v.1-5 Ob and In:
1. Repeated words: condemnation, condemned v.1, 3
Instead of the person being condemned, God condemned sin in the flesh. BDAG God has pronounced sentence on sin in the flesh.
2. The character:
main: God Himself
through: in Christ Jesus v.1,2, the Son being sent by God (the Father), the law of the spirit (that gives life), the Spirit v.4, 5
vs: sin (being condemned), the law of sin (that gives death), sin in the flesh weakened the law
3. The tense of the main verbs:
The law of spirit (that gives life) has freed us from the law of sin (that gives death)-aorist
God condemned sin-aorist
4. What does the "so that" in v.4 refer to?
The "no condemnation" of the believers and the "condemnation of sin" have a purpose, that is, the law of righteousness might be fulfilled in a group of people who walk according to or think/ give careful consideration to/set one's mind on the spirit.
In other words, the purpose of salvation is sanctification. The spirit has set us free, so that we can fulfilled the law through the walk according to the Spirit.
The first part has already done for me and I have a potential to live differently. How do I do?
v.11-17 Ob and In:
1. Repeated words: Alive v.11, 13; raised from the dead v.11 a, b; Dead v.11, mortal v.11, live according to the flesh will die v.13a
1.1 Since the Spirit of the One who has power of raised from the dead "houses in you," we will make alive (future). BDAG to cause to live, make alive, give life to, esp. in a transcendent sense
The housing of the Spirit makes believers alive.
1.2 Believers (in the Spirit, not according to the flesh) put to death of the practices of the body will alive (future). BDAG to live in a transcendent sense, live, of the sanctified life of a child of God...in the glory of the life to come
To be alive involves our killing of the evil work of the flesh. Not just passively rely on the Spirit Who lives in us.
1.3 Not under obligation to live under the flesh, or to live according to its demands, so that we will die v.12, But we are led by the Spirit v.14.
Summary of 1, 2 : In other words, we will have a demand in us to live under the flesh, but we need to put that evil work to death and be alive. Instead of drive by the flesh, we needed to be led by the Spirit. That is to live a sanctified life.
(BKC) But the body is the vehicle by which one’s sin-nature expresses itself (cf. Rom. 6:6, 13). Only by the Holy Spirit’s power can a believer put to death the sins of his former life (cf. Eph. 4:22–31; Col. 3:5–9). This is what Paul referred to when he said “count yourselves dead to sin” (Rom. 6:11).
2. The leading by the Spirit not only helps believers for the sanctification, but also a confirmation of our salvation.
2.1 Sons of God v.14 BDAG a pers. related or closely associated as if by ties of sonship...of one whose identity is defined in terms of a relationship with a person or thing...of those who are bound to a personality by close, non-material ties; it is this personality that has promoted the relationship and given it its character
2.2 Children v.16 BDAG of those who exhibit characteristics of transcendent entities: the believers are
2.3 No more fear like a slave v.15
2.4 Adoption with heirs, fellow heirs with Christ (suffer with Him, glorified with Him) v.14-17
(BKC) Sharing with Jesus Christ, however, involves more than anticipating the glories of heaven. For Jesus Christ it involved suffering and abuse and crucifixion; therefore being co-heirs with Christ requires that believers share in His sufferings (cf. John 15:20; Col. 1:24; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12). In fact believers do share in His sufferings; if indeed translates eiper, which means “if, as is the fact” (cf. Rom. 8:9). Then after the suffering they will share in His glory (2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Peter 4:13; 5:10).
Summary and Reflection: When we houses the spirit, actively resist the flesh, and putting the flesh to death we can live. Also we need to follow the lead of the Spirit. By doing that we will be closely bound to the personality of God, we will exhibit characteristics of God. Not only we are involved with God, but also with Jesus because Jesus exhibit characteristics of God in His suffering and in His glory. We will also share in Jesus' glory when we suffer with Him.
How am I doing in resist the flesh demand? How much deeds of the flesh did I put to death? What old deeds do I still practice today? How much do I put to a complete stop?
Do I follow the leading of the HS? Do I look like God and Jesus who is willing to suffer? Can people see God in me? Do I exhibit His character?
v.18-25 Ob and In:
Repeated words:
1. reveal, the revelation of the sons of God v.18, 19, the eagerly waits v.19, 23, 25
2. the creation v.19, 20, 21, all the creation 22, 39 (1:20, 25)
Question: why change the subject to "creation?" Why waiting for the sons of God, not waiting solely for Jesus to come back? Are we the sons of God or the angels?
