Romans 8WEB
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Romans8

World English Bible · Public Domain

1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

3For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

4that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

6For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;

7because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be.

8Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.

9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

10If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

15For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;

17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.

19For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

20For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope

21that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.

22For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

23Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.

24For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?

25But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.

26In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.

27He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.

28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

29For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

30Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.

31What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?

33Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.

34Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36Even as it is written, “For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Romans 8.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The freedom of believers from condemnation. (1–9). Their privileges as being the children of God. (10–17). Their hopeful prospects under tribulations. (18–25). Their assistance from the Spirit in prayer. (26, 27). Their interest in the love of God. (28–31). Their final triumph, through Christ. (32–39).

vv1-9

Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The unrenewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls? Those that live in pleasure are dead, 1Ti 5:6. A sanctified soul is a living soul; and that life is peace. The carnal mind is not only an enemy to God, but enmity itself. The carnal man may, by the power of Divine grace, be made subject to the law of God, but the carnal mind never can; that must be broken and driven out. We may know our real state and character by inquiring whether we have the Spirit of God and Christ, or not, verse 9. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ, means having a turn of mind in some degree like the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and is to be shown by a life and conversation suitable to his precepts and example.

vv10-17

If the Spirit be in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, and has begun its holy happiness which shall endure for ever. The righteousness of Christ imputed, secures the soul, the better part, from death. From hence we see how much it is our duty to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. If any habitually live according to corrupt lustings, they will certainly perish in their sins, whatever they profess. And what can a worldly life present, worthy for a moment to be put against this noble prize of our high calling? Let us then, by the Spirit, endeavour more and more to mortify the flesh. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, through the darkness of that dispensation. The Spirit of adoption was not then plentifully poured out. Also it refers to that spirit of bondage, under which many saints were at their conversion. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul. Though we may now seem to be losers for Christ, we shall not, we cannot, be losers by him in the end.

vv18-25

The sufferings of the saints strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time, are light afflictions, and but for a moment. How vastly different are the sentence of the word and the sentiment of the world, concerning the sufferings of this present time! Indeed the whole creation seems to wait with earnest expectation for the period when the children of God shall be manifested in the glory prepared for them. There is an impurity, deformity, and infirmity, which has come upon the creature by the fall of man. There is an enmity of one creature to another. And they are used, or abused rather, by men as instruments of sin. Yet this deplorable state of the creation is in hope. God will deliver it from thus being held in bondage to man's depravity. The miseries of the human race, through their own and each other's wickedness, declare that the world is not always to continue as it is. Our having received the first-fruits of the Spirit, quickens our desires, encourages our hopes, and raises our expectations. Sin has been, and is, the guilty cause of all the suffering that exists in the creation of God. It has brought on the woes of earth; it has kindled the flames of hell. As to man, not a tear has been shed, not a groan has been uttered, not a pang has been felt, in body or mind, that has not come from sin. This is not all; sin is to be looked at as it affects the glory of God. Of this how fearfully regardless are the bulk of mankind! Believers have been brought into a state of safety; but their comfort consists rather in hope than in enjoyment. From this hope they cannot be turned by the vain expectation of finding satisfaction in the things of time and sense. We need patience, our way is rough and long; but He that shall come, will come, though he seems to tarry.

Cross References

Romans 8
v15Galatians 4:6thematic

Parallel description of the Spirit of adoption/Spirit of Christ crying out Abba, Father.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v36Psalms 44:22quotation

Directly quoted in v. 36 to establish the historic reality of suffering for God's sake.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v1John 3:18thematic

Direct parallel on the complete exemption of the believer from divine condemnation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1John 5:24thematic

Jesus declares that whoever believes has passed from death to life and avoids condemnation.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

Exemplifies how we are made the righteousness of God in Him, removing condemnation.

Supported by JFB

v32Genesis 22:12typology

Isaac's near-sacrifice as a type of God not sparing His own Son.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v33Isaiah 50:8allusion

The OT basis of 'It is God that justifieth' and 'Who will contend with me?'

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v34Hebrews 7:25thematic

Crucial parallel detailing Christ's ongoing, saving work of intercession at God's right hand.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

Describes what it means for believers to be structurally placed 'in Christ Jesus'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2John 7:38thematic

Links the 'Spirit of life' to the living water flowing from believers.

Supported by JFB

v3Galatians 3:21thematic

Verbal echo on the law's inability to impart life or righteousness.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Galatians 5:17thematic

Explains the perpetual warfare and contrary desires between the flesh and the Spirit.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v14John 1:12thematic

Associates being led by or believing in Christ with the right to become sons of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Romans 8:23thematic

Clarifies the final redemption of our body as the climax of adoption.

Supported by Matthew Henry

Parallels the comparison of light, momentary present afflictions with eternal glory.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v20Genesis 3:17-19thematic

The foundational curse making the ground and entire creation subject to vanity.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v26Galatians 4:6thematic

The indwelling Spirit of God's Son crying 'Abba, Father' in our hearts.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB

v26Zechariah 12:10thematic

The Spirit of grace and supplications helping our inability to pray.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v28Ephesians 1:4thematic

Parallels God's pre-temporal election, predestination, and sovereign purpose.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v2Isaiah 11:2thematic

Prophetic source for the manifold designations of the Holy Spirit residing in Christ.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Romans 7:24contrast

Contrast between the agonizing cry of bondage to death and the deliverance in v2.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Corroborates that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Acts 13:39thematic

Contrast between what the Law of Moses could not justify and what Christ did.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Romans 8:32thematic

Reinforces God 'sending His own Son' as the ultimate measure of grace.

Supported by JFB

v15Galatians 4:5thematic

Redemption from the law's bondage specifically to receive the adoption as sons.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v15Mark 14:36allusion

The exact prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, echoed by the Spirit in believers.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Believers groaning in their earthly bodies, longing to be clothed.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v24Psalms 130:7thematic

Links Israel's hope in the Lord with waiting for full redemption.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v27Revelation 2:23thematic

Christ as the one who searches the minds and hearts.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v27Jeremiah 17:10thematic

Verbal link to God searching the heart and testing the mind.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v282 Timothy 1:9thematic

Our calling according to His own purpose and grace before time began.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Identifies Christ as the 'firstborn' over creation and among the brethren.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v28Deuteronomy 8:2thematic

God leading His people through trials to humble them and do them good.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v35Acts 14:22thematic

The necessity of entering the kingdom of God through many tribulations.

Supported by John Calvin

v21Romans 8:19thematic

Immediate context showing creation's earnest expectation of the sons of God.

Supported by Matthew Henry