Analysis of Romans 8:1-17 - Research Proposal Example

ROMANS 8 17 Romans chapter 8 is one of the most benign, inspiring and exiting chapters in the Holy Bible1. The chapter unveils the means of one’s enlightenment and points out ways in which one can gain access to the Promised Land of Victory and retire from one’s own agony and resistance2. It is believed that the apostle Paul wrote it as a letter in approximately A.D 57 in Rome3 on one of his missionary journeys. The letter supposedly serves various goals and is renowned for its noteworthy influence in interpreting the endurance between the Jews and Gentile Christians as well as between the Gospel and the Old Testament. Romans 8: Life through the spirit4 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus The word therefore is used to signify continuity from 3:21 and hence bears a close relationship with what immediately precedes this epistle5. The word now is used to suggest the time when Christians were under condemnation and refers to a period when they died with Christ and is used to differentiate the two varied conditions. The term Condemnation means a damnatory sentence6 or to bring down a judgment on someone. The term for those who are in Jesus Christ point towards the believers of Jesus Christ thus suggesting that those who believe in the Lord would never be condemned since now they are all believers and followers of Jesus Christ. 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death Being believers of Jesus Christ they were bestowed with remarkable blessings. In the previous verse Paul declares that we are not condemned for which he justifies in verse two stating that the law of spirit of life in Jesus has set you free from the law of life and death. This law was given by the Lord in accordance with covenant that he established with Israel, knowing that the purpose of law was to lead people towards Christ rather than producing life. But this law was perceived as a law of sin and death since it encouraged people to commit sin, do what is prohibited out of sheer temptation7. 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man This verse discusses the unfeasibility of the law to offer any obstruction against sin. God highly disapproved sin in the flesh which was not prevented by the law nor could it provide any support or comfort to the sinner. So as a solution, God sent his own son as an offering to sin because sin has the capacity to poison or pollute the life giving element – blood, in a man’s body and blood shed would not account for as a proper measure to eliminate sin. So sending God’s son was inevitable in order for him to be a descendant of Adam albeit devoid of sin. Also Jesus was often referred to as sinless and a God man for his sinless character inherited from his father God, and hence he was sent as a sin offering and in the process he condemned sin in sinful man8. 8:4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. The righteous requirements of the law essentially demanded man to lead a life without devoid of sins which was highly unfeasible considering the limited ability of the law itself to warrant the required resistance to sin. In order that shows that this is the expected outcome or objective of God’s condemnation of sin in the flesh. The term righteous requirements suggest “an ordinance, a decree, a requirement that expresses or upholds righteousness9. But the sin offering of God’s son offered man the privilege to satisfy these righteous requirements to avoid sinful behavior. Jesus, said on the cross, it is finished which was meant as a reference to the pain, suffering and humiliation that was in keeping with God’s plan of redemption which was also over and done with and signified his rising from the dead at the resurrection to be with the Lord for eternity and hence makes us free enough to live in spirit. 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what nature desires but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires Those who live according to means those whose minds are preoccupied with, or follow certain peculiar doctrine, on what nature desires means according to their respective sets of beliefs regarding their everyday life which includes various aspects such as their dreams, conscious goals, interests, attitudes etc. This verse talks about two differing view points: of people who desire to live by flesh and those who desire to live by spirit. Those who live by flesh are persistently preoccupied with thoughts related to the flesh i.e., bodily desires, or things related to the physical world while those who tend to live by the spirit have their minds preoccupied by desires and goals revealed by the Holy Spirit which is in accordance with the element of truth as revealed in the Scripture by the Spirit of God10. 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace The word mind here refers to the content of the mind that is one’s perception of the world, mindset or views on the world. The mind of sinful man here refers to the mind of flesh i.e., those whose minds are preoccupied by worldly thoughts of materialistic pleasures and desires are destined to death – pain, agony and suffering while on the other hand the mind controlled by meaning, the mind preoccupied by the spirit is life and peace. This verse which talks about the fate of two sets of differing “minds” is said in the context of both – one’s present state as well as their destiny. Those who live according to the mind of flesh are believed to live according to the law of sin and death, and suffer spiritual deprivation. Life and peace refers to eternal destiny and it suggests living according to the law of spirit which is destined for glory and fame11. 