Assurance of the Righteous

Romans Eight

Introduction
Romans 8 has been called, “The greatest chapter in the Bible,” “The little Bible,” and “The greatest letter ever written.” Romans has been my constant companion and joy for many years, and I am pleased to share it with you in a series of essays, hoping that it will mean as much to you. If you are serious about being a righteous person and are receptive to the grace of God, be assured that Paul will assist you in this great chapter. While chapter eight does stand out, it does not stand alone. In chapters one and two we read of condemnation; in chapter three and four, justification; in five and six, sanctification, and in chapter eight, glorification. This is an ever ascending letter, from the depths of sin and despair to the heights of righteousness and glory, where “nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God.”

Roman 8 is Paul’s description of a righteous life. He states his theme early and then develops it in this letter. “I am not ashamed of the gospel,” he writes, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes...For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘But the righteous man shall live by faith’” (1:16, 17 NASB). The Revised Standard Version (RSV) says, “He who through faith is righteous shall live,” which is to say that one becomes righteous by faith and also lives a righteous life by faith. God’s righteousness is revealed by faith from beginning to end – “from faith to faith.” To be righteous is to be in right standing with God, just, upright, aligned with His will. We were saved by the Lord’s powerful gospel to an upright life, now Paul wants us to understand what this righteous life really is. And this is the purpose of these essays.

I always assume that I am writing to Christians, but you must not assume; you must be sure. If you are sure and have sufficient faith, you may go with Paul deep into the Romans mine of Christian theology and bring out treasures far more valuable than you have ever imagined. I have been working this mine for almost sixty years and from it I have drawn the greatest understanding and richest treasurers I have ever known. Upon hearing of the Romans class I am in at church and my upcoming essays on chapter eight, a good “old” (like me) preacher brother wrote, “My heart cries out for what you are pursuing. I wish I could attend the study on Romans. No matter how many times we travel its holy ground, our tank needs refueling. Keep up the great work. In Him, Bob.” I pray that you will have the same yearning—and the same experience.

I have divided this chapter into five sections under the heading, “Assurance of the Righteous.” There will be the following essays: 1.Your Freedom is Complete, 2.Your Adoption if Final, 3. Your Hope is Certain, 4. Your Help Is Unlimited and 5. Your Joy Is Unspeakable.

1. Your Freedom is Complete (vs. 1-11)

1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

If you are in right standing with God, you are a righteous person, under no condemnation whatsoever. And you have all the freedom you can accept. Christians are often hindered by their inability or unwillingness to accept the grace of God; they feel that they must “do their part,” not realizing that Christ has already done it all and there is no part for them to do. Following their shepherd is what sheep do best. It is their nature. “When he puts forth his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him because they do not know the voice of a stranger” (John 10:4, 5).

You can see at the outset that we are not dealing with obeying laws or plans or in any way working for salvation and righteousness. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law (rule) of sin and death.” Nor does the Law, under which generations before us lived, control our lives, “For what the Law could not do...God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” The spiritual mind is alive and at peace. This is your state if the Holy Spirit dwells in you and gives life to your mortal body.

Jesus didn’t come to condemn you; He came to condemn the sin in you. Isn’t that why He said He had come? “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him” (John 3:17). So you have been set free from sin to live a life of freedom, guided by God’s word and empowered by His presence. You have a spiritual mindset that keeps you “in step with the Spirit,” following your Shepherd You are free from everything that hinders you, except your own inhibitions; shake them off and you will be as free as a human being can be.

But this assurance of righteousness is not for everyone. No one who refuses to submit to God and do His will shall ever be righteous or know the freedom righteousness brings. Nor does church membership necessarily contribute to righteousness—sometimes it gives one a feeling of self-righteousness and superiority, which is destructive to humility and righteousness. Paul was writing to “the saints at Rome,” and by extension, to the saints of out time as well. His aim was to give assurance that the gospel is God’s power to save and that saved people are righteousness people. They are also free people. Your first assurance is this: “Your freedom is complete.”
_________________________________
Note: Dianne said, regarding my last essay, “I don’t know that I agree with you about the Weight Watchers program.” Perhaps I was too casual and simplistic. We all need support sometimes. If it works for you, go for it. Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. I have never been known for my iron will but as a teacher.