Romans 8

Vs. 1-2…There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The word “sanctification” is not used in Romans chapters 6,7,8 but it is defined with the words “in Christ” (8:1).

“There is therefore”…Based on what Paul has taught them about justification (a free gift declaration of righteousness) and sanctification (a free gift “setting apart” of a person the moment they believe the gospel of Christ) (Rom. 1:7). Sanctification is a union with God’s Son whereby God sees us as being perfectly holy; as holy as His Son. It is a supernatural work by the Holy Spirit. It is a positional standing we are given; it can not be altered or lost.   

“who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”…Is Paul putting a condition on our “no condemnation” status? It sounds if we have to do something in order to maintain that “no condemnation” status. Not So! This verse is not in the context of our performance; it is in the context of our position in Christ.  Many believe this verse to be saying that “if Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all”. Therefore, if you haven’t made or are not in the process of making Jesus Lord in every area of your life, you are not saved. This is called “lordship salvation”. This teaching is tied to your performance or your behavior and conduct. Your repentance must be visible for all to see; if it is not, you are not saved, in their opinion. Rom. 4:4-5 rebukes that teaching by telling us that God justifies the “ungodly”---not those who sincerely confess their sins and purpose to serve Him the rest of their lives. It is the ungodly that God justifies. Titus 3:5-7 clearly states that our works have nothing to do with God’s salvation; it is the “renewing of the Holy Spirit”. That “renewing” is when He baptizes us into Jesus Christ… Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. If you and I could keep our “sin slate” clear after we are saved, why couldn’t God trust us to take care of it before we are saved? Paul states in Rom. 7:18 that even after he was saved there was no good thing in his flesh. Paul reminds us that he knew the difference between standing in his own righteousness and having the righteousness of Christ. (Phil. 3:9… And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:)

This phrase appears again in verse 4… That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. These two verses taken together give us the proper interpretation of the phrase “walk not after the flesh, but…” The only way that the “righteousness of the law” will ever be fulfilled in us is a result of walking after the Spirit; not trying real hard to overcome sin. It is about position not performance. (Rom. 6:11…Likewise reckon (not perform) that you are dead). This is the doctrine of thinking; it is a mindset that is true about you. You are dead to sin (not sinning) Rom. 6:14.

Remember also what Paul told the carnal Corinthians in I Cor. 6:11…And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. The “unrighteous” commit all kinds of evil from day to day but so were “the righteous” Corinthians committing evil deeds. So what is the point Paul is making? He does not commend them because they had found a way to behave better or that they had turned over a new leaf in life. It is the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives that made them different than the “unrighteous”. Paul reminds them that justification and sanctification are gifts that have nothing to do with one’s performance; justification and sanctification are gifts given to the righteous that are based on Christ’s performance. If our production, merit, or performance was a part of the requirement for salvation we would never “inherit the kingdom of God”. Even after we are justified our conduct fluctuates so much so that we can not “do the things that we ought” (Rom. 7: 15). The Corinthian’s behavior was sinful, but in spite of that, rather than rebuke them and demand that they confess and repent of those sins, he reminds them that they ARE washed, ARE justified and ARE sanctified. This confirms that the Corinthians’ performance (and every believer’s performance) has nothing to do with justification or sanctification. The Holy Spirit gives these eternal grace gifts to us; reminding grace believers of those gifts is the proper motivation to carry out our ministry of reconciliation as an ambassador for Christ. Sanctification is not a process, it is a position; a past tense accomplishment for those who believe the gospel of Christ.

Religious people do not give up their law keeping requirements easily. Jesus warned the Jewish believers in His day about this… But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (Matt. 10: 17) So it is in our day, talk against law in a church and they will scourge you in their church. Israel failed to consider what the law had failed to teach them about themselves and their inability to live up to God’s standard of righteousness through performance. Stephen pointed this out them in Acts 7:41…they rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Has men and women learned anything from this in the dispensation of grace? No! “Christians” still hang on to their law program and insist that “Christians” can live up to God’s law program rather than depend on Him to deal graciously with us. This is what Paul calls “walking after the flesh”. He is not talking about our manner but our mindset. “Walking after the Spirit” is always linked (in the natural mind) to righteous living---it should not. It is about being identified with Christ’s faithfulness not our own. Walking after the Spirit means to recognize the source and the means by which our righteousness is attained. It is not about our righteous conduct; it is about Christ’s righteous Cross work.

