The spiritual walk;

• our experience of being a child of God;
• the power of a godly life, and;
• the continued experience of conflict, Gal 5.17.

v1: In Christ Jesus; since we are in Him, certain consequences are assured;

• there is no condemnation, on earth or in eternity;
• there is no punishment for us, for Christ has borne our punishment, Gal 3.13;
• we should not condemn ourselves, even when we fall short, 1 John 3.19-20;
• our confidence is in Christ and His righteousness, nor in our work.

This statement is wonderfully releasing for the follower of Christ.

v2: The new law, the dominant influence in our lives. We have the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, and the law of sin and death is finished with. See 6.9, 14; they no longer have dominion over us.

v3: The weakness of the law; it could never change the heart, for it could only condemn, 7.7-10. It was weakened by the sinful nature, Heb 7.23, since the priests all died, and those who offered sacrifices were not actually changed in the heart by them.

We have the righteousness of God apart from the law, see 3.21. This righteousness is fulfilled in us, not by us; 3.22. This means we are to live righteously, exercising practical obedience. We do not live for reward, nor are we driven by guilt or fear.

God sent His own Son; His deity; in the likeness of sinful man, His humanity, but without sin, in desire, attitude, action, and word.

Christ came to deal with sin; "to be a sin offering," to condemn sin; and He won this victory in the flesh, in His physical body.

v4: The consecrated walk, the ram of Gen 22; as we walk according to the Spirit. This is the glorious possibility of all who are in Christ. There is the law in our hearts and minds, as in Jer 31.33; Ezek 11.19-20; 36.26-27. And imputed righteousness becomes demonstrated righteousness.

v5-8: The difference between flesh, natural human life, and spirit, quickened human life. The difference is not between saved and unsaved, since the saved can live in a carnal, unspiritual way. We need to set our minds on the things of the Spirit, to be spiritually minded, subject to God, learning to think of Christ, and to think the way He thinks.

If we are full of ourselves, then we cannot please God. The constant challenge here is to walk in the way of Christ; but there are repeated encouragements to carry on.

v9-11: The evidence of the work of the Spirit in our lives.

v9: Statement of fact; we are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in us. He is also called the Spirit of Christ, working to manifest the character of Christ. That character is the essential evidence of the in-dwelling Spirit. Here too is sufficient resource for us to live according to the Spirit.

This is also why sin grieves the Holy Spirit, for He dwells in us and loves us. But we are now able to please God, something an unbeliever can never do.

v10: The body is dead, and will be replaced by a new body. The spirit is alive, being made alive by God; hence the phrase 'to be born again,' which Paul never uses. It seems also that the spirit is made alive before faith, not because of our faith. The new life into which we have been delivered is wonderfully better than anything that preceded it.

v11: Promise of personal resurrection; assured by Christ's resurrection, and by the presence of the Spirit in our lives. We can enjoy resurrection power here and now, Eph 1.19-20.

v12-17: Our obligation and responsibility.

v12: We are debtors, we have an obligation, as in 1.14, see also 15.27. This is spiritual, not natural; a consequence of being in Christ. The obligation is not to live according to human standards, however moral they may be, for that is to live according to the flesh. The obligation is not an option. Yet in the Holy Spirit, we have resource sufficient to fulfil this obligation.

v13: The one who lives according to the flesh will die; he has no future. Paul states that no Christian should live in this way. By the Spirit we can identify and deal with sins in our own lives. Further, the Spirit leads us in the way of obedience; this is part of the obligation, to put to death those things which are wrong, "misdeeds."

'The essence of living the Christian life is to think according to the Spirit, to live according to the Spirit, to believe according to the Spirit, and to have nothing of the flesh in one’s mind and actions and life. That means that you do not put your hope in the flesh.' (Africa Study BIble)

v14: Being led is much more than guidance in certain areas of our lives, although it must include that. Rather it is being led according to truth in all aspects of life; we learn to be constantly mindful of the ways of truth.

