LBC Sermons & Messages

Romans 8:28 will be our focus today. Before we look at the verse, we must do the hermeneutics so we have the proper meaning. Chapter 8 talks about walking in the Spirit. This is a choice that each of us have that have been forgiven and know Christ as our Savior. We choose to crucify our own agendas and allow God through the Holy Spirit to live through us each moment.

Paul then goes on to tell us that when we choose to walk according to the Spirit, there will be suffering. This suffering comes from several fronts that we discussed last week. Christ never promises a life of ease or riches or of plenty. On the contrary, Christ promises a life of suffering and self-denial. The only way to share His glory is to be partakers of His sufferings.

So, we cannot use this verse if we are walking according to our own flesh. How arrogant to claim God’s promises to act out our own agendas. Yet we do it all the time by complaining and asking God where he is in tough times. God’s promise here is for those walking in obedience to Him and His Word.

Now, we see the certain promise, For we know… Isaiah 46 tells us that God is in control and His plan will be done. This is a certainty. God said it, it will come to pass. He is the Almighty, therefore; when God makes a promise we can count on it period.

It also is a comprehensive promise, …that all things… It does not say that some things or even most things. God promises that ALL things work. This is hard to believe because we suffer just like the world at times. Rom 8:17, 18; II Cor. 1:3-7

This brings us to the fact that it is a complex promise. The word synergy comes to mind. This is when simultaneous actions of separate agencies which, together, have greater total effect than the sum of their individual effects. We might not understand why things happen. It is easy to praise God when things are good. However, when we suffer it is part of synergy in our lives via God. Mark 4:35-41

It is also a comforting promise, John 11:43-45. All things work together for good. God said it so believe it. Where is your faith? Let God do the work and you and I need to keep walking in the Spirit.

Lastly, it is a conditional promise. Once again, God promises to work all things out for good to those who are walking in obedience. Where are you walking? Do not use this verse to hold God to blessing you when you are walking according to your flesh.

Romans 8:18-30

Keep in mind this week that this passage is built upon the fact that when one is lead by the Spirit, their perspective is changed. Suffering, when put into perspective is not really suffering at all. What we see in the physical seems like suffering but when seen through the proper “glasses” you see the work the God our loving Father is doing.

In addition, one must realize that creation itself is groaning, 18-22. I just spent a week speaking at Camp Northfield and we looked at the wonders of God’s creation. God is truly a creative and great creator. All of creation screams out the truths of God and yet it is fallen. When man fell, creation paid a price. It is continuing to groan and will until the Lord returns.

We also “suffer” because we ourselves are groaning, 23-25. We know that this life is only for a short while and then life really begins. As much as I enjoy life on earth, it is nothing compared to what awaits us in glory. Our bodies are yearning to be redeemed and many of us are
reminded of this with each pain and set back.

The Spirit also helps our groaning, 26-30. The first verse tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our infirmities. We have infirmities or issues. We “suffer” sometimes because we are human and sinful. Even when we know Christ, there are things we know we should not do and do them anyways. We know there are things we should do and do them not. We also make poor choices at times and have to deal with the consequences. However, notice the Spirit helps us. We cannot live the Christian life apart from the Word and the Spirit’s help.

When the Word guides us and the Spirit illuminates us, our perspective is changed and we can live the victorious Christian life. When we govern our own lives, the journey is long, arduous and ends in ruin, however; with the right perspectives, we have the right values and our lives are lived for Christ and Christ alone. Once again, the choice is yours and mine. Will you suffer on your own or will you “suffer” for Christ?

Romans 8:9-17

To understand the concepts of this passage, one must do the hermeneutics and study it in context. Paul just finished discussing the concept that we can walk according to the flesh or according to the Spirit. The pro to the flesh is that sin is pleasurable for a season. However, the result is death. The pros to living in the Spirit are endless and there are no cons. To do so, one must be poor in spirit as Paul discussed earlier. We cannot be full of ourselves and full of the Spirit.
When one walks in the Spirit, the focus of our life’s eye is changed. We begin to see eternity and the blessings of serving our God and we begin to see this world as what it really is, carnal and temporal. A life lived in and guided by the Spirit is lived for eternity not the day giving us stability when this world is in chaos.
There is also a difference between having the Spirit and the Spirit having you. When one repents, is forgiven, and accepts Christ as their Savior they receive the Spirit of God and you never loose it. You might quench the Spirit and cut off the power of God through you, but the Spirit is still there. So, one can live in the flesh and still have the Spirit.
When one has the Spirit, the flesh still dies because of sin, Hebrews 9:27, 28. You also become the temple of God, I Cor. 6:19, 20. You are no longer yours but God’s both body and in spirit. Next, you have the ability to live to God, I Cor. 6:20, Gal. 2:19, Eph. 1:11. There is nothing holding you back except your choices. In addition, the body dies but the Spirit seals you until the day of redemption, Eph. 1:13, 14.
When the Spirit has you, you can mortify the flesh, Gal. 2:20, 21; 5:24, 25. Apart from the Spirit, you and I can do nothing for as Paul said earlier, there is no good or power in us apart from God. You can also experience the abundant life, John 10:10. Lastly, you are no more in bondage through the adoption into God’s family, Rom. 5:2, Eph. 2:18. When a Christian is in bondage to sin or a habit, it is because they are walking in the flesh. So, the choice is yours. Will you walk in the flesh or Spirit?

Today we will look at the two walks in which every Christian may choose to walk. There are consequences that come with each walk and it is up to you to decide. Remember that God gives us all things that pertain unto life, those things needful to live physically, and to godliness, those things needful to live spiritually. So, God enables you not only to choose but to follow through with His plan no matter how impossible it seems.

First, we must see how scripture defines the two walks. One is of the flesh while the other is of the Spirit. The capital “s” indicates that we are talking of the Spirit of God or the Holy Ghost.

Now this chapter starts off by telling us that if we walk according to the flesh we shall face condemnation while the Spirit cleanses us. Psalms 32 tells us that blessed is the man who the Lord forgives. Psalms 51 informs us that when we walk in our flesh we will face judgment bit when we are obedient to His call we shall receive the blessings and merit of the Almighty God.

In addition, when we walk according to the flesh we shall have guilt but in the Spirit we receive freedom. John 8:36 tells us that Christ not only makes us free but He makes us truly and wholly free. Guilt promotes the defeated life where the freedom of Christ breeds the victorious life, I Corinthians 15:54-f.f.

Thirdly, we see that the flesh is weak but the Spirit is strong. Paul tells us that the flesh is weak but the Spirit is strong. This is why he did those things that he did not want to and had a hard time doing the things that he knew he was supposed to. However, Paul tells us that in his weakness, God’s grace is made sufficient, I Corinthians 12:9. Psalms 144 also tells us that God is our fortress, high tower, etc. Apart from God’s grace, man is ultimately feeble.

Lastly, we see that the flesh brings death, destruction and
ultimate separation from God. The Spirit brings peace, life, and God Himself. Proverbs warns of this repeatedly and tells of the blessing of following God.

In closing, one cannot walk in the Spirit without the indwelling of the Spirit. The relationship in Christ is the prerequisite and key in walking in the Spirit. In addition, walking in the Spirit is the key to living the blessed life. The choice once again is yours and yours alone. Let me close by encouraging you to choose wise, make Christ your aim, and walk in the Spirit.