Living by Faith 6: Faith and Victory
- Romans 8:5-35
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Introduction: Do we, as Christians really know what God as done for us in Jesus Christ? We should walk, talk and sleep victory but too many times we do not.
We may be like the story of a farmer who, on a his first trip into the big city, bought an expensive talking bird at a pet store. The bird spoke 5 different languages and cost a fortune. The man had it shipped by special courier to his wife with a note saying, “Hope you enjoy the bird. I’ll be home tomorrow.” When he arrived home, his wife was cooking dinner. “Mmm, something smells good what it is.” “Well it’s that bird you sent home I just got through fixing him for dinner.” “What? You mean to tell me you plucked that bird and are cooking him for dinner? Woman, don’t you know that was a talking bird? It was a pet to keep you company. It spoke 5 different languages.”
The wife thought for a moment and then said, “Well, then why didn’t it say something before I put it in the oven.”
Review: The Real Romans Road
Chapters 1-3 God’s Holiness Condemns Sin
4 - 5 God’s Grace Saves Sinners
6 - 8 God’s Power Sanctifies Believers
9 -11 God’s Sovereignty Over Jew and Gentile
12 - 14 God’s Glory In Believers Service
15 - 16 Epilogue
Paul’s Conclusion to Freedom from the Law is in Romans 8:1-4
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Now with verse 5 Paul introduces a new subject, related back to everything he has written in chapters 6 and 7, the Believers Victorious Life and he begins by establishing a fundamental fact, an unchangeable reality, we are no longer the persons we once were.
Victory Through The Spirit of God - Romans 8:5-11
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
The Power of the Spirit
In this first section, Paul describes the differences between those who are saved and have the spirit or God with those who are lost and do not have the Spirit of God. He shows us four contrasts. His purpose in doing this is to bring the believer to the next level of living and walking in faith. You have to believe in Jesus as your Savior to begin this walk, you have to believe in freedom from sin and freedom from the law to take the next steps and now you must believe in who you are, a spirit led, spirit minded, spirit resurrected child of God.
The Four Contrasts Between who we are and who we once were.
First contrast v. 5 : the flesh and the Spirit. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”
Warren Wiersbe, - The unsaved person does not have the Spirit of God and lives in the flesh and for the flesh. His mind is centered on the things that satisfy the flesh. But the Christian has the Spirit of God within and lives in an entirely new and different sphere. His mind is fixed on the things of the Spirit. This does not mean that the unsaved person never does anything good, or that the believer never does anything bad. It means that the bent of their lives is different. One lives for the flesh, the other lives for the Spirit.
Second Contrast v. 6: Death and life “ For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”
The unsaved person may be alive physically, but spiritually he is dead. The inner man of the lost feels nothing, is not alive when it comes to God and he cannot respond to the leading of the Spirit. He may be a good man in the eyes of the world, but he is a dead man in the eyes of God.
Third Contrast v 7: War with God and peace with God. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
The lost person is at war with God and it is a war that he cannot win. In the heart of the lost person there is no real peace because the fundamental issue of existence, their relationship to their creator, is broken.
Fourth Contrast v. 8: Pleasing ourselves and pleasing God. “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
The lost person is "in the flesh", they are outside the love of God. That person lives only please their self, Pleasing God is a completely alien idea. It never enters into their mind or purposes.
Now in vss. 9-11 Paul hits his purpose. “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."
Then in vss. 8:12-16 He gives us the result of this truth of the Spirit indwelling us, 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Paul is telling the Romans and telling us, that was who you were but now you have the spirit of God in you and you are not that person any longer. That person was destined to defeat, judgment and eternal death but you, child of God, are destined to victory, reward and eternal life.
First Victory Reality
The first reality of victory for us is to know that we are victorious because of who we are and who empowers us.
At salvation we were given forgiveness through the grace of God and we were also given the Holy Spirit as the token, the evidence of that forgiveness and a mark of our new identity as the children of God. Now we can cry out “Abba, father!”
This was the promise of the new covenant given in Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
That promise fulfilled by Jesus in the promise of the comforter, the paracletos, John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
How can we be anything but victorious when the Holy Spirit of God indwells us?