(BKC) God judged the totality of His Creation along with people for their sin (Gen. 3:14, 17–19).When God’s program of salvation for people is completed and the children of God together experience their glorious freedom from sin, Satan, and physical decay, then the Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay. God had cursed the physical Creation as a part of His judgment on people for sin because of their position and authority over the Creation as God’s representatives (Gen. 1:26–30; 2:8, 15). Similarly, since God’s program of salvation for people is one of a new Creation (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15), the physical world also will be re-created (Rev. 21:5). This will take place in two stages. First will be the renovation of the present cosmos in conjunction with the return to earth of the Lord Jesus and the establishment of the messianic kingdom on earth (Isa. 11:5–9; 35:1–2, 5–7; 65:20, 25; Amos 9:13). The second stage will be creation of “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1; cf. 2 Peter 3:7–13).
3. being subjected v.20, will be freed v.21, the freedom of the God's children v.21
What is the futility what we are subjected to by God? All the creation groans and suffers pains together, but believers also groans as we wait for our adoption. Are believers part of the "all the creation?" Do we have additional groaning? Is the groaning related to our body as the groaning is related to the redemption of the body v.23?
(BKC) The emphasis on “together” in these verbs does not include believers in Christ, who are specifically mentioned in verse 23, but involves the various parts of the natural Creation
4. (the redemption of) the body v.23, the body is dead b/o sin v.10, the One who raise C from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive v.11, by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body v.13
Summary: We are waiting for the return of Christ as part of the creation. As a whole the creation also waiting for the return of Christ as the re-creation of the physical world as the curse of sins being lifted. Right now the creation suffered. Believers suffered in another sense. We suffered because of our body which is the vehicle of sins. We needed to put the deeds of the body death, but we struggled every day with sins.
Reflection: Human beings and the rest of the creation are related. We sins and the whole creation was judged together with us. In the future we will experience the freedom from the decay mortal bodies together. That is a sense of leadership and authority as a human being. What shall I do today with this leadership and authority? Is it to preserve the world?
Our struggle with sins will end one day, and the hope has already set before us. Thank God for this hope.
v.26-30 Ob and In
1. Repeated words: weakness 26, groanings 26, 22, 23
The HS helps believers when we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. In other words, before the return of JC we are still struggle with our sin nature every day. In v.26, we need prayer in our sanctification, but we do not know what is necessary to pray for.
Reflection: do I concern about my own sanctification? Do I ever pray for my sanctification? Even though I do not know what ought to pray and the HS will help me I still need to pray.
The process of sanctification is groaning. Even the HS intercedes with inexpressible groanings. Do I feel the groaning myself? Am I sad for my own failure?
2. Repeated words: according to God's will 27, according to His purpose v.28
We do not know, but the HS knows how to pray for us (for our sanctification), according to God's will. God's will is in line with His ultimate purpose for us, which is outline in v.29-30. God foreknew us, predestined us to be conformed to the image of J, called us, justified us, glorified us.
When the plan is set (foreknew, predestined) then God put into action: calling, justification, and glorification. The final step is glorification or the purpose of our sanctification is glorification.
Reflection: The whole process of sanctification is back up by the Trinity. Both the path and the goal are set by God. And the goal is glorification. There is no room for failure. Thank God.
v.31-39 Ob and In:
1. Repeated words: All things, these things
26 for we do not know how (what things) we should pray
28 all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,
29-30 God's purpose is for believers to be glorified
31 What then shall we say about these things
32 God freely give us all things
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? (Neither can all things separate us)
37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!
39 (Nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. Repeated words: Against us v31, bring any charge against God's elect v.33, condemn v.34, separate us from the love of Christ v.35
Summary: (1) For believers to be sanctified and in the future glorified, we have to struggle with our flesh/sins. However, our Helpers HS will pray for us about these things when we dont even know how we should pray. All things were under the sovereign ruling of our God to do His purpose (our sanctification and glorification). God gives them to us (not as possession) but as things happened in our lives. The process of san/glo would not be upset by anyone nor by anything. Believers will not be condemned again. (2) For believers to be sanctified/glorified, we have to struggle with the doubt of whether God loves us or not. If He does not then we will give up to be like Jesus v.29. Troubles, sufferings, or death might give us these kind of doubt. We can have victory over the doubt not because of our love to God, but because we are loved by God.
Reflection: The separation is a power, and it can be a great power at times depending on the degree of suffering and trouble. However, the victory is complete and sure as well. Nothing will be ABLE to separate us. The power of God is not just seen in the creation and miracle, but also in His determination to love God, in His determination to bring us to glorification. He knows us very well and provides us with the surest way to deal wtih our doubt which hinders us from san/glo (being like JC).
and the key factor that ensure our "success/victory": is the love of JC and love of God in JC.
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