Kingdom of God #4: Rom 8 & All Creation

Dec 20, 2021

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Rob continues his study of the Kingdom of God by looking at Romans 8 and its climactic role in the narrative of Romans and its stress on the redemption of all creation. We dovetail into discussions of Predestination and Free Will also.

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Notes for the study:

8:1-11 Life through the Son and the Spirit

Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (1); i.e., who live according to the Spirit (4)
For, (explanation as to why there is no condemnation) (2) ans: God has liberated us!
God did what the Law could not do (3)
Condemned sin in the flesh (3): i.e., the flesh of Jesus

Sending His own Son (cf 8:32; 5:10; 1:3-4; Gal 4:4)
Sent in the ‘likeness’ of sinful flesh

Jesus was truly human

And as an offering for sin

In order that (divine purpose) the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us (4; 7:10; Ezek 36:26, 27)
1. Cf 7:10: The life the Torah intended to give to God’s people is now given by His Spirit
2. Who do not walk according to the flesh: I.e., the rebellious human nature: humanity both as mortal and rebellious
3. But according to the Spirit: i.e., the Holy Spirit (cf 1:4; 8:9-11, 12-27)
Flesh v Spirit: each characterized by a way of thinking (5-6)
1. Thinking of the flesh is death (6)
2. Thinking of the Spirit is life and peace
Because: the reason why flesh thinking is death is because: It is hostile to God (7)
1. Such persons cannot please God (implication is that those in the Spirit can do so! See 8:28)
You are in the Spirit (9; Gal 4:29)
1. The Spirit indwells you: Spirit indwells us just as the Shekinah indwelt the Temple (cf 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19)
2. Result is the guarantee of resurrection (10-11)
Christ is in you (10)
The body is dead because of sin (10)
Spirit of Him who raised Jesus dwells in you (11; cf 1 Cor 15)
1. He who raised Jesus will also give life to your mortal bodies
2. Through His Spirit

8:12-30 The Inheritance Guaranteed

8:12-17 Led by the Spirit

Thus, we have an obligation/debtors (12): Not to the flesh
1. If you live that way you will die (13)
If by the Spirit you will live (13)
For, (explains to whom we are indebted to; not just why we will live) Those led by the Spirit are sons of God (14)
1. Led by the Spirit; imagery taken from the Exodus and wilderness wanderings: cloud and fire (cf Exod 13:21-22; 14:19, 24; 40:38; Num 9:15-23; 10:34; 14:14; Deut 1:33; Neh 9:12, 19; Ps 78:14; 105:39)
2. These are sons of God! (cf Isa 1:2; Hos 1:10; 11:1)
Not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear (15; Gal 4:8-11)
Instead, a Spirit of adoption to Sons (15)
We cry out ‘Abba, Father’ (cf Gal 4:6)
The Spirit bears witness that we are children of God (16): Heirs too (17)
1. Heirs of God: Fellow heirs with Christ
If we suffer with Him (17; Mark 8:34-38)
In order that, we might be glorified with Him (17)

Thus, Christians become full-heirs with Christ
The Sprit bears witness (16)
This includes sharing in His sufferings (17) and His glory (cf John 17:24)

8:18-30 Renewal of All Things

For, I consider (18)
These present sufferings will not compare with the eternal glory awaiting us (18; 2 Cor 4:17)
Anxious longing of creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (19)
1. For, creation was subjected to frustration (20)
2. Creation will be set free from slavery to corruption (21)
3. This happens when the glory of the children of God occurs (21)
For, the whole creation ‘groans’ and ‘suffers’ (22)
We ourselves groan (23)
Having the ‘firstfruits’ of the Spirit (23; 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:14)
1. God’s future redemption has already come into the present (cf 8:4, 9-11, 13-17)
We await our adoption as sons (23)
1. Already/not yet: we have been adopted (15) and are children of God (16-17)
This Glory includes the redemption of our bodies (23; 8:11; 1 Cor 15:54; 2 Cor 5:1-5; Phil 3:21)
We were saved in ‘hope’ (24)
1. Therefore, we must strain with ‘perseverance’ for it (24)
2. Hope for what is unseen: then has a future referent (contrast is between what is present and future and not what is earthly and heavenly)
Spirit, also, helps us in our weaknesses (26)
1. Spirit intercedes for us (so does Christ: 34)
God knows the mind of the Spirit (27)
Our present sufferings are leading us to conformity to the image of His Son (29)
But we know that God is causing all things to work for good (28)
Result of the process is that we will ‘become conformed to the image of His Son’ (29)
1. Refers back to 1:18: the image of God that has been distorted by idolatry and immorality is restored through Jesus
2. This is the purpose for which we were called, chosen, and predestined
3. Conformity to the Son means conformity in His death: hence, ‘that He might be the firstborn’ (29; cf 3:10-11)
Those God Foreknew-Predestined-called-justified-glorified (29-30)
1. Thus, the believer has no reason for concern: what God has begun He will complete (Phil 1:6)
2. Foreknowledge: means more than just advanced knowledge; connected with ‘call’ (cf 1:1; Gal 1:15)
3. Predestined: references God’s setting people apart in advance (with ‘foreknow’) for a purpose
4. Called: through the Gospel to announce His lordship
For Paul, ‘called’ refers to a person who respond in faith to the Gospel (1 Thess 1:4-5; 2 Thess 2:13-14)
1. Justified: by faith
2. Glorified: already seated with Him in the heavenly realm (Eph 2:6)

8:31-39 Nothing can Separate Us from the Love of God

Argument is simple: since God’s love has done so much for Christians there is no power that can shake love from completing the job (cf 5:6-10; 1 Cor 15:20-28)

Biblical allusions and echoes:

32: Abraham and Isaac in Gen 22
34: 3rd servant song Isa 50:4-9 (note the servant songs are traditionally applied to Jesus; here the church?)—the song is one of the servant standing before hostile enemies, trusting in God and awaiting His vindication
34: Jesus intercedes for us alludes to Isa 53:12
34: Jesus at the right hand of God Ps 110:1
36: sheep to be slaughtered cites Ps 44:22; and alludes to Isa 53:7

If God is for us, who is against us? (31)
1. Answer: ‘no one’
2. Because God having not spared his Son, will now give us all things (32)
Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? (33)
1. Answer: ‘no one’
2. Because God is the one who justifies (33)
Who shall condemn us? (34)
1. Answer: ‘no one’
2. Because Christ died, was raised, and now intercedes (34)
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ (35)
1. Answer: ‘no one’ (not tribulation, distress, persecution, nor famine—events, threats, circumstances)
2. Because we are victorious through the one who loved us (37)
Nothing can separate us from the love of God (38-39)
1. For, (38)
2. Neither, death, life, angels, principalities, things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, nor any created thing (forces that might stand behind the physical threats listed in 35)

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