John’s Victory Proclamations. The apostle John in one of the last letters written to the churches declared this same unchangeable reality of who we are. It is a reality we must grasp if we are to be victors in Christ.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Paul in detail teaches it and John, even at 90 plus years, boldly shouts it. Victory by the Spirit of God. We need to believe it.
Illustration:
Maurice Ledbetter by Jerry Clower. Maurice was selling watermelons down by the road that ran in front of his house. A man came by to look over the melons. “I don’t know these melons look too big to eat.” “Ah, shucks, mister I can eat one of these with no trouble at all.” The man smiled and said, “I tell you what. If you can eat one of these melons in one sitting I’ll give you $20 dollars for one. Maurice thought for a minute and then said, “Wait, just a minute. I’ll be right back.” He ran up the hill to his house and was gone about five minutes. When he got back he told the man, “Okay, I’m ready.” He then picked up a 25 lb. melon cracked it open and ate it down.
The man was mightily impressed and gave Maurice his $20. But tell me he asked, “What did you go up to the house for?” Well up at the house in the icebox. We had another melon just about the same size. And I knew if I could eat that one I could shore ‘nuf eat this one.
That’s the kind of confidence, the reality of victory we need as Christians.
Transition: Next Paul gives us another victory reality….
Victory through the Hope of God - Romans 8:17-25
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
The Power of Hope
Paul says we have hope because we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Perhaps now joint heirs with His suffering but later with we will be joint heirs in his glory.
He tells us that we should have a true perspective for the suffer of this day will not compare to the glory of that eternal day.
Then in vs. 19 he goes even further in this powerful victory that is possible in the Hope of God through Jesus Christ. All of creation is wait in hope for the glorifying of the sons of God, for when the children of God are glorified, then all of creation will be glorified, it will become what God created and intended it to be. Freed from the taint of sin and death. He Creation shall be delivered from bondage in the liberty of the children of God. Vs. 20 Because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Paul says these two things are tied together the redemption of creation and the redemption of our moral bodies. This hope is the great hope the redemption of our bodies. 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
We groan as believers because we have tasted the first-fruits of redemption, we have expeinced the wonder of salvation and the power of grace and we groan, the word literally means to be in straits, compressed by this world and impressed by the spirit of God. And so we groan in hope, for our final sanctification, the final proof of God’s love and power, our old sinful, wasted bodies to be redeemed and resurrected without sin, death or age to live eternally.
Paul says this hope saves us in vs 24. “For we are saved by hope” This is what he wrote to Titus in Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
That great hope of our returning Savior, our redeemed bodies and a renewed creation is a victory reality.
Second Reality of Victory: Hope
I don’t think we fully appreciate the power of hope. I don’t mean false hope, or a hope built on nothing but the vapors of hope as if just saying the word somehow was a talisman of power. I mean hope that is built on the reality of what God, who cannot lie has promised. Hope that is built on the truth of God’s word. Hope that is built on the precious promises of God. That hope, hope that is truly hope because God is truly God, that hope brings victory in the life of a believer.
Transition: Stay with me now because even though what we have already read in Romans 8 is more than enough victory to overcome any obstacle, pain or suffering we might face. It is still not all the victory we have a children of God. The next victory reality is …
Victory through the Work of God - Romans 8:26-30
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
The Power of Predestination
Paul once again tells us that we have victory through the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us when we don’t even have the words to utter in prayer. 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
He tells us how powerful this is because the Holy Spirit has the very mind of God, that the Holy Spirit prays according to the will of God. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Then because of the working of God through the Holy spirit in us and through prayer, we know this vital truth, Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Then Paul venture were few Christians dare to go. He tells us we have victory through the power of predestination, the work of God in eternity past has assured us victory in the present and into eternity.
All this is because of his purpose, His will. Romans 8:29-30 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
He foreknew us, because He is omniscient, God knew all of us before we were born, before creation, before time and because he foreknew us and foreknew our choice to accept Jesus as savior He then..
Predestined us. This means he determined what should happen before it did happen. And tells us this is what was predetermined, we would be conformed to the image of His Son.
