January 3, 2012
Romans 8 Study Guide
Posted by Rob
Scripture:
Romans 8:1-4
1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:31-39
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Main Idea:
Romans 8 is one of the most important chapters of the New Testament. In these dense verses, the apostle Paul lays out a rich theology that joyfully declares the power of God seen in Jesus Christ. Paul uses this chapter as the crescendo of the first seven chapters of his letter, in order to tell Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome that God has done away with the confusion and legalism associated with the Law, and replaced it with the power of His Holy Spirit. He triumphantly declares that there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (verse 1) and that nothing can “separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus” (39). In this New Year, many of us will seek to improve ourselves through resolutions such as dieting, exercise, and improving our spiritual life. These are noble pursuits, but we must never confuse our desire for self-improvement with the idea that these improvements will allow us to “earn” our favor with God. His grace and favor are gifts that can never be earned. God is seeking hearts that will submit to His desires rather than our own, and strive every day to follow after Jesus.
Know What: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So What: This verse frees us from the confusion and shame of the Law (even today’s “laws”) and allows us to pursue a right relationship with God.
Now What: In this New Year, make a resolution to discern and prioritize God’s desires for you and your community, rather then your own desires.
Discuss…
1) What does the idea of “no condemnation” from verse 1 mean to you? How does it (or should it) alter your relationship with God?
2) Read the “ox laws” that Eddie talked about in Exodus 21 (28-36). Why do you feel the Law ultimately led to confusion and shame rather than freedom?
3) Why are we so eager to “prove” or “earn” our worth to God? Why are we, as Eddie put it, so skeptical of the message that God’s love cannot be earned?
4) Eddie talked about a scene from the movie Cast Away, in which Tom Hanks has been rescued from the island, but he is still living like he is trapped there (sleeping on the ground next to a bed, filling water bottles). Eddie talked about how we, like Hanks, want to escape the island of “condemnation,” but that “imprisonment is ingrained in us, and we feel trapped.” What do you think this means? In what ways to do we as Christians still “live on the island”?
5) Why do you think it is in our nature to worry, even when we have nothing particular to worry about? Is this worrying useful?
6) What are some of the modern “laws” that we as Christians still live under? How should the fact that God does not condemn us lead us to approach discussions of controversial topics such as politics, infant baptism, and predestination differently?
7) Think of some New Year’s resolutions you have attempted in the past. Were they successful? What was the result of these efforts to improve yourself? What resolutions might you make this year that will allow you to better follow Jesus?
Next Steps…
Set aside time to pray and meditate on the words of assurance found in Romans 8:1 and 8:37-39. Let God use this time to ease your burdens and worries, for this is His desire (Mt 11:28-30). Then, consider how you can plan steps and New Year’s resolutions that will allow you to live as a “Romans 8” Christian.
