Romans Chapter Eight
So, because Christ has translated Israel from under the law to a spiritually derived remnant (v1) (a people under grace) through the gift of eternal life there is now no longer sin upon His people. (v2) By making Jesus sin for us, (v3) God translated His remnant to lead captive sin within the law of the flesh rather than within the spirit of newness of life in Jesus Christ. By giving us eternity to live to fulfil our repentance, the instantaneous condemnation of the law to those held in sin is separated away from the remnant of His people who are saved and justified by their faith (v4) - because they love the creator more than the creation. (v5)
To be concerned with ones physical self is to be warring with oneself and sin; but to be minded upon the faith of Jesus Christ is freedom from sin - and a fruitful life of repentance that glorifies God.(v6) Being given over to sin, exercising ones liberty in license apart from God's sovereignty and His call to repentance through faith is opposition to the will of the creator, but to have faith in Christ is to be reconciled to God. (v8) None come to the Father but by Christ Jesus.
So therefore, all believers are in the spirit of eternal life granted by God even now - because of their faith upon Christ. Those without such faith obedient to the calling (and faith of Christ) are separated away from God. They are serving their own flesh rather than the spirit God would have given them. (v9) Now the old law, if the spirit of repentance be in the believer is done away with - that of warring with ones flesh for the immediate justification of complete obedience - but the repentance that is fruitful in the freedom given of Christ's eternal life is indeed righteousness when it is found in faith in Christ. (v10)
Now God who raised up Christ from the dead will also surely raise us up also - He being satisfied that in the spirit we have the life He gives - (if indeed we have it) (v11). Therefore we do not owe our former estate of condemnation our effort (v12); which leads only to life outside of hope in Christ and therefore to death since it is under condemnation. We owe instead our effort to perfecting our faith of God in the example of Jesus Christ that ensures our repentance even today. (v13) Not as continuing trapped in a reprobate mind or of sin under condemnation of the law.
By sharing in the eternal life laid down for us by so great a creator we become by fruitfulness in eternity as like to Him, blameless. Therefore within the grace extended us we are heirs, and are the sons of God.(v14) We have not received the bondage as of the fleshly law under which all are condemned, but of surety in knowledge as heirs we are co-opted into the remnant of Israel adopted by our creator whom we call Father. (v15).
Therefore the spirit of God that is present within us agrees in one statement that we are heirs, because we know His laws are not tedious to keep and within them is much liberty and joy. We will hope towards our eventually perfected behaviour and come closer to the knowledge of God by His spirit. (v16). We will not be "gods", but heirs to the promise of eternal life by the resurrection of Christ if we begin now to do what He says. In this way we build our spiritual houses upon rock.(v17) In so doing we will keep our faith and repentance even to the point of death as did Christ; in the hope that we shall be resurrected as was He.
For any suffering of this life can not compare to the grace that will be extended us in order for us to repent within eternity to bring us into the goodness of God. We hope through Christ in us that we would glorify Him as fully as we are able. (v18) For as creations of God we eagerly await eternal life through the resurrection - and we earnestly wish and desire to model ourselves on perfect godly behaviour. (v19). Since we were created in such a fashion that we were afterward led with our own pleasures by our carnal manners; (v20) for that same reason that we would find pleasure in doing well before God also - that we would strive for godliness after being accepted by God (v21).
All creation is filled with suffering, (v22) including upon ourselves, the elected by grace. (v23) The same elect who have the better promise of Christ's resurrection - hoping in ourselves for our own godliness to 'meet' our reconciliation to our creator. For we are saved from our separation from God by our hope in Christ that we be translated perfectly in eternal life to all sinlessness. For we sin still, but we have eternity in which to hope, being reconciled to God through His Son. (v24) Therefore we hope patiently for acceptance (v25).
Also our expectation and our misconceptions are ministered to for us by the Holy Spirit, who knows full well where our shortfalls remain. He ministers in order for us to be corrected; He groans in like hope so that we would be perfected more quickly. (v26) The Holy Spirit knows our inward selves well, and ministers in such a fashion as to bring us into perfect adoption in the likeness of the righteousness of Christ, being the will of God. (v27) For we are taught by a loving God, and all things in this presently groaning creation suffers to bring about in us by Gods grace a fuller picture of the proper character we should have. (v28)
Once God had received us, He exercises His grace to us for our good (predestination) that Christ might be the foremost among us. Our faith is to be made similar as to His and our behaviour as to His example. (v29) Those whom He did set on the path to godliness in eternal life He did also put within a Holy Spirit to work out in repentance their own salvation. Those for whom He finally accepted He has already justified, and those whom He has finally justified (and fully) He will glorify as an heir also. (v30) So, in light of suffering and the opposition of our flesh, If God be for us according to our faith, then what is there left in creation that could possibly set us apart from God? (v31).
In giving His Son to show such an example of godliness and obedience, (sparing not His life so as to show us the proper fear of God) as co-heirs with Christ, we have all things that Christ inherited, as ours also. Certainly those things ministered to us by the Spirit (that keep God in His perfection Holy) will be extended to us in grace, and also from the predestination within the life He laid down for us; (for He has the power to take it up again and live it in us!)(v32). So, after we are glorified with Him, standing as justly as Christ, who then will accuse us before God? Whilst doing so finding fault with God, (even Christ) before the throne of grace? (v33)
It is Christ who is blameless and to whom has been given the judgement - for as the Spirit has searched us out, we therefore should confidently rest in Jesus as we would on sabbath, knowing that our judge is also He who has ministered to us to bring us into eternal life. (v34) Therefore the things of this world can not justify a man to give up so great a salvation, for the world hated Christ first. Indeed we in turn should be as obedient, keeping our faith: even if we appear to be cut off from eternity still as sinners. (v35)
We as ambassadors for Christ are tempted, scattered, hated by those outside
His elect: and also called in suffering. (v36) But so great a salvation through Jesus is extended to us that His perfection reaches out to us today and grants us hope of eternal life through His victory on the cross. (v37) For there is nothing in creation that can separate us from the law of grace (v38) whilst we retain the love of the truth of the gospel which was revealed to us in Jesus Christ. (v39)
Therefore by extending the perfection of God's given redemption, (by grace upon ourselves) from its final work upon us as towards eternity (our hope to the present day) we arrive at the justification of all the saints and the hope of eternal life in Christ. There is no enemy hiding within Christian doctrine, merely the troubles of this present world; but as long as we seek and search after a perfect God as revealed in Jesus Christ: we have the ministering love of God that sets our faith upon the rock.
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