N E 1-4. "No condemnation" for those who are in Christ; and the reason.
F 5-15. Spirit [the new nature] in us; now leading us.
F 16-27. The Holy Spirit's witness with our "spirit", or new nature; leading it.
E 28-39. "No separation" from Christ; secured for those who are in Christ; and the reason.
E s 1. No condemnation to those in Christ.
t 2. Reason. The law of the "spirit" [or new nature] sets us free from the claims of the law.
s 3. Condemnation of sin in the flesh [or old nature] by God sending His son in the likeness of
sinful flesh.
t 4. Result. The law of the "spirit" [or new nature] fulfills the righteous requirements of the law.
Romans 8)
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (See 7:19)
2 For the spiritual law of life in Christ Jesus has freed me from the law of sin and death. (by, through and with Christ you have a new sphere of thinking.)
3 For what the law could not do (Lit. the impossible thing of the law), in that it was impotent through the flesh (flesh is weak, not the law), God having sent (cp. John 17:3) His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (see 1:23; 6:5. Not sinful flesh, for "in Him was no sin"; nor the likeness of flesh, because His was real flesh, but the likeness of sin's flesh), and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (By the perfect humanity and perfect walk of the Incarnate Son; God exhibited a living condemnation of sinful flesh)
4 In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the old nature, but after the Spirit. (Conditional.)
F u 5-7. The carnal mind in death; the spiritual mind in life.
v 8. Those who are in the flesh [old nature] cannot please God.
w 9-. We are not in the flesh if Divine spirit [the new nature] dwells in us.
x -9. If the spirit of Christ [the new nature] be not in us, we are not His.
x 10. If Christ be thus in us, then, though the body is mortal,
w 11. Our flesh is to be raised from the dead if Divine spirit [the new nature] dwells in us.
v 12. Those who are not debtors to the flesh [the old nature] can please God.
u 13-15. The carnal to be reckoned as dead; when we live unto God. and are led by His Spirit as His sons.
5 For they that are (i.e. live) after the flesh set affection on the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For the minding of the flesh is (i.e. results in) death; but the minding of the spirit is [eternal] life and peace.
7 Because the minding of the flesh is enmity against God (letting the central nervous system take over): for it does not submit itself to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh are not able to please God. (See Gen. 6:5)
9 But you are not in the flesh (after baptism), but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. (John 14, mansion, place of rest, peace of mind.)
But if any one have not the Spirit of Christ, they is not of His. (Upon belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. You do not have the Father, or the Holy Spirit, without the Son.)
10 But if Christ be in you, the body indeed is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Your spiritual body must discipline your flesh body. To be in the flesh is to be in sin all the way back to Adam. The righteousness of Christ paid for our sis, and upon repentance those sins are forgiven. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are family. You then have a common cause with all of God's family.)
11 But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus (see 4:24) from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies also by His Spirit that indwells in you. (We are talking about a very close family bond here. The flesh of all will return to dust. The word "quicken" in this verse means "to make alive". Only your spiritual body has the capability of eternal life due to His spirit that dwells in you; however, there are conditions.)
12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if you live after the flesh, you shall die (lit. are about to die): but if you through the Spirit are putting to death the practices of the body, you shall live. (The Spirit within you puts your sins to death. Does this give you a license to sin? Of course not. When the Spirit reaches within you, you want to be a better person.)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God (in this chapter we have the pneuma Christou and pneuma Theou, both referring to the new nature), they are the sons of God.
15 For you have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of son-ship (An "adopted' child may partake of all the privileges of the family, yet it is not begotten and born in the family. But the subject of this verse are begotten of the Spirit [John 3:6] and are, therefore, sons of God by spiritual generation. It is thus a real son-ship spirit that enables them to cry "Abba, Father"), in which we cry, "Abba, Father." (It is said that slaves were never allowed to use the word "Abba". Strictly, therefore, it can be employed only by those who have received the gift of Divine nature. Ezek. 18:4. God owns your soul. What are the qualifications for being a member of God's family? Those that are led by the Spirit are His family. The alternative is Satan's family, and they won't be around for long. God's Spirit set you free.)
F y 16-18. The Holy Spirit's witness with the new nature as to our standing as the sons of God.
z 19-21. Creation waiting to share the coming glory of this manifestation of the liberty of the glory.
z 22-25. Creation uniting its groaning with ours waiting for the manifestation of our resurrection glory.
y 26,27. The Holy Spirit Himself helping our infirmities owing to our state, by His intersession.
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (You know when the Spirit touches your spirit. You can feel the warmth.)
17 And if children, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint-heirs with Christ (Eph. 3:6. Heb. 11:9. 1 Pet. 3:7); if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified with [Him] also. (The "suffering together with" [Him] here is that of 6:3,4,6,8,11, and not the sufferings of this present time. Everything in common, when one member of the family suffers, the entire family suffers. Some would say, "Wait a minute, what's this suffering business? That sounds painful." This world can be painful; however, God will never give you more than you can bear. When you think the world is being too tough on you, remember how Christ suffered on the cross for you. Don't be a fair-weather Christian that thinks they are too special to suffer. Be a "can do" child for God.)
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed with regard to us. (When the Millennium gets here. You cannot compare the little bit of suffering you encounter with the greatness of your reward, words are not sufficient to describe how great it will be. Those rewards are available to them that love and serve Father even this very day through blessings from God.)
19 For the anxious looking with outstretched head of the creation (before flesh, or original) waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Waiting to come back home. The manifestation of the sons of God is the 1st day of the millennium. Every man, animal and plant that God created yearns for this day. Why? Look what flesh man has done to nature. We are looking to the future, using our heads and knowing with certainty that this earth will be rejuvenated just as it is written.)
