Verses 1-4
-
Verse 1. Because of what Jesus did for us, (1) we are free from the guilt of sin and the condemnation of hell.
-
Verse 2. By the Spirit of God, (2) we are also free from the power of sin. We don't have to be controlled by sinful urges, now having power to live obediently.
-
Verse 3. The law was not able to do the above two things.
-
Under the law, people remained guilt-ridden (Hebrews 10:3, Romans 3:20) and punishable (Romans 4:15, Ezekiel 18:20); and under the law people could not change—they remained sinners (Hebrews 10:1,4,11, Romans 7:18-24).
-
But Jesus did free us from the guilt and power of sin!
-
By being condemned as a sinner (“in the likeness of sinful flesh”) He took our guilt.
-
By dying, He fulfilled the “requirement of the law” for us to die. He died for us!
-
And by dying, He destroyed the power of sin, so we might live for God (Romans 6:1-6).
-
-
-
-
Live a godly life because Jesus won that kind of life for you!
Verses 5-7
-
Living a godly life begins with setting your mind on the Word.
-
Fill your mind up with Scripture. This will allow you to make choices that please God, and it will give you peace.
-
If you set your mind on sinful things, you won't be able to please God.
-
Verse 8-11
-
If you are saved, you don't have to stay stuck in the sin that comes from your fallen body. How?
-
Even though your body is still fallen (affected by sin) the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead gives power to your body, so that you don't have to give in to its sinful desires.
-
Life in Jesus' body means life in your body too!
-
We have no excuse to give in to the sinful longings of the body because the Holy Spirit is far more powerful than any sinful desire.
-
-
Verses 12-17
-
Verse 12. Now, because of what Jesus did for us, we owe it to God to stop sinning. If we repent from sin, we will have eternal life.
-
We know that we are saved because the Holy Spirit:
-
Pushes us to repent from sin, and...
-
Gives us an inner heart-cry, telling us that we are saved.
-
Verses 18-30
-
It's hard sometimes having a fallen body in a fallen world (one with sin, pains, and weaknesses), but excitement for the eternal glory to come will give you patience to endure.
-
Verse 23. Remember that the Holy Spirit, which has been given to you, is the deposit of heaven that you need for now. Let this gift of the Spirit reassure you.
-
-
There are two things mentioned here that will help us to be hopeful and patient in this world.
-
Verses 26-27. (1) The Holy Spirit helps you when you're weak, through prayer.
-
One way that it helps you is by helping you pray. Don't feel bad about not knowing what to pray sometimes. Prayer is important, so pray what you can. The Holy Spirit will handle the rest.
-
-
Verse 28-29. (2) Remember that, if you stay obedient to God, God will use everything that happens in your life to bring about something good and important for your future with Him.
-
Verse 29. The good thing He's after is to make you more like Jesus. This is the ultimate goal. Some things in life will be uncomfortable and hard, but God uses everything for the good purpose of helping you to grow to become more like Christ.
-
-
Verses 31-39 – God is far more powerful than anything in existence, and now that He is on your side...
-
Verse 31. No enemy can defeat you, so what reason is there to fear human enemies?
-
Verse 32. God will give you everything that you need
-
Verse 33. No one can make you guilty, since God has made you innocent,
-
Verse 34. Nothing can condemn you to hell because Christ was condemned for you,
-
Verses 35-36. You know that God loves you, and no circumstance can convince you otherwise,
-
Verses 37-39. And in everything you have the final victory because nothing can steal you away from your connection with God and eternal life with Him (this is the ultimate victory).
-
Like Jesus said, nothing can snatch us out of His hand (John 10:28). As a believer, you can rest assured that no external force or creature can pull you away from God. The only one that can cause you to depart from the faith, ultimately, is you, because you always have a choice. But as far as God is concerned, He perfectly protects you and keeps you in His love (1 Peter 1:5). Stay there! Keep your mind fixed on the Word, continuing in the faith, and you will stay encouraged!
-