Notice too that the words here are plural, for we are led together, we are not Christians individually. We note too that an evidence of sonship is that we are led by the Spirit.

v15: Dealing with fear and enjoying sonship; in the past we were in bondage, and therefore subject to fear; Heb 2.15; 1 John 4.18. Now we are in relationship with God, whom we address as Father, Gal 4.6.

v16: The truths of Scripture are applied into our lives by the Holy Spirit; He bears witness; and we have total confidence that the word is indeed true. Here is our assurance; we know that we belong to God in Christ, through the inner witness of the Spirit.

v17: Our inheritance is in Christ, and we are joint heirs with Him; an adopted son has greater rights than a natural son. 

This verse links our experience today with our glorious future. We see that suffering is part of our Christian experience, and in this we experience the comforts of sonship, the presence of His Spirit; and we will learn lessons that cannot otherwise be learned.

As we grasp our personal 'sonship and secruity and confidence in God, this releases us into effective service. It is too easy to fall back into duty or guilt in our response to God - and sonship keeps us from such.

The order is common; suffering, then glory; Luke 24.26; Acts 14.22; 1 Pet 1.11.

v18: Suffering into perspective, 2 Cor 4.17;

• pain is part of the process of growth, 2 Pet 3.18;
• suffering now is evidence of glory to come;
• Christ is our example, John 16.21, Heb 12.2.

There is glory that will be revealed in us; 5.2; Col 1.27; Heb 6.19; this is our hope. This glory is from Christ, John 17.22.

v19: Creation itself shares that suffering, and looks forward to deliverance, when all things will be brought into subjection to Jesus Christ, Eph 1.10. Heb 2.8 teaches that this is something in the future.

v20-21: Gen 3 records the effects of the fall upon creation; God has subjected all creation to frustration, or futility, which is the opposite of hope. Creation shares in the Christian hope, and thus it looks forward to liberation and freedom; and that is tied up with our hope; Heb 11.40. Jews and Christians will be perfected together; ie. OT and NT believers.

v22: The evidence of frustration and futility in groans and labours; these are natural disasters, such as earthquakes, severe weather, etc. There are repeated and cyclical, and increasingly severe, as with a woman's birth pains; hence Gen 3.16, where the scripture prophesies a woman's birth pains. In Matt 24.6-8, this is the beginning of sorrows.

v23: We also groan within ourselves;

• looking forward to the glory which shall be revealed;
• looking forward to freedom from sin; and
• evidence if the work (the first fruits) of the Spirit in our lives.

Just as creation groans, so does the church, awaiting her deliverance into glory. The Spirit in us also groans, v26.

v24-25: Salvation brings hope;

• a certain hope, a sure salvation;
• based on God's promises;
• not yet fulfilled, not seen, but we trust in God;
• not yet received, and therefore something to look forward to.

'the whole universe will replace its futility and corruption and disease and degeneration and disasters with a whole new order - a new heaven and a new earth.' (John Piper, Finally Alive)

This gives strength to persevere today. We are waiting, but active not passive, in obedience not complacency. See Heb 10.36; perseverance today, and promise tomorrow. We wait patiently, awaiting God's time for our lives.

v26: We recognise our weakness in our prayers. We groan, because words fail us. The Holy Spirit interprets our groans, for He understands our true spiritual desires, 1 Cor 2.10-11. This is an open route for all of us; and is different from the gift of tongues, which is given to some, not all. This intercession confirms in us the reality of Christ's continuing intercession for us in Heaven.

v27: The Spirit's interpretation and intercession;

• in accordance with God's will;
• any wrong motives in us are filtered out;
• the perfect unity in the Godhead is honoured.

v28: Our confidence is that all things work together for good, although we do not always know how. Our trust is in God, leaving the details for Him. God is utterly committed to those who are His. All our struggles and sufferings are part of His work in us; and we know that His glory will be revealed in and through us.

God's righteousness is revealed in 'predestination,' which is a theme in chapters 9-11. But this doctrine is manifested also in our day-to-day experience.

"We know," for we have absolute confidence in God.

"All things;" even those things we describe as bad; for God is always active for good.

"Those who love Him;" Christians; for He has first loved us.