Vs. 3-6… 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: [4] That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] 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. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Paul follows up on the thought he established in vs. 1-2. To walk after the flesh is to believe that your promises and performance is required in order to attain or maintain your acceptance with Him. It is to assign righteous credit to your fleshly conduct. This is the result of a list of do’s and don’ts (Moses list or ones you make up).

“God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh”…Sin was condemned in Jesus’ flesh at Calvary. The key to the grace believer’s life is not about trying to produce righteous fruit for God; it is learning to “mortify” the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13)  (get your thinking right about Who and what you can rely on in life---Christ’s faithfulness, not ours (Rom. 3:22)). As we mortify the deeds of the body, the Holy Spirit can then be free to produce His fruit in us. We have defined “mortifying the deeds of the body” as a sincere effort to improve our flesh or practice. That is not what he is talking about. The flesh can not be “Christianized” or perfected. The more time we spend on improving our flesh, the more we will end up minding the things of the flesh. Paul says this is not possible… For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (vs. 5). Is our mind on our performance or our position? The Holy Spirit is free to produce fruit in us if we think right about our position.

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”…Paul says that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled IN US not by us. God wants us to cease focusing on our performance and focus on our position. You can’t produce the fruit of holy living by trying. The Holy Spirit can produce His fruit in our lives if we mortify the deeds of the flesh (render them dead). Don’t count this as righteousness before God. The Holy Spirit will perfect our practice as we think correctly about righteousness. Paul said he tried to perfect his practice in Rom. 7 and he said “he died”. The more Paul got after his flesh, the more he found himself minding the things of the flesh and forgetting the performance of Christ.

Vs. 7-11… Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [10] And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] 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.

These verses are teaching us the FUNCTIONAL VIEW toward thinking about our lives as it relates to a relationship with God.  In Rom. 7: 8…For without the law sin was dead. In what sense is sin dead? Functionally! Without the law sin could not operate at its peak capacity. When Paul applied the w principle for the purpose of perfecting his flesh, sin became functionally alive and Paul became functionally dead… “I died” Paul said (vs. 9). He didn’t die physically or spiritually. However, functionally he was unable to change, alter or “Christianize” his flesh into something that God could accept. Paul was totally incapable of producing the righteousness by fleshly performance required by God---both before and after salvation. Neither Paul nor the law could produce righteousness, both before or after salvation. Righteousness comes by way of a gift based on our POSITION in Christ Jesus. Therefore, our FLESH (before and after salvation) is unable to perform in an acceptable manner that pleases God. Now when the indwelling Holy Spirit becomes a vital part of our lives FUNCTIONALLY something happens (8:11)…the Holy Spirit can produce that which God demands. A renewed mindset is essential for the believer---we must see the futility of our flesh producing anything acceptable to God.

Vs. 12-13…Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. [13] 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.

Verse 13 is once again talking about functional death. If we think that conforming to certain rules and regulations gains favor with God, we will die. We must change our mind about the Holy Spirit being the only One who can bring about the necessary transformation God desires. To state this is to highly offend the pride nature of “Christians”. They exalt the need for “Christians” to get busy for God. They emphasize the work done BY US rather than the work IN US (8:4). According to Titus 2:8-9, grace teaches us how we ought to conduct our lives as believers.  “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Phil. 1:6) Trust God to do in you what He what He desires from you as you focus on your position in the Son. When you do this…Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (I Cor. 4:5)

Vs. 14-17… For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. [15] 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. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

It is crucial that we understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the dispensation of grace because His ministry in prior dispensations is different. Once again, failure to rightly divide is at the heart of confusion among “Christians” about what the Holy Spirit is doing today and how He operates in the church, the body of Christ. I can not think of a subject in the Bible that has caused more division and creates more superstition than the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Remember, it is not enough to be Biblical and Scriptural on a matter---we must also be dispensational.

