(Rom 8:1 NASB) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:1: This chapter brings us to the conclusion of sanctification. This is considered by most Christian Bible scholars to be one of the high water marks in Scripture. But Paul has made it abundantly clear up to this point that obedience to Torah is of the utmost importance to the believer in Messiah.
Some translations include a second phrase in this verse. The NKJV for instance says this: (Rom 8:1 NKJV) “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” The last phrase is not in a few ancient manuscripts, but it is in others.
The last phrase seems to say that those who walk according to the flesh are condemned. The certainly seems to disagree with church doctrines.
What is walking according to the flesh? That is walking according to whatever we desire. The real question is this: “What is walking according to the Spirit?”
Abraham was told to walk before Elohim and be blameless (Gen. 17:1). Torah is our instruction on how we should walk (Lev. 26:3-4, Deut. 5:33, 8:6, 10:12-13, 26:17, 28:9-10). Finally, the prophet Ezekiel defines precisely what walking in the Spirit truly is (Ezek. 36:27). This is what Paul meant when he said we are to “walk in the Spirit.” It means to keep His Torah (Gal. 5:16).
(Rom 8:2 NASB) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
Rom 8:2: “The law of sin and of death,” is the authority that sin had over us which kept us from fellowship from Elohim.
It is only through the blood of Messiah and the power of the Spirit of Elohim that this authority could be broken.
(Rom 8:3 NASB) For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
(Rom 8:4 NASB) in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Rom 8:4: It is impossible for Torah by itself to produce righteousness in man by itself. It is not the fault of Torah, but the fault of the sin in the flesh of man. What Torah could not do for man alone (produce salvation), the Spirit of Elohim is able to do.
Paul makes it abundantly clear that the requirement of Torah is fulfilled in us if we walk according to the Spirit. Paul says that the requirement of Torah is made full in us walking according to the Spirit of the Father.
(Rom 8:5 NASB) For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:5: Paul says we are to be according to the things of the Spirit. What is he referring to? (Romans 7:12, 14)
(Rom 8:6 NASB) For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Rom 8:6: To be carnally minded is to be separated from Elohim. Paul says that the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace (Deut. 6:1-2).
(Rom 8:7 NASB) because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
(Rom 8:8 NASB) and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:8: Paul blatantly states here that if we do not subject ourselves to the Law of Elohim, we cannot please Him. Period.
(Rom 8:9 NASB) However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Rom 8:9: The true mark of a believer is that he is indwelt by the Spirit and that Spirit shows in their life through his obedience to Torah.
(Rom 8:10 NASB) And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Rom 8:10: The body must die because of sin which was brought to life by Torah. But the Spirit is life because of righteousness. With the Spirit of Elohim within you, you can follow His Torah.
(Rom 8:11 NASB) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
Rom 8:11: The indwelling of the Spirit (breath) of the Father gives us life in these mortal bodies. That “life” that is given is through being obedient to His Torah (Lev. 18:5, Ezek. 20:11, 13).
(Rom 8:12 NASB) So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh–
(Rom 8:13 NASB) for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom 8:13: We can put to death those things in our life that are against Torah by the Spirit of Elohim.
(Rom 8:14 NASB) For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Rom 8:14: Keep in mind that Elohim does not drive His sheep, He leads them. His sheep hear His voice and they are led to Him by the Spirit of the Father.
Those who are Elohim’s sheep hear His voice and are attracted to its teaching. Others, however, hate His Word and want to get rid of those teaching it. Why? They are not His sheep (John 10:25-27).
(Rom 8:15 NASB) For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”
Rom 8:15: The Spirit of adoption keeps us from helplessness and hopelessness. Elohim adopts us as His own. The word “Abba” is an untranslated Aramaic word. The translators of the early English versions of the Bible refused to translate it out of reverence. It is a very personal word which could mean, “my Daddy”.
(Rom 8:16 NASB) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
(Rom 8:17 NASB) and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.
Rom 8:17: We are just as assuredly going to be glorified with Him as we will suffer with Him.