8:7The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so The sinful mind is hostile to God since it believes in everything which is against God, namely the worldly aspirations and want of physical desires. This is purely based on the belief that friendship with the world is automatically, enmity towards God. This fact is further substantiated with these words: it does not submit to God’s law which refers to the fact that those whose minds are preoccupied with the worldly desires are detached or aloof from the law of spirit and hence from God12. 8:8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God This verse suggests that those whose minds are driven by worldly thoughts are sinful in nature and hence are devoid of any faith or trust in god. Thus those who lack trust cannot please god. This further suggests that only those actions that are based on trust and love of God and motivated by his glory are not sinful and hence capable of pleasing him13. 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ On the other hand those who are controlled by or possessed by or influenced by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God and not by the sinful nature, the Spirit of God lives in them. It suggests that if you do not possess spirit of Christ you do not belong to Christ at all. The spirit of Christ here refers to gentleness, purity, and goodness14. 8:10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness Paul states in the tenth verse that if Christ lives in you your body is dead this suggests the fact that event though Christ lives in you your body will still be dead because of the sins living in it. Christ gave up his life for redeeming us from our sins and yet if sins continue to live within us our bodies are nothing but dead. The presence or absence of Christ in us won’t matter. But he further says that your spirit is alive which is because of righteousness. This is because when you turn into his follower and start believing in his spiritual powers, his spirit comes alive in you and that is what makes your spirit righteous15. 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. The term and if the spirit of him here refers to God who raised Jesus from the dead – refers to his resurrection. This verse suggests that for those who believe in God and are his followers, just as God raised Jesus from death he will bring your bodies back from death and fill them with his Spirit. This further extends the belief that the manner in which God resurrected Jesus, he will use the same power to bring back the dead bodies of those whose minds are possessed by thoughts of worldly aspirations and hence are devoid of Spirit and resurrect them as well16. 8:12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it After establishing the belief that Christ redeems the life of those in whose spirits he lives, Paul brings out various significant implications of the verse. Through this verse Paul reminds Christians of their obligations which is to live life according to Christ and his preaching since that would bring us all to the Holy Spirit17. 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live In this verse Paul sends out a warning to his readers saying that if you live according to the sinful nature then you will have to face the consequences i.e., death. But if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live – this implies that the presence of a Holy Spirit in one’s body provides the strength to battle with the sins present therein. It suggests that the Holy Spirit shall help in combating the sins that exist in one’s body alternatively, in the absence of such a spirit, the body shall have to die18. 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The word because here is used in continuation with verse 13 and the term put to death by the misdeeds of the body is further continued and explained in this verse with the words led by the spirits. This verse suggests that if you put to death the sins by the spirits living within your body, it will lead to eternal glory since those who are led by the spirit are followers of God and are blessed by him and hence destined for eternal glory like those who are led by the flesh are destined for death19. 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.” This verse is again in continuation of the verse fourteen, and suggests that for you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again meaning the spirit of God that resides in you is not meant to enslave you but in fact, it exists to liberate you from having worldly aspirations and hence saving you from disgrace, agony and pain. The spirit of sonship here refers to the spirit of Jesus who was offered as the sinful offering. And by him we cry Abba the word Abba is an ancient Palestinian word which is used by a child for fondly calling out to his father. This suggests an intimate relationship with the child to the father and similarly between our father in heaven and us – his followers20. 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children The Spirit suggests that we are his children and signifies our “adoption” by God as his own children. Since it is earlier established and discussed that those who have the spirit of god within them are children of God and hence we are entitled to share his sufferings as well as glory. This further suggests that if we are indeed the children of god then that makes us heirs of God and co – heirs of Jesus21. 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. This verse asserts Jesus’s will and promise to his followers of an inheritance with him provided we share his suffering. Thus in order to share his glory one must be prepared to share his agony and suffering as well. This does not imply the fact that Christians are destined for suffering and agony but it reaffirms the belief that faithful suffering with Christ will guarantee a share in his glory22. Read More