20 (For the creation was made subject to vanity (emptiness. Eph. 4:17. 2 Pet. 2:18. Here the meaning is disappointing misery, in which sense the word is frequently used by the Sept, for the Heb. hebel, e.g. Ecc. 1:14; 2:11,17; 9:9), not willingly, but by reason of Him Who has subjected the same [waits, I say] in hope, (The world was made subject to man, and that is vanity. God's hope is that all will come to repentance.)
21 Because the earth itself also shall be set free (as in v.2) from the bondage of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. (He's going to make it perfect again. The earth will be rejuvenated to its' former state. It will be beautiful. The earth will be perfect and man will not be tied to the corruption, which means decay or ruin, of the flesh body.)
22 For we know that the whole creation is groaning together and travails (labor pains) together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits (double portion) of the Spirit (the gifts of the Holy Spirit as the foretaste and pledge of the eternal inheritance. God's elect. Cp. Eph. 1:14. Heb. 5:5. See Ex. 23:19. Lev. 23:10,&c.), even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (7th trump, going back into our spiritual body. See 7:1. The flesh grows old and is painful at times. In our spirit bodies there will be no pain. There will be no tears.)
24 For we were saved by hope (the creation also is waiting and hoping): but hope that is seen is not hope: for what any one sees, why does he hope for also? (If something is not seen but still hoped for, it is hoped for by faith. God certainly loves His children that have that faith. Be patient! You wouldn't want any of your brothers and sisters lost forever because you are in a hurry would you? Many pray that God will reveal things to them. If God does reveal something to them, they are no longer protected from forgiveness based on hope. Once a thing has been revealed to you, it is reality and no longer hope. Be care what you pray for.)
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we through patience wait for it. (That really pleases God. God will make sure ultimately that you get on the right train. He will intercede in your life. God has His hands on His children more than you might think. The disciples saw Jesus Christ and the miracles He performed. Yet, some of them even had doubts. You believe and didn't eve3n see it with your own eyes. That goes a long way with Father. That is faith.)
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities (weaknesses. See John 11:4): for we know not what we should pray for as is necessary: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings (sighs) unutterable. (It is bound, it will happen. God's will. God sends the Holy Spirit to intercede in the lives of the elect. He makes certain they go where He wants and that they do what He wants them to do.)
27 But He (i.e. the Holy Spirit) that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession (see Acts 25:24) for the saints (set aside ones, see 1:7) according to the will of God. (The will of God will be done. God has a set plan and that is exactly how it will be, and that is the way you should want it, as well. Don't neglect to plant seeds, when given the opportunity.)
E G¹ 28-32. Secured by God's purpose, as affecting our standing. G² 33-39. Secured by God's love, as affecting our state.
G¹ a 28. God's purpose in working "all things" for good to His people.
b 29,30. God's purpose in conforming us to His Son.
b 31,32-. God's purpose in conforming His Son for us.
a -32. God's purpose in giving "all things" with His Son.
28 But we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called (God's elect) according to His purpose. (This means that whatever those that love God pray for, things will eventually work to their good according to the purposes of God. What more could we ask for? Our purposes aren't really that important. It is His purpose that is important. God will see that it is accomplished.)
29 For whom He foreknew, He foreordained to be similar to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Christ was born in the flesh to show us the way to salvation and to defeat death for all time. We aren't talking about free will here. We are talking about the elect here, they stood with God against Satan in 1st earth age. These are not volunteers. They are called.)
30 But whom He did foreordained, them He called also: and whom He called, them He justified also: and whom He justified, them He glorified also. (In this beautiful climax, the called ones are spoken of as already [in the Divine purpose] in Christ, justified, and glorified! That's why He can intercede in your lives. You were O.K., can-do types, you fought against Satan in the 1st earth age. That's why Father utilizes many of you to teach those dry bones of Ezekiel 37, God's Word. His Word is were the can find life and hope. Always protect your credibility. Use common sense, that's wisdom. God uses whomever He will. See Matt. 24:6,24)
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Nobody! It doesn't matter, we have power over our enemies. If you are doing God's work, don't worry about criticism from others. These stood against Satan in the 1st earth age. They were judged at that time, and God knows he can count on them. If God be for us, not even Satan has power over us. In fact, we have power over him through Jesus Christ.)
32 He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, (See John 19:30)
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (He's not going to hold something back, He doesn't play games)
G³ c 33. God's love in securing us against all who would accuse.
d 34. Christ's love [manifested in death and resurrection] securing us against all who would condemn.
d 35-37. Christ's love [thus manifested by Him that loved us] securing us against all separation
arising from the operation of things.
c 38,39. God's own love in Christ. in securing us against all separation from the nature of things.
33 Who shall bring charges (i.e. call to judicial account) to the charge of God's elect? Shall God Who justifies [them].
34 Who is he that condemns? Shall Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, Who is also at the right hand of God, Who makes intercession also for us. (You can make intersession for others through God.)
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution (see Acts 8:1), or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (nobody and nothing!)
36 Even as it is written (quoted from Ps. 44:22), "On Your account we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep of slaughter."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. (He gives us power over our enemies in His name, we know how to take a hill, over and over again if necessary.)
38 For I am persuaded (certain, positive), that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities (see Eph. 6:12), nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (He's the door to the sheep-fold. These verses illustrate the importance of the number 17 [17 = the perfection of spiritual order, as there are 7 things enumerated in v.35, "tribulation",&c., and 10 in vv.38,39, "neither death",&c. Cp. another example of the number 17 in Heb. 12:18-24.)