(Rom 8:18 NASB) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Rom 8:18: What are the “sufferings of this present time?” That’s how Elohim turns us into people He can use for His purpose. Our entire lives are a struggle on a day by day basis, but those struggles pale in comparison to the glory that will be revealed to us.
(Rom 8:19 NASB) For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.
Rom 8:19: Why is creation waiting “for the revealing of the sons of Elohim?” The entire creation is suffering in much the same way that mankind is suffering. The curse of sin affects all that Elohim created.
(Rom 8:20 NASB) For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope
Rom 8:20: “For the creation was subjected to futility (failure).” Creation is perishable. “Not willingly” means not of its own will, but because of Him who who subjected it on the basis of hope.
“Creation was subjected to futility” because Elohim made it that way. The physical world is under the same curse that man brought upon himself.
(Rom 8:21 NASB) that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Rom 8:21: Man has a dying body. Nature is the same way. The life and beauty of nature comes at the expense of it’s own death and decay.
(Rom 8:22 NASB) For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
(Rom 8:23 NASB) And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
(Rom 8:24 NASB) For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?
Rom 8:24: The “first fruits of the Spirit” is likely the Spirit within us. That portion of Spirit we have now pales compared to the Spirit we will have at the Resurrection.
(Rom 8:25 NASB) But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
(Rom 8:26 NASB) And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Rom 8:26: The Spirit will intercede for us. This should comfort us when we encounter problems praying and how to do it. If we don’t know how to pray as we should, the Spirit of the Father intercedes for us.
(Rom 8:27 NASB) and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
(Rom 8:28 NASB) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Rom 8:28: Elohim is working all things. There are no accidents. What did Joseph say as he looked back over his life as he remembered imprisonment, false accusations, being sold into slavery, and being hated almost to death by his brothers? (Gen 50:20)
All things will work together for the good for those who are called according to His purpose. Paul is speaking of those whom Elohim has predestined for His purpose.
(Rom 8:29 NASB) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;
(Rom 8:30 NASB) and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Rom 8:30: Predestination means that Elohim is the one who does it all. We do not choose Him, He chooses us. Those whom He foreknew, He predestined, and whom He predestined, He called, and whom He called, He justified, and whom He justified, He glorified. What is this section really about? It’s all about sanctification or us being brought closer to Him.
Keep in mind that Yeshua is the Good Shepherd. If the Good Shepherd has 100 sheep, He will not return with 99. He will not lose one. The theme of predestination is not a scary doctrine, but a comforting doctrine in these uncertain days in which we live. It is not up to you. It is up to Him. it is all in His hands (1 Peter 1:1-2, Isaiah 65:9, John 15:16-19).
(Rom 8:31 NASB) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
(Rom 8:32 NASB) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Rom 8:32: Paul says that he can’t add anything to this! Elohim is on our side. Nobody can bring a charge against us in His presence.
(Rom 8:33 NASB) Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
(Rom 8:34 NASB) who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Rom 8:34: Nobody can condemn a child of Elohim. If you are predestined as one of His and are being sanctified in Him, then He intercedes for us.
(Rom 8:35 NASB) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:35: This is one of the most beautiful passages in Paul’s letters. Nothing can separate Messiah from His people.
(Rom 8:36 NASB) Just as it is written, “FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
(Rom 8:37 NASB) But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
Rom 8:37: This is a quote from Psalm 44:22. How can we be sheep for the slaughter, yet be more than conquerors? It means that while we are truly helpless, we overwhelmingly conquer because of the One who gets the victory for us. Once again, it is not us, it is all Him.
(Rom 8:38 NASB) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
(Rom 8:39 NASB) 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.
Rom 8:39: Nothing can separate us from the love of Elohim centered in Yeshua Messiah.
Salvation is a love story. The Father does the calling. The Father predestines His people to be His people. The father justifies His people. The Father sanctifies His people. The Father glorifies His people. We love Him because He first loved us. Nothing can separate us from that.
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas