Romans 8

Romans 8

H: ⁵ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

E:         Paul was explaining that our flesh leads us in places that we never thought we would go. When we live according the flesh our desires are just for that, the flesh. When we live according to the Spirit our desire is for Him and to do His will, and this gives us life and peace.

A:        The battle between the flesh and the Spirit is a battle that everyone faces. Paul was no exception to this and neither are we. We may have the perfect intentions to help someone else, but our flesh takes over and we either fail to help or don’t do all that we could have. According to the scripture, when we set our minds on the things of the flesh it becomes death to us. On the other hand, when we set our minds on the things of the Spirit we have life and peace!

R:        Lord help me to live according to Your Spirit, and not rely on my fleshly desires. Help me to test how I “feel” to make sure it lines up to Your Spirit! ~ Amen

Bryan Hughes

Romans 7

Scripture: Romans 7:14–17 (NKJV)

Highlight  14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it isgood. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Explain:  Paul is explaining why we are no longer bound to the law. It is because the law is powerless to help us and can only condemn us. The logical question might, then, be: Who needs the law? If the law only condemns us, let’s just ditch the law and all will be ok. But that’s not true at all. Actually, we desperately need the law. Without it, we would still be sinful, but we would not know it. With it, we can see our sin, but we are powerless to do anything about it. The only answer, as we see in v25, is Jesus Christ. His redemption forgives our transgression of the law and gives us the power to obey through His Spirit.

Apply:We must preach the law and constantly confront ourselves with its demands, not to be justified by keeping it, but to see our sinfulness and turn to God. This is what is missing in many churches. We preach the love of Christ without preaching God’s demand for holiness and how it can only be met through the gospel.

Respond I will remember this when preparing messages! Rusty Russell

Romans 6

Romans 6 (CSB)

H

Rom. 6:12-13 – “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires.  And do not offer any part of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.”

E

Paul has been talking about how Christ’s death brings us new life by allowing us to die to our sins and be raised with Christ. Then in these verses, he gives us the command to be dead to sin by not allowing anypart of our body to be used for sin.  Instead, we should use our bodies as weapons for righteousness.

A

I must not allow any part of me to let sin in. Satan often will attack me and try to convince me a little sin isn’t a big deal, but I must reject this lie because we are warned that no part of us should be offered up for sin no matter how small that sin may appear.  I must be diligent to not allow any place for sin in my life lest I get pulled into deeper temptation and be blinded by the power of sin.  

R

Prayer: “God, help me to keep my body, mind, and heart pure and holy before you.  Help me to abstain from sin in anyway and to resist the temptation to allow sin to sneak into my life.  Help me to always allow you to search me and reveal to me areas of needed growth so that I never grow complacent or blind to my own sin so that it cannot take root in my life.”  

Aaron Pierce

Romans 5

Scripture: Rom 5:8-11

Highlight  When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. [1]

Explain: These vv show:  Our utter helplessness – v6Christ’s unlikely death? Timing – in due time – v6 ObjectWho a person might die for – v7 an especially good man Whom Christ died for. – v8 – His enemies Motivation – v – 8 – He did this because of His great love. His death’s powerful impact Made Righteous in God’s sight – we were made right in the sight of God – v9 Freed from condemnation – v9 Assured of a great future – v10 Joy – v11

Apply: The summary statement of these verses is found in v11: We rejoice (are absolutely confident) in our new relationship with Christ. Why are we so confident in our relationship with Christ? (i.e. Why do we have such assurance of our salvation?) Because of the:  Timing of salvation: When Jesus saved us: When we were utterly helpless to save ourselves. When God sovereignly decided to send His Son. When we were not His friend, but His sworn enemy. When we were sinners.Means of salvation: How Jesus saved us. He saved us through God’s great love. He saved us through His own death Impact of Salvation:  We are made righteous We are freed from condemnation We are assured of a great future

Respond I will praise Him for the confidence I can have in the salvation He has provided for me! Rusty Russell