ROMANS 8 AND MOM

FIRST want to apologize for not doing my duty for God in keeping up my daily devotions. And although it is no excuse my mom went into the hospital 4 weeks ago, finding out she had terminal kidney failure without dialysis. She chose to go home to be with Jesus and my pops! We brought them both home last weekend to there Home in Holly Grove AR. to there final resting place. It was a long 4 weeks and i GIVE my sister Leigh Ross much praise for being there for mom and all of us that werent there in her last hours. that being said i am posting the last study she did before going home. I will try to be as good as she was in the following studies. I will also be doing some of her studies that i have copies of that she has done through the years.

Share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.

OTWHministries

ROMANS 8

Life through the spirit

1.Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

2.Because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

3.What the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.

4.In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the spirit.

Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice, a sin offering, for our sins. In Old Testament times, animal sacrifices were continually offered at the temple. The sacrifices showed the Israelites the seriousness of sin, but animal blood could not really remove sins. The sacrifices could only point to Jesus’ sacrifice, which paid the penalty for all sin’.

5.Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

6.The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

7.The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God, it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.

8.Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

People are divided into two categories- those who are dominated by the sinful nature, and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit. All of us would be in the first category if Jesus hadn't offered us a way out. Once we have said yes to Jesus, we will want to continue following Him, because His way brings life and peace.

This is a daily process. We must consciously choose to center our lives on God using the Bible to discover God's guidelines, and then follow them in every situation. Ask yourself, “What would Jesus want me to do? When the Holy Spirit points out what is right, do it eagerly.

9.You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.

10.But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the spirit gives life because of righteousness.

11.And if the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you He will give life to your mortal bodies because of His spirit who lives in you.

Have you ever worried about whether or not you really are a Christian? A Christian is anyone who has the spirit of God living in him or her. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and acknowledge Him as the Lord, then the Holy Spirit has come into your life, and you are a Christian. You won't know that the Holy Spirit has come if you are waiting for a certain feeling; you will know He has come because Jesus promised He would.

12.So, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation-- but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.

13.For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

14.Those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God.

15.The spirit you receive does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again, rather, this spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we

16.Cry, abba, father.

This verse is very special to me and to my family. I'm sure most of you may know that Richard is our adopted son. When we took him into our family, he became an heir to all that we had, just as our other children. I would like to share an incident with you that shows just how much he belonged to our family.

For some reason, I can't remember, Richard needed his birth certificate. We searched for it and I couldn't find it. But the thought struck me that I might have his hospital birth record. So I started searching for that. And suddenly I stopped and looked up, and he was looking at me with a grin on his face, he said, “mom you don't have it do you?” To that I replied, with a sheepish grin on my face, “I forgot”. For a moment both of us had forgotten he was adopted.

17.The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children

18.Now if we are children then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co heirs with Christ if, indeed, we share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory.

Do you count it a privilege to be known as a child of God? We share in the greatest treasures the world has ever known. God has already given us His best gifts, His son, His Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life. And he encourages us to ask him for whatever we need. Well, there are wonderful things ahead for us as children of God. However, I will not kid you; there is a price to pay for following Christ. When we are associated with Jesus Christ, the world does not look very kindly upon us. We live in a free country where we are free to follow Christ or not to follow Him, however, if we choose to follow Him, we can be assured that we will be looked upon differently. Personally, I have been laughed at, criticized, been called a fanatic, and lost friends. I have had friends who have been thrown in prison because of their belief in Jesus Christ and their preaching of the gospel. A missionary friend of mine is still fighting a prison sentence in London, England, for preaching the gospel on a street corner. He was charged with creating a nuisance, disturbing the peace, and offending other with his preaching. He had to post bail before he could leave the country and was told he must return for trial. He has made two trips that I know of, back to London for his trials and I have not heard if it has been resolved. And this is in a free country. Can you imagine what it is like to be in countries that are not so free? We have seen news clippings of people being crucified on rugged crosses just like Jesus was, just for declaring Jesus is Lord. I'm not saying that all of this might happen to you if you become a follower of Jesus, but it's a warning that you might not be treated nicely by some people. But what a privilege it is, to be able to say, “I stand with Jesus Christ”.

19.Present Suffering and Future Glory

20.I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

21.For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

22.For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that

23.The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into freedom and glory of the children of GOD

24.We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

25.Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

26.For in this hope, we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?

27.But if we hope for what we do not yet have we wait for it patiently.

Sin has caused our world to fall from the perfect state in which God created it. Almost daily we hear of catastrophes such as storms, earthquakes, landslides, and other such disasters in our world. We could say that all nature is reeling from sin. Because we are children of God, we are a part of the new order that will free the world of sin, sickness, and evil. In the meantime, it is our responsibility to go with Christ into the world where we can fight the evil effects of sin.

But isn't it wonderful that we know what is ahead for us? We don't have to hope if we're saved, we have seen the future in God's word; that's what it means when it says, “who hopes for what they already have.” For now, we, as Christians, wait patiently for Gods will to play out. And in the meantime, we can rejoice, for we know who wins the war. Hallelujah!

26.In the same way, the spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27. And He who searches our hearts, He knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God 28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, that he might be the first born among many brothers and sisters. 30. And those He predestined, He also called; Those he called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

These last few verses in this chapter have caused many controversies between denominations, but there is nothing complicated about them. God is working all things not just isolated instances for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long range good. Notice He is not working to make us happy, but to fulfill His purpose. Notice also that the promise is not for everyone, it can be claimed only by those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Those who are called are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ. If you have received Christ, you have been called. God has given you a new mindset on life. We trust in God. not life's treasures, we look for our security in heaven, not on earth. We learn to accept, not resent, pain and persecution, because God is with us. God does not force us to follow Him. To be “called” by God, means to be invited. The rest is up to you, whether or not you respond to that call.

More Than Conquerors

31.What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32. He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--How will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things 33. Who will bring any charges against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

34. Who's the end is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died--more than that, who was raised to life is that the right hand of God and he is also interceding for us. 35 who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36. as it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”. 37. No, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

38. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers 39. neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you have a problem when it comes to praying? You need not be concerned about that because the Holy Spirit knows your heart and even when you don't know the right words to pray the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and god answers. You don't need to be afraid to come before God. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with the will of God. Then when you bring your request to God trust that he will always do what is best.

God's purpose for people is not an afterthought. It was settled before the foundation of the world. People are to serve and honor God. If you have believed in Christ, you can rejoice in the fact that God has always known you. God's love is eternal. His wisdom and power are supreme. He will guide and protect you until you one day stand in His presence.

See you later

LOVE Y’ALL

Maggie