The Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Studies in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Lesson 17 : Assurance through the Holy Spirit (8:1-13)

ROMANS 8 AND THE HOLY SPIRIT – THEME OF ROMANS 8 – CHAPTER DIVISIONS – BRINGING TO A CONCLUSION WHAT BEGAN IN CHAPTER 5 – CHAPTER 8 AND THE REST OF ROMANS – PARALLELS BETWEEN ROMANS 8 AND GALATIANS 4 – TODAY’S LESSON IN A NUTSHELL – THE GROUND OF OUR ‘NO CONDEMNATION’ – “LAW” … “LAW” – THE NATURE OF THE BELIEVER’S LIBERATION – INCOMPLETE CONTRAST? – HOW IS THE “RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW” FULFILLED IN THE BELIEVER? – CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOR A MARK OF THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST – THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT CONTRASTED – A LIFESTYLE OF “IN THE FLESH” NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE BELIEVER – ATTITUDES CHARACTERIZED BY THOSE “IN THE FLESH” AND THOSE “IN THE SPIRIT” – DEATH … LIFE AND PEACE – ONLY TWO STATES POSSIBLE – UNBELIEVERS STILL SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD – THE TOTAL DEPRAVITY OF MAN – CHANGE OF DIRECTION – “IN THE FLESH … IN THE SPIRIT” HERE IS POSITIONAL – ALL BELIEVERS HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE METAPHOR OF THE SPIRIT “DWELLING IN THE BELIEVER” – THE SPIRIT, CHRIST AND THE TRINITY – PRACTICAL APPLICATION – “FLESH” REFERS TO MORE THAN OUR PHYSICAL BODIES – STIFF WARNING – CALVINIST vs. ARMINIAN UNDERSTANDING OF PAUL’S WARNING – THE BALANCE OF SANCTIFICATION