1. The Holy Spirit is responsible for writing the Word of God. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (II Pet. 1:21) He uses His truth about the reconciling work of Christ on the cross to regenerate a person…“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”  (Tit. 3:5).  If it were not for the Bible, how would we know the truth about anything in life? Paul points to this in I Cor. 2:11-16… For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.[14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [15] But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. [16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.  Where do we have the mind of Christ? In a rightly divided Bible!

2. The Holy Spirit leads every legitimate believer in the dispensation of grace by means of the rightly divided word of truth…For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Rom. 8:14) “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” (I Thess. 2:13) Religion will never tell you this; therefore, “Christians” are left to scour the Bible to find some authoritative verse or method they are comfortable with to determine God’s will about life’s decisions. The words of Jesus to the woman at the well in John 4:22 are appropriate… Ye worship ye know not what: “Christians” are totally confused about what it means to be led by the Spirit. In Time Past Jewish believers were lead by the Holy Spirit in the sense that He was the author of the Law of God written specifically to the nation of Israel. (Josh. 1:8 & Psa. 1:1-2) In connection with His ministry to Israel, He worked to relieve His people from their suffering situations. He fixed the “outer man” in Israel. He dwelt in the Temple in Time Past. That is no longer true today… Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (I Cor. 3:16) Where do people believe that God dwells today? At the church house; that is why we call it “the sanctuary”. To that kind of thinking Paul says… What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (I Cor. 6:19)

3. The Holy Spirit indwells all believers today… 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. (Rom. 8:11) This ministry is to strengthen the believer with fortified grace doctrine in the inner man… That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (Eph. 3:16). In Time Past the Holy Spirit would come UPON certain individuals for a certain purpose that God had in mind. (Judges 3:9-10); But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) This Holy Spirit empowerment was for a temporary period of time (Judges 14:5-6 & Judges 16:20) 

4. The Holy Spirit seals or secures the salvation of believers… In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Eph. 1:13). Baptist like to talk about “once saved always saved”; the Bible says “once sealed always saved”. The reason there is so much insecurity about salvation among “Christians” today is because Satan’s ministers of righteousness are not ambassadors of reconciliation. They proclaim a gospel of works in order for one to be saved and then another list of things to do after “salvation”. This is why Paul says… “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear.” (Rom. 8:14) Failing to live up to “Christian standards” (water baptism, tithing, attending church, etc) can result in God’s chastisement (according to religion) and therefore “Christians” are afraid not to live by performance. The “Pharisaical teaching” being proclaimed during Jesus earthly ministry to Israel is a model of what is being proclaimed by “Christians” today---if you do enough good things and live in a certain fashion, you are ready for the Kingdom of Heaven. How do we know that was being taught? The “rich young ruler” came to Jesus and expressed what he had been taught by the religious leaders of Israel. He thinks that if he faithfully obeys the commandments he would be permitted entrance into the Kingdom. By coming to Jesus to “cover all his bases” with regard to salvation shows he was unsure of his salvation. He also had a misunderstanding about who or what is “good”. God alone is good. Furthermore he revealed his misunderstanding about the law being a schoolmaster to bring Jews to Christ. The ruler thought his righteousness earned him heaven; rather than recognizing he needed God’s righteousness. He was thinking the way his parents and religious leaders taught him and he had the privilege one day of meeting the One who knew the truth. When Jesus invited the ruler to “come follow him” he went away sorrowful. (Luke 18:22-23). The ruler was not willing to “renew his mind” by following Jesus and learning from Him. Apparently he could not abandon the religious training of his youth. Noting has changed today.

Vs. 18… 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.  Don’t focus on your suffering; focus on what it is working for us (8:28). Despite all the “fake” healers, all the physicians, all the medicines and drugs and all the prayers of God's people, the death rate still remains 100%. We all groan and travail in pain "together, until now," and there will be no change until the "glorious manifestation of the sons of God." Lest anyone think that sufferings do not apply to believers today, let us refer to verse 23: "And not only they, 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.”  In Time Past Israel had the prayer of faith to change their circumstances and heal their sicknesses… Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (Jam. 5:14-15) Today we have the Holy Spirit praying for us and we also have the prayer of peace… Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:6-7) Paul is going to tell the Roman believers that the “fix” for our old tent is to patiently wait for the “new tent”… And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.   (II Cor. 12:9) God’s purpose today is not to fix up our old tent. Grace will see you through till…

Vs. 24-25… 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? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. We are saved from despair over our infirmities and the sufferings of this present world by the blessed "hope" of "the redemption of our body". Therefore we "with patience wait for it". Thank God, we wait for something far better than the mere healing of our sick body. We wait for glorified bodies.

"For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself”  (Phil. 3:20,21).

This section of Scripture will tell us about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer during the dispensation of grace. Our union with Jesus Christ at the point of our belief of the gospel of Christ by way of our Holy Spirit baptism into the death of Christ results in our sanctification---we are positioned in Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:3-4) (I Tim. 6:12-15…our commission is to show the Headship of Jesus Christ).

In context this is not talking about behavior of the believer; he is talking about ALL BELEIVERS have access to the leading of the Holy Spirit. To live after the flesh is to think that you can live up to God’s expectations through commandments or steps of action. It is a matter of thinking that results in victory or defeat in the believer’s life. When we think right about our ability to perform up to God’s standard of righteousness before God and focus upon who God has made you to be in Christ, then the Holy Spirit can produce His fruit in our lives and we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Your spiritual life did not come by way of performance and neither does your practical life of righteousness come by way of performance. It is “through the Spirit” that we can mortify the deeds of the body. How do we do this? We must “reckon” (render in our thinking) that our flesh is dead (6:11 & 8:13). Reckon the flesh to be utterly useless (put on the dung heap) before and after salvation (Phil. 3:8-9). Positionally you are not in the flesh; but in the Spirit. Christ can not count on our performance as the means of our righteousness before God (either to attain or maintain righteousness). Trust solely in the sin resolving cross work of Christ. 

Every believer in the dispensation of grace is indwelt by the Holy Spirit…Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (I Cor. 3:16)  No belierver has any more of the Holy Spirit than another believer. However, not all believers will allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in their lives.  

So what does it means to be led by the Sprit of God? The Holy Spirit leads all who have been baptized into the death of Jesus Christ. It is not a question of who the Holy Spirit is leading; the real question is who is following the leading of the Holy Spirit? Does this leading come by way of feeling or counseling or conscience? NO! It comes by way of THE WORD HE (the Holy Spirit) AUTHORED!!! Religious leaders have a field day with this phrase “led by the Spirit”. It is used to manipulate people to give their money and to “partner” with the “man of God” to get God’s work done here on earth. They tell us that “God has given them a vision” and that “they have an anointing of the Holy Ghost”. If we will join with them, God will provide you with a 30, 60 or 100 fold blessing (Mark 4:20). This definition of “the leading of the Spirit” is pure 100% USDA certified baloney. Since people do not study the Word rightly divided today, they are easy pickings for religious hucksters. They are using God’s Word to fill their pockets… Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (Titus 1:11) These “preachers” act like fools in the pulpit and then call their foolishness “the anointing of the Holy Spirit”. Most people believe in people’s supernatural stories more than God’s Word. Doctrine must trump emotion…“For we walk by faith, not by sight”. (II Cor. 5:7)

In previous dispensations God did use sight to show His leading to individuals and the nation of Israel… And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen… And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:24 &26) The casting of lots was a method God used to SHOW religious leaders His will in a matter. (Lev. 8:5-8) Satan is in the business of counterfeiting the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (II Cor. 11:4) He is warning of doctrinal deception. Why would God tell us not to live by sight? Perhaps because in the dispensation of grace God knew that Satan would pour out his lying wonders and lead people astray… Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (II Thess. 2:9-10) Emotions trump doctrine in people and that is why the Pentecostals are filling the largest auditoriums around the Country today. When Paul warns Timothy that... “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;[4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Tim. 4:3-4) “Itching ears” means “stirring the emotions”. Satan can perform “miraculous manifestations” therefore, believe nothing you see.