Finally because of God’s foreknowledge and predetermination, when the time was appropriate, He called us. Called into salvation, Called to the cross of Calvary, called to be the children of God.
We answered that call and so He justified us. And because we were justified
He also would glorify us. Give us of the glory of His own son Jesus Christ.
All this was done in God’s omniscient mind before the world even began. You and I cannot understand it, cannot intellectually grasp it but you can grasp the victory that is ours by believing it.
Third Victory Reality
Here is the third victory reality. God has already accomplished it. He has already taken care of it. It doesn’t matter how overwhelming your situation is, God has already predestined you to be conformed to the image of his son, and one day to experience the glory of Heaven with His Son. God in his omniscience has already know it and in His omnipotence has already accomplished it.
All we need to do is act like the victorious Children of God.
Illustration: Harry Houdini can’t open the lock.
Harry Houdini’s only failure to escape from a jail cell almost came in a little English town with an old-fashioned lock. After regurgitating the lock pick he worked for hours on the old lock but could not make it budge. At the point where he was ready to quit he leaned against the cell door and it swung open. The sheriff had forgotten to lock the door. Houdini had been working on an open lock.
Christian if you are experiencing defeat it could be because you are trying to do the work which God through Jesus Christ has already done. Listen carefully, we are already victorious. It’s time we swung open the door and to live in that victory.
Transition: Now you would think, Paul, quit while you are ahead. You’ve shown us we have victory in the Spirit, victory in hope and victory in God’s eternal work, what else is there to talk about. But Paul was just getting warmed up. He was just setting the state for the final victory, the super victory in vss. 31-39
Victory through the Power of God - Roman 8:31-39
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Power of God
Paul brings us to a conclusion and also to challenge after challenge. Like a defense attorney, he builds a case in the power of God by asking and answering questions of doubt with declaration of victory. Like a old time fight promoter he stands in the ring and challenges any who would dare step up and take on the power of God. What is crafted when he finishes is one of the most moving declarations of faith, power and hope recorded anywhere in the Bible.
I can’t add anything to these verses. I can’t. If I should try, I fear I would detract from them. Paul was writing under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I am preaching his words but my inspiration is indirect. Sometimes preachers just need to get out of the way and let God’s word say what God wants us to hear.
Romans 8:31-39 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Final Victory Reality
Paul’s final victory reality is so overwhelming that he can only say we are more than conquerors. Just one word in Greek, hypernikaō, a compound word taken from hyper which means above and beyond and nikao which is the word for victory and overcoming. We are, Paul says, super-victors. As God’s children we are beyond anything this world could even understand as a simple victory. Who we are, what we do, where we are going is a supervictory and we are super victorious through Him.
I may not always feel supervictorius, I may not always acts super victorious but if I am a child of God, If the spirit indwells me, leads me and empowers me. If I have an unfading, unyielding hope of eternity. If I trust in the foreknowledge and power of almighty God, then it doesn’t matter what I feel, or the times I fail what matters is the reality of my victory as one who is living by faith in Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
Illustration: Paul walks back through the city of Lystra after being stoned.
Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came (back) into the city
I wonder how victorious Paul felt that day when the stones were crashing into his body and the hatred of those men was raging against him. I doubt he felt like a super victor then. But the stoning wasn’t the end of the battle. He got back up, bloodied, beaten, broken. He turned and walked right back into the teeth of beast that had tried to kill him. When Paul tells the Romans and us about be supervictorious in Christ, he was not speaking in metaphor or hyperbole, he was speaking from experiencing. Because that day he walked in the power of God away from defeat and death, and into valor and victory.
Conclusion:
I don’t know about you but I want to claim some victories in my life but maybe I’ve got the wrong perspective. Instead of claiming the victory I want, I need to proclaim the victory that is already mine. Instead of trying to be prove I’m a Christian by what I do, I should be the Christian I already am by the grace of God. Instead of living by the law of God, I should live by faith in the Son of God. Instead of seeing the failure of my life through my eyes, I should see the victory of my life through the eyes of my heavenly Father.
Romans 8:37 …In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
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