The Spirit’s Ministry
to the Believer
Romans 8:14-27
The Ministry of the Spirit in Romans 8
• The Spirit gives us life and freedom from the
body of sin (8:1-14)
• The Spirit grants us assurance of our sonship
(8:15-16)
• The Spirit provides hope for our future
adoption/redemption of our bodies (8:17-25)
(From Pastor Jon Courson)
• Our past … No Condemnation (8:1-17)
• Our future … No Separation (8:31-39)
• Our present … No Consternation (8:18-30)
The Spirit Grants Us
Assurance of Our Sonship
(8:15-17)
v. 15- “a spirit of slavery leading to fear again”
(New American Standard Bible)
(life under the law and without Christ)
…Perfect Love Casts Out Fear…
1 John 4:17-18 Love has been perfected among us in
this: that we may have boldness in the day of
judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,
because fear involves torment. But he who fears has
not been made perfect in love.
Spirit of Adoption
• Huiothesia- the placing as an {adult}
son (with full rights and privileges, with
the need to grow in maturity)
• Contrast teknon (children, offspring) with
huios (mature, adult sons)
Mark 14:36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all
things are possible for You. Take this cup away
from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what
You will.”
“If indeed we suffer with Him…”
• Physical suffering because of
persecution
• Emotional suffering due to separation
• Suffering due to life's uncertainties
• Emotional suffering due to mocking,
rejection, etc.
Suffering: scriptural support
• Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone
desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
• Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ,
not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake...
• Philippians 3:10 …that I may know Him and the power of His
resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed
to His death…
• 1 Peter 2:20-21 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your
faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if
you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this
you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that you should follow His steps...
The Spirit’s Ministry to the Believer
The Futility and Frustration of Living
In a Fallen World (8:18-22)
The Spirit’s Ministry to the Believer
The Pain and Pressure of Living with
Fallen Bodies (8:23-25)
The Spirit Helps Us In Our
Weaknesses
(8:26-27)
• proginosko- to know beforehand
• proorizo- to limit in advance, i.e. (fig.)
predetermine:—determine before, ordain,
predestinate
Those whom He “foreknew” (proginosko- to
know beforehand), He “predestined” (proorizodetermined beforehand) to be conformed to
the image of His Son
“What did He predestinate of them? Not that they should
love God. Not that they should believe; nor that some
should be saved and others damned; but that those who he
saw beforehand would love God, should be conformed to
the image of his Son. The only thing predestinated, or
foreordained, is that those who love God as revealed in
Christ shall become Christ-like in life, and like Christ in
eternity. This is the only decree in the passage.”
People’s New Testament Commentary
“Called” — kaleo- summoned by God to
salvation (Ryrie)
• Matthew 9:13 “But go and learn what this means: ‘I
desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call
the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
• Matthew 22:3 “...and sent out his servants to call those
who were invited to the wedding; and they were not
willing to come.”
“Justified” — dikaioo (from dikaios,
righteousness, just, etc.)
• Romans 3:24 ...being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...
• Luke 18:14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts
himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will
be exalted.”
“Glorified” — doxazo- to render (or
esteem) glorious, glorify, honor, magnify
•
John 17:5 “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the
glory which I had with You before the world was.”
•
Zechariah 3:3-5 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was
standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who
stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to
him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe
you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”
So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him.
And the Angel of the LORD stood by.
God Is For Us
Romans 8:31-39
Conclusion: Nothing Can
Separate Us From God’s Love!
(8:31-39)
“What then shall we say
to these things?”
FIRST QUESTION
“Who can be against us?”
SECOND QUESTION
GREAT TRUTH #1
God is for us
“He who did not spare
His own Son...”
THIRD QUESTION
GREAT TRUTH #2
He will freely give us all we need;
there are no limits to His generosity
• Answering the fear of abandonment
• Answering the fear of destitution
• Answering the problems of inadequacy
“Who shall bring a charge
against God's elect?”
FOURTH QUESTION
GREAT TRUTH #3
We are righteous, justified by God
Himself — no indictments
against us can “stick”
“Who is he who condemns?”
FIFTH QUESTION
GREAT TRUTH #4
Christ loves us and is praying for us
Hebrews 7:24-25 But He, because He continues
forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
Therefore He is also able to save to the
uttermost those who come to God through
Him, since He always lives to make
intercession for them.
“Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ?”
SIXTH QUESTION
“Shall tribulation, distress,
persecution, famine, nakedness,
peril, or sword?”
SEVENTH QUESTION
GREAT TRUTH #5
We cannot be separated from God's
love (combination of questions six
and seven)