Family Study Guide for Romans 8

November 3 – November 9, 2005
(Read Romans 8 Online)
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Reflections on Romans 8 by Ron Fay, Doctoral Student in N.T. Greek

When I was young, I remember how the people across the street from us seemed to be very different. The kids were abrasive and very aggressive. They were mean and loud. I remember hearing other people talking about them.

“Peter and David cannot help what they are. It is just their parents living through them. After all, both parents are the same way.”

Looking back on that, I realize that in many cases it is true that what most influences us determines, in many cases, how we act. If Muhammad Ali is my hero, I will want to be witty, a fast talker, and a braggart who can back up my claims. If Donald Trump is my hero, I will want to be urbane, yet ruthless.

As Christians, we are not to grow up to be like any earthly hero, rather we want to be like our heavenly Father. But how is this realistically accomplished? That is what Romans 8 is telling us. You and I both began in a state of sin, a state caused by the Fall of Adam and Eve. Due to their Fall, none of us will ever be able to attain God’s righteousness on our own. Instead, we need Jesus to give us His, and He does that through someone else: the Holy Spirit.

Living as a Christian is not easy, but then we do not have just our own power to live by. We no longer have to “live according to the sinful nature,” instead our minds should be “set on what the Spirit desires” (8:5). The Holy Spirit should control us because “the Spirit of God lives in you” (8:9). All of creation awaits the final day when we are declared righteous, the rest are condemned, and creation itself is renewed. Why? Because our sin affects not only ourselves, but the very ground we walk on and all of nature itself. It is through God’s foreknowledge and predestination that we will become glorified, but we are not there yet.

So what about now? That is why He sent the Spirit! The Holy Spirit indwells each of us, not as a security device or monitoring system, but rather as a guide, confidant, and comforter. God wants us to live for Him, and so He has given us HIMSELF to help with it. After all, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (8:31) We have already overcome this world by making the first decision to follow Christ, we just need to follow up that one decision with the daily determination to truly live for Him. After all, He sent His Son to die, and He sent His Spirit to dwell within us, why would we not choose the Father daily?

Questions to Consider:

• When in your life have you seen friends or neighbors acting in a way that was their parents “acting through them”?
• When is a case where you allowed God to live through you? Why have you found it hard to do so at all times?
• Who is your hero? Is that person acting like God in their lives?

Chapter Outline: (From Jim’s Introduction to Romans)

d. Power for sanctification (8:1-17)
e. Goal of sanctification (8:18-27)
f. Certainty of sanctification (8:28-39)

Finish the Verses for this Chapter:

Therefore, there // is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2

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, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met Romans 8:3-4

Those // who live according tothe sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Romans 8:5

The mind // of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. Romans 8:6-8

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.""" Romans 8:15

The Spirit // himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 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. Romans 8:16-17

I consider // that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

In // the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26

And // we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

For those // God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30

He // who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

Who shall // separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35

No, // in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

For I // am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Sample Questions for Studying

Capitalized words are once-used-words

1. Who HOPES for WHAT?
2. 3 Part : The sinful mind what?
3. The Spirit himself intercedes for us how?
4. Who justifies?
5. 3 Part : If we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory, then we are what?
6. He who did not spare his own Son, but what?
7. 2 Part : What if Christ is in you?
8. 2 Part : The law of the Spirit of life se me free from the law of what?
9. Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what?
10. Multiple : I am convinced that WHAT will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord?
11. In all things God what?
12. Those who are LED by the Spirit of God are what?
13. We have an obligation, but it is not to what?
14. The Spirit himself TESTIFIES with our spirit that what?
15. 2 Part : Christ Jesus, who died, is what?
16. In accordance with God's will the Spirit what?
17. 2 Part : We are more than CONQUERORS how?
18. The Spirit himself TESTIFIES how that we are God's children?
19. The creation was what?
20. What is hostile to God?

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