In time past the Holy Spirit would come upon someone but would leave if disobedience occurred. (I Sam. 11:6; 16:14) The law was designed to lead him but he did not obey.

The “leading of the Holy Spirit” is available for all believers today; however, all believers may not be following that lead. The leading of the Holy Spirit is not contingent on the following of the believers. The leading of the Spirit is constant and ongoing. Most believers wait till a crisis comes in our lives and then we seek the leading of the Holy Spirit. This is unbiblical thinking. For instance, here is the leading of the Holy Spirit regarding “the ministry”… And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (II Cor. 5:18)

The Holy Spirit is not leading us today by prayer related inner peace or feelings. This is not a reliable way to determine God’s will in a matter. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7) Paul is saying that in every circumstance (it is not a good one in context) God’s peace will keep you moving forward in spite of the bad circumstance. In other words, follow the road map even though you might “feel” you are going in the wrong direction… For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (I Thess. 2:13)

Paul has told us that the Holy Spirit is leading ALL who have trusted in the cross-work of the Lord Jesus Christ to have settled God’s justice where the sins of THE WORLD are concerned. The issue for mankind is no longer sin but whether THE SINNERS OF THE WORLD WILL BELEIVE the fact that the death of Christ is TOTALLY sufficient to satisfy God’s justice concerning our sins. (II Cor. 5:18-21) This is what Paul calls THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL … According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (I Tim. 1:11) If you believe that the issue of sin or sins (past, present or future) are still on the table of God’s justice and therefore in need of further resolution then you have not believed Paul’s gospel. To continue to insist that God’s justice has not been resolved where all the sins Christ died for is to deny the truth of the Gospel. Failure to come to grips with the truth of II Cor. 5:18-21 means a person either rejects what they do understand about these verses or they do not understand what the verses say. One does not become a member of the body of Christ through some mystical, emotional experience and later on down the road grow into the truth of Paul’s gospel (many believe that). God is not going to save you by a message that you do not understand and then teach you the message that supposedly saved you. Simply repeating the words…”I believe that Christ died for my sins” does not save you. A person must understand what he is being asked to believe if salvation is to be the result. Yet “Christians” will insist that a person is saved even if they do not understand what the cross-way Christ accomplished where their sins are concerned. Paul tells us that the Gospel of Christ IS the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).  Paul warns us that “the god of the world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not” (II Cor. 4:4). What are the lost “blinded” to? How the work of Christ on the Cross applies to the world. That is the ministry of reconciliation that the world needs to hear. We are not to tell the lost that God can take away their sins; we are to tell them that He has taken away their sins. The doctrine of reconciliation does not make a person heaven-bound. The imputation of the righteousness of Christ makes a person heaven-bound at the moment one believes what Christ did about the sins of the world at Calvary. Our mission is not about getting people to ask Jesus to become their Saviour; Jesus has already made that decision on the Cross before you were ever born. It is very simple---we are to believe that Christ has resolved the issue of sin for us. He resolved ALL SIN!!!  Will you accept that message or reject it? Why can’t men see this simple gospel truth? Because of the untruths propagated by Satan’s ministers of righteousness for the purpose of hiding the gospel from men’s eyes. Satan’s message “sounds good” but it ignores the core of the gospel of Christ.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in this dispensation of grace is crucial to understand and rightly divide. He is not giving us signs to follow but doctrines to believe.  

