might be swallowed up by life" (II Corinthians 5:2,4b). Until the reality of that day, I hope and wait patiently for God to complete His work.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (8:26). One weakness of this body is a lack of knowledge about God's will in every situation. Since the purpose of prayer is to open the doors for God's will to be done, how can I pray when I don't know His will? The Spirit helps me to overcome my ignorance.

Suppose that God is freeing a Christian from his old, natural ways through a series of trials. Seeing the man suffering, I pray, "Lord, deliver him from his trials." However, the worst thing in the world for that man would be deliverance from his trials before the work of God was completed. So, I could be praying in opposition to the will of God in my brother's life.

Enter the Spirit, who "maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." To God the deep, wordless utterances of heartfelt prayer aren't unintelligible sounds, but powerful supplications. God understands them completely, for the Spirit within the believer prays according to the will of God.

Such divine intercession can seemingly insult my intelligence. After all, I want to understand the situation, but these unintelligible groanings affront my natural understanding. However, by faith I pray in the Spirit. For we're told, He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (8:27). The Spirit intercedes according to God's will, for God knows "what is the mind of the Spirit." Surely we should talk less and "groan" more!

And we know that all things work together for good (8:28a). A variation of this Scripture has become popular in many Christian circles: "We know that some things work together for good." They think that God has a purpose for some things, but not all things. "Why did God allow me to go through that difficult experience? What possible good can come from that?" Yet God's Word remains true and unchanging.

For whom do all things work together for good? For every man and woman on the street? No. To them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (8:28b). Only a child of God can have this wonderful assurance.

Romans 8:28 has sustained me through some of the most difficult experiences of my life. When everything comes apart and I don't understand the events around me, I fall back on this verse. "All things work together for good..." God has a good purpose for everything I experience, because I love Him and He has called me according to His plan. This gives me peace in chaotic circumstances and strength in the hour of great testing. How this buoys me up when my intellect is exhausted from struggling to understand. What blessed assurance for the saints of God!

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (8:29). A subject such as predestination can create quite a problem within the Church. The difficulty usually arises from pressing a truth of God to a seemingly logical conclusion.

The problem about predestination can be stated like this: "If God has already predestined those who are saved, then He must have also predestined those who are lost. In that case, why should we do anything to save the lost? Those predestined to be saved surely will be saved. And there's nothing we can do about those who are predestined to be lost. So, why worry about it? Why witness? Why support missionaries? Why pray?" See how far astray human reasoning can go on a simple truth of God.

You must have all the facts about a case in order to make a reasoned judgment, but you don't and can't know all the facts about predestination. "For whom he did foreknow" Do you have foreknowledge?

God knew in advance who would respond to His love and grace, and these He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. The example of a football game rerun might be helpful in understanding this concept. If you saw the game in person, you already know what happened. You won't get excited watching the rerun on TV, even in the tension-packed closing minutes. You know which team won.

In the Psalms Moses declared that our lives are spent as a tale that is told (Psalm 90:9b). From God's point of view our lives are like a rerun. He knows in advance every decision, response, and reaction we'll make. So, I don't understand God's predestination because I don't look at life as He does. I don't know the end from the beginning, for I only "see through a glass darkly" (I Corinthians 13:12).

The difficulty lies in trying to understand how an omnipotent God makes His choices. I hear people say that His choices aren't fair. But what do they know about it? Nothing! The ways of the Lord are beyond man's understanding, and His mind is far beyond man's ability to comprehend (Romans 11:34).

Of course I believe in predestination, since it's plainly taught in the Scriptures. The doctrine could be assumed, even if the word was never explicitly used. It's a thrilling truth that doesn't upset me at all. The fact that He chose me and began a good work in me proves that He'll continue to perform it. He wouldn't bring me this far and then dump me.

When did God choose me? When I surrendered my life to Jesus? No. When I decided to serve Him? No. When He saw that He could do some work in me? No. God chose me before He ever formed the foundations of this world (Ephesians 1:4). He established the glorious plan for my life millenniums ago. My future with Him is as good as accomplished, because He knows it'll be worked out perfectly.

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified (8:30). This verse takes me from the past to the future, showing God's complete work of predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. Although my glorification is yet to come, God speaks of it as past history. What glorious assurance is mine in Christ Jesus. God - who speaks of things before they are as though they were, because He knows all things and knows they shall be, and as far as He is concerned they are already - has spoken of my glorification. It's as certain as His Word.

