The Book of Romans, Additional notes on Chapter 8

  1. Freedom from condemnation though the gospel of Jesus Christ (8: 1-11).

    A. We are no longer condemned as the “wretched man” in chapter 7 (v.1)

    a. We are free from condemnation because of the “law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ.” (i.e. the gospel of Christ).

    b. (v.3) The law gave an opportunity to Satan to attack us through the flesh but God sent His son in the likeness of us as an offering and condemned sin the the flesh. Remember, the “wretched man” of chapter 7!

    c. (v.4)Then, the righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh, but the Spirit or spirit (see verse two to find out what it is that sets us free).

d. (v. 5) Being a Christian requires a different mindset. (Remember chapter 6, we can no longer live in sin). The mind set on things of the flesh will bring death while the mind set on the Spirit will bring life.

e. The fleshly person is hostile to God, since things of the flesh cannot please God (v. 6-8).

2. Freedom from permanent death through the resurrection of Christ (9-11).

a. The indwelling of the Spirit, assures that we are not of the flesh!

b. Christ is in us, even though we live in sinful bodies. The Spirit of Christ dwells in us.

c. It is His Spirit that will eventually give eternal life to our mortal bodies.

3. In Christ we have a New life. 8: 12-17.

A. A new Position – NO LONGER ARE WE IN DEBT TO SIN V.12

B. A new Power – which will aid us to overcome and live in the new life.

C. A new Father – and a sense of relationship to God vs. 14-15.

D. A new Witness and a new inheritance – if we suffer with Him.



4. Encouragements to endure Suffering 8: 18-39.

A. The suffering of this age is minute compared to the glory we will receive v. 18.

B. The creation longs for the Sons of God (judgment) to be revealed v. 19.

C. The creation (as well as us) will also be set free v. 20.

D. v.21, the creation will have a jubilee.

E. v. 22, the creation is suffering with us.

F. v. 23, We are the first fruits and await for our bodies to be redeemed.

G. v. 24, We need to think about our hope.

H. v. 25, We must wait with perseverance.

I. v. 26 The Spirit helps us wait!

J. v. 27 The Spirit is always interceding for us!

K. v.28 We must be called according to His purpose. The most important words in v.29 are “those who are called according to His purpose. (In other words, those who obey the gospel of Christ).

L. It is those who are called by the Gospel (2 Thess. 2:14) who are predestined to conform to the image of Jesus. Notice what the predestination concerns v. 29.

M. It is those who are predestined and called who are justified by faith. v. 30.

Calvin's doctrine of Predestination (Augustine's doctrine)

George Whitfield, a Calvinistic Methodist once said to John Wesley: “I agree with St. Augustine, that the floors of hell are crawling with unbaptized infants.” Wesley responded: “Whitfield! Your God is my Devil!” Listen to this and wonder. It is from Calvin's Institutes (Book 3, Chapter 21. Sec. 5).

“All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation: and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or to death. This God has testified, not only in the case of single individuals; he has given a specimen of it in the whole posterity of Abraham, to make it plain that the future condition of each nation was entirely at His disposal.”



Of course, the Bible says something entirely different. The Bible says that God wants “all men” to be saved (1st John 2:2; 1st Timothy 4:10 and so on).

v.31-33 No one can bring a charge against God's people.



An Outline of the latter section.

I. The coming glory – 8: 18-30.

1. The contrast: verse 18

2. The groaning creation: verses 19-22.

3. The groaning Christians: verses 23-25.

4. The groaning Spirit: verses 26-27.

5. The sovereign God: 28-30.

II. The ground of our assurance concerning the coming glory: 8: 31-39.

1. The agents of our triumph: verses 31-34.

2. The basis of our triumph: verses 35-39.