LENT 5 – March 29, 2020 – Rom. 8:1-11
“RAISED TO NEW LIFE”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Romans 8. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- As Christians we are free. That is, we have two dynamics at work within us. We still have our sinful nature – which we are supposed to be putting away each day, through contrition, repentance, and faith in Christ. We also have a “new man” created in Christ Jesus. These two are completely different and unalterably opposed to each other.
- While this inner conflict is at times brutal, and our conflicted nature craves some inner peace and rest, this condition actually provides us with the blessing and gift of freedom. We have two choices, two directions, and choice means freedom. Without choice there is only slavery – you are enslaved to the only dynamic and power at work in you. This is the slavery and darkness of those who have not been “RAISED TO NEW LIFE” through faith in Jesus. They have only the sinful nature at work in them.
- We have to be careful when reading texts like Romans 8. Paul makes statements that are certainly true, but which our sinful flesh and the devil try to pervert and corrupt. We must carefully distinguish between “setting our minds on the things of the flesh” versus being “weakened by the flesh.” Likewise, we must understand that “walking by the Spirit” does not mean that we are now immune from sin, and never sin. This would conflict with other clear statements of God’s Word, even of this same epistle.
- Rather, “walking by the Spirit” is precisely a life of repentance, which demonstrates that our true orientation and commitment is not to the sin which we commit, but rather to God, to love, and to what is truly good. This is the new life, which is fed and made robust by the assurance that the sins that we do commit and confess to God are fully forgiven and pardoned by the blood of Jesus.
- So, while we are now free from the slavery of sin and ignorance of God, we have become compelled to a new direction. We have been “RAISED TO NEW LIFE” by the Holy Spirit of God!
- We must ever remember that:
I. We Are Raised To New Life By The Gospel – Which Frees Us From The Law Of Sin And Death
Text: “The law of the Spirit of life has set us free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”
A. So You Are Free From The Law’s Condemnation
Text: “There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
B. You Have Been Granted The Gift Of Righteousness, Which God Himself Has Accounted To You
Text: “God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemneed sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Rom. 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.“
Rom. 3:23-25 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith.”
Statement: If we have only our sinful nature, then we not only remain enslaved to one dynamic, the power of sin, but we are also under the law’s condemnation. The only One that can free us from this condemnation is Jesus, His suffering and death on the cross to take away our sin and guilt. God condemned all human sin in the flesh of His own beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He is the blood atonement for our sins, and also for the sins of the whole world. He takes away the sin of the world.
Application: So also what we could never accomplish for ourselves – under law, Christ has accomplished for us – perfect righeousness! And this is provided for us “by grace,” by God’s great love for us, and simply as His gift to us. We receive it by faith – and it is God Who accounts us to be righteous!
This is what gives us new life – God’s gracious love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation. This alone gives us sure and certain hope that God is on our side, that He only seeks to bless us with His goodness! And so by God’s grace, by the power of His Spirit, by the blessed Gospel of His gracious love, we have been “RAISED TO NEW LIFE”! And it is good – to have this life, to have freedom, to have eternal life, even though it brings us into a grave conflict, a war between good and evil waged within our hearts and minds!
Transition: But this is what the new life is about as well – this renewed commitment to what is good and right and loving! Yes, it involves grave inner conflict, but:
II. This Is New Life In Us – By The Spirit Of God
A. By The Spirit’s Leading We Continue To Live A Life Of Repentance And Faith
Text: “God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemneed sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
B. By The Spirit’s Leading We Set Our Minds On The Things Of The Spirit Of God, And Live According To The Spirit, Thus Pleasing God
Text: “Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their mind on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
C. And Being Raised To New Life We Know That God Will Give Eternal Life To Our Mortal Body
Text: “If the Spirit of Christ is in you, although th body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 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.”
Statement: Again, the second dynamic within us, the new man, overpowers the sinful nature – with the Spirit’s help and guiding. It begins with repentance, recognizing our sin and repenting of it. And the new man in us rejoices ever and always in God’s gracious forgivenesss and mercy! Even in this we are “setting our minds on the things of the Spirit.” And then by His leading and guidance, we set our minds on the things of God! Because we are not just “in the flesh,” but have the Spirit of Christ in us, we can please God. Our life of faith and love are not futile! The Spirit’s goodness is real, and we are led by Him.
Application: This also means that everything is well for us eternally, for the One Who has already given us new life will surely fulfill His promise to “give life” to our mortal bodies! Indeed, the Scripture assures us that Jesus will “transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” We have been “RAISED TO NEW LIFE” and that new life is eternal – it gets much better in the life to come!
Conclusion: Let us remember what a blessed thing it is that God has spared us from the slavery of only serving the sinful flesh!
Let us live day by day in the power of repentance and the great joy of faith, that we may constantly set our minds on the things above, the things of the Spirit of God. In this way the power and earnestness of the new life will constantly be growing as the Spirit Of Christ leads us!
This is the good and gracious will of God for us, and though it is painful, and sometimes tiring, to have this incessant battle going on within us, nonetheless the joy and wonder of His gracious love will utlimately win out. He is, as the Psalmist put it – “leading us in paths of righteousness for His own Name’s sake.”
And so we too will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Thanks and praise be to God. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.