"Called;" (Greek; ELEO), called out, like Lazarus, according to His purpose, for a reason, see John 11.4, 40.

"Purpose," (Greek; PROTHESIS); set out and planned by God, like the shewbread, bread of purpose. God's method of calling in through Jesus Christ.

v29: "Foreknew;" (Greek PROGINOSKO), God knew beforehand, referring to people, rather than events.

"Predestined," (Greek PRO-ORIZI), to visualise beforehand; referring to God's plan, that people be conformed to Christ. This plan cannot be thwarted; and this is the glorious destiny for His own.

"First-born," (Greek PROTYCHOS), the first, the prototype; the one to whom we must be conformed.

These words have the prefix 'PRO' meaning 'before;' the call is irresistible because it is eternal. (The word LEKTOS, meaning chosen, is not used here.)

v30: God's plan becomes our experience; the plan of God, being eternal, remains true whatever the response of man. God is true, even if every man is made a liar.

The past tenses here show that the salvation is accomplished; not one is lost. Our final end is glorification, being conformed to the image of His Son. The sequence in v29-30 is seen also in Jesus Himself; the same things will be fulfilled in our lives also.

As Paul promised in 5.17, the believer will reign. ‘When God redeems the whole creation, redeemed humans will play the key role, resuming the wise, healing sovereignty over the whole world for which God made them in the first place.’ (Tom Wright, Virtue Reborn)

Here the word "called" is KALEO, meaning summoned, see Matt 20.8; 25.14.

v31: What shall we say to these things? What can be learn from these truths declared and explained? What is our response? Paul asks the question, and provides answers in v32-39.

Whatever happens, God's purposes remain; whatever enemy we meet, and however strong the one who comes against us, our Saviour is the stronger man, and He is "for us." These verses present powerful security for all who belong to Christ.

v32: God proved His love in not sparing His Son, the greatest of gifts. Anything else, even though it is "all things," cannot be greater; daily strength, answered prayer, healing, husband or wife, children; nothing is greater than Christ. Yet He will continue to give us so much, Luke 11.11-13. He cannot give greater, but He can give more; and He does give more. Such on-going largesse is a sign of an on-going love.

Such giving is gracious and free, not dependent upon us, except perhaps our willingness to receive.

v33: A charge, or accusation; the devil is the accuser of the brethren; but God justifies, He makes right, holding nothing against us. God does not accuse us; we are chosen by God, His justified people, and He will hear no accusation against us.

Further, the truth of this verse arms us against the sense that of disqualification and guilt. God has done everything for our justification, and He has declared justified. Nothing that we do can change that.

v34: Condemnation, or judgment. In Christ we are delivered from condemnation, because He has borne it for us; He endured the judgment of God, He died.

But He is risen, for the Son is God Himself, and the perfect man. He rose to make intercession for us; to continually offer His own sacrifice before God, to be our Advocate. Even when we sin there is no judgment, for Christ has already borne it.

v35-37: The aim of Satan is to separate us from the love of Christ. (The Greek word CHORIZO, to put asunder, is used in Matt 19.6; Mark 10.9.) He will use all manner of means to achieve this aim. In addition, the ordinary experiences of life could separate us also.

It is interesting that Paul brought tribulation, distress, persecution, and the sword upon Christians before he was converted to Christ; he had tried to separate them from the love of Christ; and he later endured these things himself. He has seen in others, and in his own experience that the answer is NOTHING!

Yet in "these things," we do not have a stiff upper lip, or grin and bear it; we are 'over-conquerors,' we are more than conquerors because of Him. A conqueror is one who endures trials, whilst remaining in the love of God. A 'more-than-conqueror' is one who turns the trials to actually promote his/her experience of the love of God.

Note that the love of God is known only in Christ; He is the only way.

v38-39: Taking the truths further; v35 refers to the experiences of this world, and here Paul speaks of death itself, and the spiritual powers of wickedness, more powerful, more dangerous things, yet not even these can separate us.

And Paul is convinced; and nothing can move him from this conviction. No wonder that the demon cried out, "I know about Paul" (Acts 19.15). We must all share this same full confidence in the love of Christ.