1. Regeneration. The Holy Spirit illuminates or penetrates the minds of those who are willing to look at Paul’s gospel and understand what a “new creature” is all about and how to become one (II Cor. 5:17).  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;[6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;  (Titus 3:5-6) Now what kind of “washing” is Paul telling us about? Is it the washing of water baptism? No. It is explained in Ephesians 5: 25-26… Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, This washing has nothing to do with water or properly ordained men of God. It is a washing of living water---the Word of Truth, rightly divided---that washes away the thinking that men’s performance as a basis of right standing before God and religious rituals has been taken away

2. Direction…The saints have choices to make once they are saved. This has to do with the character and conduct in this age of grace of believers… Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Rom. 16:25). The Holy Spirit does not speak to us through our feelings (peace from prayer) or circumstances; it is the “revelation of the mystery” that stabilizes the believer. God has dispensed to the world all that He wants us to know and that would assist believers in making choices IN PARTICULAR AREAS. Does God care about who your doctor is? Does He care if you marry a blond or brunette? Or does He leave those choices up to the believer based on sound thinking and a willingness to accept the consequences of those choices? Certainly every believer should desire that God will be pleased with his/her choices, but He is not micro-managing those choices we make. However, He does have a will about certain issues of life and they are non-negotiable. “Christians” are consumed with the minor issues and ignorant or unbelieving of the weightier maters. The Holy Spirit is leading believers today through the Word of Truth, rightly divided, that He authored.

What are we to do when the adversities of life crash in on us? Can we pray them away? No! The answer is found in Phil. 4: 9… Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  Paul’s life as a saint was one big series of adversities. He faced them all. So how did Paul deal with these circumstances? Could he pray them away? (Matt. 17:20) No! Rom. 8:18-23 assures us that suffering is common to all in this dispensation. So what did Paul do about unavoidable troubling situations? Assess the situation at hand and reason out the source of the problem. People problems are the thorniest. They generally arise from our unwillingness to prefer others ahead of ourselves…Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; (Rom. 12:10) The “all things work together for good” in 8:28 is not a reference to the Holy Spirit but to the suffering circumstances that saints encounter from time to time. We must know God’s purpose in order for the circumstances to work together for good. The purpose is for the Holy Spirit to teach us about “adoption” (vs. 15). This “Spirit of adoption” means we know God’s will in this age of grace and we will be prepared in eternity to accomplish and enjoy the heavenly places fully (vs. 17). There is a sense in which we are “waiting for the adoption” (vs. 23). This means we need to get busy learning how to be an adult son because you must understand some things about God’s will before you can operate like an adult son. Otherwise, we remain children of God. Children aren’t interested in understanding their parents will; they just live from day to day and are oblivious to any serious thinking. Psa. 40:8…I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. The mindset of a good adult son is doing the will of the father. 

 

Vs. 26-27…"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. And 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.

While there is "one Mediator between God and men" (I Tim. 2:5) with regard to salvation---the Man, Christ Jesus; we have two intercessors…“Who is he that condemneth? 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”. Verse 26 informs us that the Holy Spirit also intercedes for the believer. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us with respect to daily living.   

God has given us His Spirit who, dwelling within the believer, "maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”.   It appears that the "likewise" refers to the Spirit's groanings, taking us back to vs. 22 & 23…"whole creation groaneth," and "even we ...groan within ourselves," so "likewise the Spirit also makes unutterable groanings for us. It also could refer to vs. 16. In either case, it is clear that the Holy Spirit really loves us.

“for we know not what we should pray for as we ought”… So with the intercession of the Spirit in our behalf we are assured that God Himself is deeply and personally interested in our weaknesses and concerned that we pray correctly with requests that He can grant for our good. This explains Phil. 4:6-7 where we find instructions on prayer during the present dispensation: "Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God AND...." And" what? "And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”? NO! "and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Here is ample proof that God is not deaf to the cries of His people in this evil age. He urges them to pour out all their hearts to Him. There is nothing about which He does not wish to hear, for He'll work it all out for your good.