What shall we then say to these things? (8:31a). I say, "Hallelujah!" I love the wonderful truth of what God has done for me.

If God be for us, who can be against us? (8:31b). God is for you. He's planned your journey through life from the beginning of the ages, and now He's working it out before your eyes.

During the early years of my Christian experience, I thought that God was against me. I imagined that He was making a list and checking it twice, and He would punish me because I hadn't been very nice. God was waiting for me to make a mistake, so He could order me out of the game. I was terrified. O what joy I found when I learned that God was for me! I rejoice because He has made all the powers of heaven to strengthen and sustain me, not to destroy me. The powers of God are working for me, and they're much greater and stronger than the powers that are working against me.

If God is for me, who can be against me? Satan can, but who is he to God? He isn't on an equal level with God. We sometimes think of him as God's opposite, but he isn't. As a created being Satan cannot be compared to God in any area. The vast disparity between the finite and the infinite defies comparison. More like the demonic equivalent of an archangel, Satan might give Michael or Gabriel a bad time (Daniel 10:13-14), but he's no match for God.

Who can be against me? The world, the flesh, and the devil are against me. But these are no match for God who helps me, strengthens me, and works to present me faultless before His glorious presence with great joy (Jude 24).

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (8:32). Here Paul encourages us by moving from the greater to the lesser. What do you need from God? "Lord, my needs are so many. How will You ever supply them?" For starters, look what He's already given you. The things that you presently need are nothing by comparison. He loves you so much that He spared not His own Son. You were redeemed not with perishable things such as silver and gold from the empty life you used to lead, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, who was slain as a lamb without spot or blemish (I Peter 1:18-19).

Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth (8:33). Is God charging me with sin? No. "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute sin" (Psalm 32:2). However, Satan accuses me day and night. He charges me with failure, incompetence, and countless horrible offenses. Yet God has justified me, and He cannot accuse me and justify me at the same time. So why should I worry?

Who is he that condemneth? (8:34a). Not God. The Holy Spirit may be convicting me of sin, but He isn't condemning me. Condemnation is the work of Satan.

What's the difference between the condemnation of Satan and the conviction of the Holy Spirit? When Satan condemns me, I want to run from God. "You've failed God so miserably and completely!" Satan says. "You have no right to ask for His help. He's tired of you and your failures. Why don't you do Him a favor and drop dead?" I often find myself agreeing with Satan and becoming alienated from God. His condemnation drives me from God. Whenever I think, "I shouldn't approach God because of what I've done," Satan is condemning me.

When the Spirit convicts me, I can't wait to come to God. The Spirit of God deals with me by drawing me to Him. "Lord, I want to confess this sin!"

"Who is he that condemneth?" Satan condemns me, people often condemn me, and I condemn myself; but none of these count. Jesus is the one who counts, and He is far from condemning me. He intercedes on my behalf.

It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us (8:34b). Jesus stands before God and says, "Father, there's Chuck. Forgive him for My sake. I paid for all his sins." Jesus never says, "Father, I'm tired of Chuck! Why don't we just shove him out?" Jesus is interceding for me, not condemning me.

Paul now bursts forth with a glorious statement. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (8:35-39). I'm tied in so tightly to God that nothing can remove me from His love.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.[1]

God loved me before the foundation of the world. He loved me when I was a wretch who hated Him and rebelled against Him. How much more does He love me now that I'm fumbling, struggling, and seeking to do my best to serve Him. Now my heart is open to Him, my desires are toward Him, and I love Him and want to serve Him. How much more will He sustain me through my weaknesses, strengthen me in my desperate hour, draw me daily to Himself, and grant me His victory within my life. The principalities and powers of darkness cannot overthrow me, because I'm more than a conqueror through Him that loves me. I belong to Jesus now and forever.

I'm sure of my relationship with God and my eternal life in Him. I have nothing to fear or to worry about. I simply cling to my Lord Jesus Christ. He has loved me and I love Him because of His love. He has filled me with His Spirit, given me His power, and strengthened me day by day. Glory to God forever and ever!

[1] From Blessed Assurance by Fanny J. Crosby.