OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to The Holy Spirit Next 

THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Romans 8, Overview

Lesson 12

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Romans 8 is a chapter that is filled with teachings about the Holy Spirit.

1.     The word “spirit” is mentioned 21 times in the chapter.

2.     The word is used as follows:

a.     The Spirit (vs. 1, 4, 5 (2), 9, 10, 13, 16, 23, 26 (2), 27)

b.    The Spirit of life (v. 2)

c.    The Spirit of God (vs. 9, 14)

d.    The Spirit of Christ (v. 9)

e.     The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus (v. 11)

f.     His Spirit (v. 11)

g.     The spirit of bondage (v. 15)

h.    The spirit of adoption (v. 15)

i.      Our spirit (v. 16)

 

B.    In Romans 7, Paul discussed the condemnation that was under the Old Covenant (Rom. 7:24).

 

O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death.

 

1.     Such condemnation is not found under the New Covenant (Rom. 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.

 

2.     There are many other promises to God’s people under the New Testament.  These are discussed in Romans 8.

 

C.   The chapter can be divided into three sections:

 

i.        A CONTRAST:  in the flesh versus in the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-17)

ii.        SUFFERING (Rom. 8:18-27)

iii.       VICTORY IN CHRIST (Rom. 8:28-39)

 

I.           FACTS LEARNED ABOUT THE SPIRIT’

 

A.   Man can walk after the Spirit (Rom. 8:1, 4).

 

B.    The Spirit has a law (Rom. 8:2).

 

C.   The Spirit is connected to life (Rom. 8:2)

 

D.   They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5).

 

E.    Christians are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9).

 

F.     The Spirit dwells in God’s children (Rom. 8:9, 11).

 

G.   If one does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom. 8:9).

 

H.   The Spirit is life because of righteousness (Rom. 8:10)

 

I.     The Spirit raised up Jesus (Rom. 8:11)

 

J.    We, too, will be quickened by the Spirit (Rom. 8:11).

 

K.   Through the Spirit we mortify the deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13).

 

L.    Sons of God are led by the Spirit (Rom. 8:14).

 

M.  We have not received the spirit of bondage (Rom. 8:15).

 

N.   We have received the Spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15).

 

O.   The Spirit bears witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16).

 

P.    Some had the firstfruits of the Spirit (Rom. 8:23).

 

Q.   The Spirit helps our infirmities (Rom. 8:26).

 

R.    The Spirit makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:26).

 

S.    The Spirit has a mind (Rom. 8:27).

 

II.         AREAS OF CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE SPIRIT IN ROMANS 8

 

A.   The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9, 11)

 

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

B.    The Spirit’s bearing witness with our Spirit (Rom. 8:16)

 

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the children of God.

 

1.     Some teach that the Holy Spirit bears witness “to” our Spirit that we are the children of God.  In essence, they say that the Spirit does something to us to let us know that we are children of God.

2.     Mark the distinct language, however.  “It does not say that the Holy Spirit bears witness ‘TO OUR SPIRIT,’ but the specific language is ‘WITH OUR SPIRIT,’ that we are the children of God (Zachary, 12).

3.     “A witness is a person who gives testimony.  It is absolutely impossible for anything to ‘bear witness,’ unless testimony is furnished” (Zachary, 12).

 

C.   The intercession of the Spirit (Rom. 8:26)

 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 

1.     Some believe that this is the Holy Spirit who is involved in our prayers, making intercession for us.

2.     Others teach that the word “Spirit” should be lower case.  This would indicate that man’s spirit is the one doing the interceding on his behalf.

3.     Points:

a.     There is a big difference between the Holy Spirit doing something “for” us and doing something “to” us.

b.    QUESTION:  How can the human spirit, which, according to this verse, cannot formulate words to explain our groanings, effectively be an intercessor?

c.    Too, if it is the human spirit, we would interceding on behalf of ourselves.  An intercessor stands between us and God (I Tim. 2:1).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   We all would do well to engage in a detailed study of Romans 8.

 

B.    Too, let us never get so caught up in the minute details of the chapter that we overlook the numerous promises found within the chapter.

1.     No condemnation (Rom. 8:1, 34)

2.     Quicken our mortal bodies (Rom. 8:11, 23)

3.     Glorified with Christ (Rom. 8:17)

4.     If God be for us, who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)

5.     Who shall separate us from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35-39)