We are not to pray like the importunate widow… Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. (Luke 18:2-7) Nor according to Matt. 21:22… And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. or Matt. 18:19… Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. We have a better prayer promise than that…Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Eph. 3:20-21)

Vs. 28… “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

This is the second thing believers should know. We have already been told…“We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (vs. 22). Believers should be greatly comforted by these two truths since we DON’T KNOW WHAT we should pray for.  

This verse is also a good introduction to the great dispensational truths of Romans chapters 9, 10 & 11. Paul is going to explain what happened to God’s special purpose for the nation of Israel. This is valuable information for the Church, the body of Christ to know in order to faithfully live out our “calling”.

This calling is in accordance to His purpose which is spelled out in detail in Eph. 3:9-11… And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: [10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, [11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Vs. 29-30… 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. [30] 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.  

 

“For whom he did foreknow”…Like a medical doctor, God could foresee the consequence of man’s sin and thereby order a remedy. The doctor is not responsible for the condition but he is responsible to make a prognosis.

“he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son:…Predestinate does not mean God is picking and choosing the saved ones. It means to determine what believers are to be conformed to---Jesus Christ. This is in the context of suffering. God has pre-decided that believers will conform a believer to His Son. God will change on this matter.

Does His foreknowledge here refer to the mere fact that He knew beforehand what decision we would make about salvation? I do not believe so! If that were true then God would predestinate people on the basis of what He knew men would do. In essence then man's actions would govern God's! Verse 29 does not tell us that God knew something or everything about us; it says He foreknew us. To understand this verse we must bear in mind that in Scripture to know a person, or group of persons, is to recognize, to have regard for, or interest in, or a close acquaintance with. The following Scriptures demonstrate this… “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2); "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me ye that work iniquity”. (Matt. 7:23); "ye have known God, or rather are known of God.”  (Gal. 4:9). Obviously God knows every individual He creates; however, the “foreknowledge” Paul is explaining has a specific and limited meaning in context. We know that not all people of the world are going to be conformed to the image of His Son.  Verses 29-30 present the method by which God leads His people, step by step, from foreknowledge to glory. It is worth noting that both verses speak of these actions taken by God as a past action. He sees us already glorified in Christ.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved), And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:4-6)

Vs. 31-32…What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? [32] 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?

God has "saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began”. (II Tim. 1:9).

It is because those who love God and are "the called according to His purpose"---He works all things for their good. It is on this basis alone that we can say with confidence: "If God be for us, who can be against us?”  This should not harden our hearts to what God has said about it. Rather than questioning these truths and minimizing "the glory of His grace," let us stand amazed and grateful that He has saved us.

Vs. 33-34… Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. [34] Who is he that condemneth? 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…Here is a fourfold assurance for wavering believers of our eternal security in Christ:

1."Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? "It is God that justifieth"   and this is what really counts

2. "Who is He that condemneth?" "It is Christ That Died". He paid the penalty for our sins that we might not be condemned.

3. "Yea, rather, that is risen again". Rom. 4:25 tells us that as our Lord died to pay the debt of our sins, He arose again to prove that the debt payment was acceptable to God. Who, then, can condemn us?

4. "Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us". How can we be condemned while God's precious Son, our Savior, appears in His presence in our behalf?

What blessed assurance for the believer who has to live in a groaning world! Satan accuses, the Law condemns, and our hearts acknowledge that daily we sin in thought, in word and in deed. But our glorious Lord defeated Satan at the Cross, making a show of him openly (Col. 2:15), and as to the Law, He took that out of the way, "nailing it to His Cross" (Col. 2:14). As to the sins our hearts are continually aware of, has not God reconciled the world by the death of Christ at the Cross.

Does this “pure grace” promote lax conduct in the believer? No! In fact God's infinite grace to us offers the greatest possible incentive to holy living; an incentive that the Law could not possibly provide. Let us repent of trying to tell God what we think will promote more godly or more careless conduct among His people! He says that it is His grace that "teaches," or disciplines us to live "soberly, righteously and godly in this present world" (Tit. 2:11,12).

