Lesson 16
Romans 8:1-17
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Living by Faith: A Study in Romans
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you....Romans 8:9
In our last study we looked at the weakness of the flesh and the believer's vulnerability to sinful desires. We will now look beyond our own weaknesses.
Read Romans 8:1-8
1) Review chapter 7. Why do you think at this point Paul assures us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?
2) What reason does Paul give in Romans 8:2-4 for our escape from condemnation? Note what he says about God, Christ's work and our walk.
3) Thanks be to God, Jesus condemned sin in the flesh by dying in the likeness of sinful flesh. This is elsewhere explained as an exchange. Write what you learn about Christ's work from the following verses:
4) Jesus did what the law could not. The law written on stone could not penetrate hearts of stone. Weak flesh, even if it could keep the letter of the law, could not fully keep the intent of the law--love. After centuries of failure, God gave Israel a promise in Ezekiel 36:26-27. What promise does he give them?
God fulfills this promise in Jesus. The Holy Spirit renovates our hearts causing us to keep God's commands. It is no wonder that we must walk in the Spirit if we are to please God!
5) In Romans 8:5-8 Paul speaks of two kinds of ways of living. Record everything Paul says about:
FLESH SPIRIT
6) We know that sometimes we quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19) and walk in our old ways instead of God's. Though we are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) we are still capable of sinning. The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Are the habits of your mind fleshly or spiritual and what is the outcome of your thought life?
Read Romans 8:9-11
7) What does Paul say about having the Spirit?
8) How does this give you hope now and for the future?
Read Romans 8:12-17
9) We learned previously to think of ourselves as slaves to righteousness. In Romans 8:12-13 we now learn that we are debtors. We have a choice between flesh and Spirit. What is the end result of each and where does the believer's obligation lie?
10) What is our relationship to the Father in the Spirit?
11) Read 1 John 3:1-10. What more do you learn about sonship from St. John?
12) Paul says in Romans 8:16 that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. Why is this inner witness of the Spirit important?
13) What does it mean to suffer with Christ?
14) Why is it necessary to suffer with Christ? See Romans 6:5, Philippians 3:10-11 and Hebrews 5:8 for help.
15) What insights into Christian living have you gained through your study of Romans 8:1-17 that you can begin to apply to your life?
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Copyright © 2009, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Romans 8:1-17
Read Mark Learn Bible Studies
Living by Faith: A Study in Romans
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you....Romans 8:9
In our last study we looked at the weakness of the flesh and the believer's vulnerability to sinful desires. We will now look beyond our own weaknesses.
Read Romans 8:1-8
1) Review chapter 7. Why do you think at this point Paul assures us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?
2) What reason does Paul give in Romans 8:2-4 for our escape from condemnation? Note what he says about God, Christ's work and our walk.
3) Thanks be to God, Jesus condemned sin in the flesh by dying in the likeness of sinful flesh. This is elsewhere explained as an exchange. Write what you learn about Christ's work from the following verses:
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
- 1 Peter 2:24
4) Jesus did what the law could not. The law written on stone could not penetrate hearts of stone. Weak flesh, even if it could keep the letter of the law, could not fully keep the intent of the law--love. After centuries of failure, God gave Israel a promise in Ezekiel 36:26-27. What promise does he give them?
God fulfills this promise in Jesus. The Holy Spirit renovates our hearts causing us to keep God's commands. It is no wonder that we must walk in the Spirit if we are to please God!
5) In Romans 8:5-8 Paul speaks of two kinds of ways of living. Record everything Paul says about:
FLESH SPIRIT
6) We know that sometimes we quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19) and walk in our old ways instead of God's. Though we are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) we are still capable of sinning. The mind set on the flesh is death but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Are the habits of your mind fleshly or spiritual and what is the outcome of your thought life?
Read Romans 8:9-11
7) What does Paul say about having the Spirit?
8) How does this give you hope now and for the future?
Read Romans 8:12-17
9) We learned previously to think of ourselves as slaves to righteousness. In Romans 8:12-13 we now learn that we are debtors. We have a choice between flesh and Spirit. What is the end result of each and where does the believer's obligation lie?
10) What is our relationship to the Father in the Spirit?
11) Read 1 John 3:1-10. What more do you learn about sonship from St. John?
12) Paul says in Romans 8:16 that the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. Why is this inner witness of the Spirit important?
13) What does it mean to suffer with Christ?
14) Why is it necessary to suffer with Christ? See Romans 6:5, Philippians 3:10-11 and Hebrews 5:8 for help.
15) What insights into Christian living have you gained through your study of Romans 8:1-17 that you can begin to apply to your life?
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Copyright © 2009, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
