Victory in Jesus: Over Sin’s Power (AM)

Romans 8:1-14

Introduction:

1. In Romans 1:18-3:20, Paul detailed the hopeless condition of all who are lost in sin.

2. In 3:21-5:21, he detailed God’s awesome grace displayed in Christ’s sacrifice which empowered once hopelessly lost sinners to stand justified in His presence.

3. In 6:1-8:14, he detailed the means by which He led us in victory over sin.

4. In 8:15-39, he detailed the awesome results of this victory in Jesus.

Discussion:

I. Wretched Man That I Am (Romans 7:7-24)

1. In this section, Paul described the futility of trying to conquer sin by the law (specifically of Moses).

2. Though his heart delighted in the law of God, his fleshly inclinations hindered him in his service.

3. The law was perfect (7:12; Psalms 19:7-12), but it could only highlight and condemn sin, not resolve it (7:13; 8:3; Hebrews 7:11-12, 18-19; 8:7-13; 10:1-4).

4. This left Paul a “wretched man” struggling in futility to be perfected by law keeping (Romans 7:24).

II. Wretched Man That I Was (Romans 6:1-7:6)

A. Thankfully, the situation described in Romans 7:7-24 has been fully rectified in Christ.

B. Romans 6:1-7:6 explains how He gave us the victory over our enslavement to sin.

C. The Christian, having “died” to sin, being buried with Christ in baptism, is set free from sin (6:1-7).

D. In 7:1-6, he related this death to sin in terms of death to the law by the analogy of marriage.

1. This mirrors his description of dying to the law in Galatians 2:15-21 (cf. Galatians 5:24; 6:14).

2. The sinful self, condemned by the law of sin and death, died with Christ, and a new life began (Romans 6:11-12; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:5; 1 John 3:9).

III. Victorious Man That I Am (Romans 7:25-8:14)

A. The pitiful cry of the “wretched man” seeking deliverance from his “body of death” is immediately answered.

B. God delivered him from “this body of death” through Jesus Christ our Lord (7:25).

1. By sending Christ in the flesh, He was able to “condemn” sin in the flesh (8:3).

2. In so doing, the “righteous requirement of the law” may now be fulfilled in us (8:4).

3. Sinless perfection was necessary under the law (Galatians 3:10; 5:3; James 2:10-11), but a Spirit-led life now suffices (8:4-11; 1 John 1:5-2:2).

C. For this the victorious refrain fills our hearts with joy, relief, and thanksgiving: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.” (8:1).

D. Not only is there no condemnation, but those who are led by the Spirit are adopted children (8:14).

Conclusion:

1. With such a victory in view, we echo Paul: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

2. This victory, like every other we will ponder is free (a gift of God’s grace), but its reception is not without condition.

3. Paul was plain that the differentiating factor is how we conduct our lives: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (8:13).

4. This begins when we have our old self buried through baptism into His death and arise to a new manner of life (6:3-4).

 Further Food for Thought

1. How often does the weight of sin’s guilt hinder you in your service to God?

2. How many ways have you tried to remove that weight?

3. Do you struggle to accept the grace God provides in Christ?

4. How do we balance the knowledge that our salvation is based solely on Christ’s grace with the necessity of the new life to its reception?