Vs. 35-39…Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] 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.

There are Pauline verses that appear to be saying (out of context) that a believer can become unsaved. Let’s examine some of them and see if a believer can be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

“For I am persuaded”…One of the greatest persuasions a believer will ever come to is the security of salvation.

• Gal. 5:4 appears to be saying that a believer can lose salvation… Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. What sin does a believer have to commit that would result in a believer being kicked out of the family of God? If the doctrine of reconciliation is true, how many of your sins were forgiven at Calvary? In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Eph. 1:7) His blood is the payment; the forgiveness of sins is the result; and the riches of his grace is the standard on which it all rests. So what does Paul mean when he says Christ is become of no effect unto you…ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:1 tells us to stand fast in liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and do not go back to the law program which is a program of bondage. Anything that is not Christ or anything that adds to Christ’s work on the Cross is weak, beggarly and has you in bondage… But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? (Gal. 4:9) Christ is our all in all. To fall from grace is to confuse or replace the finished work of Christ in my thinking. It means that the doctrines of reconciliation, justification and sanctification are twisted by religious teachers and reverts back to performance program.
• II Tim. 2:12… If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: Those who believe a believer can lose salvation points to the fact that creatures can’t separate us from God’s love but God is not a creature; therefore a believer can lose salvation. Verse 11 states that THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING (the statement is full of grace doctrine---vital information)! I Thess. 3:10… Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Paul wants to get back to them so he can educate them further in grace doctrine. Grace doctrine is what perfects a believer. Now Paul gives us a series of “IF’S” in II Tim. 2:11,12,13. One thing is related to another. Verse 11 is related to Rom. 6:1-10. There is an event that happened that changed our identity and made us “dead to sin” (not sins). Our identity is related to the “old man”; our propensity is related to our sin nature. These are two different things. What is the faithful saying IF we be dead with Christ---we SHALL live with Him. Sin can never destroy our relationship with Jesus Christ. Why? Because He died unto sin once and we have died with Him; therefore sin can not destroy our relationship. Now if verse 12 is contradicting verse 11 God is confusing us. He is not. Verse 11's context is our identifying with Christ (justification). Verse 12 is related to “the sufferings of this present time” (Rom. 8:18). Phil. 3:10… That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; The only way to fellowship in his sufferings is to SUFFER! If you let the truth of Christ live in your body---you will suffer. However, you will reign with Him in the heavenly places. Reigning as a believer is a choice. “If we deny him”---what is the context of this statement? If we deny him in the area of suffering, He will deny us. Deny us what? Reigning! I Cor. 3:14-15… If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. [15] If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.  What will be lost at the judgment seat---a reward. What is being reviewed at this judgment? According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [12] Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; [13] Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. So what is in view here? Not a person’s soul destiny (heaven or hell); it is the doctrine that we have built into our lives. Did we follow the instructions of grace doctrine or were we building according to another man’s instructions. How will it be reviewed? By the “fire” of God’s Word. (Jer. 23:29… Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? ) So God will deny us reigning with Him because we did not follow the blueprint. Why would God deny the believer the right to reign with Him? Because there is no grace doctrine in you to reign in a position with Him. It is not because God is disappointed in you. Grace doctrine is not operational in you---therefore you do not have the capacity to reign with Him. Verse 13… If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Certainly if we believe not, we will lose our salvation; no! Because it is not about us; it is about Christ. (Eph. 5:30… For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.)
• Eph. 5:1-5; Gal. 5: 19-21; I Cor. 6:9-10; Religion teaches us that if you commit those sins as a believer, you will not be allowed entrance into heaven and if you allow those sins in your life without repentance of them, you are proving that you were not saved in the first place. This is attaching salvation to our conduct rather than the conduct of Jesus at the Cross. Ephesians. 5:1 tells us to get in line with what God is doing---being followers of God (not pastors, teachers, or religious men, etc.)

1.