Into the Heart of Romans
A Deep Dive into Paul’s Greatest Letter
The Spirit Gives Life (1|3)
Pages 62-68
John 16:33 (NIV) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 7:38-43 (NIV) ”Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this, he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time, the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.” Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee? Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?” Thus, the people were divided because of Jesus. Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.
John 20:21-23 (NIV) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Romans 8:5-11 (NIV) 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. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 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. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 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. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Paul’s declaration of “no condemnation” in Romans 8 doesn’t point to escaping this world for heaven, but to God’s work of setting things right within creation. How might shifting from a “heaven vs. hell” framework to Paul’s vision of new life and restored creation change the way you live out your faith in current relationships, responsibilities, and challenges?
Paul teaches that the inheritance of God’s people is not an escape from creation but the renewal of creation itself. What difference might it make in your daily life if you saw yourself as someone preparing to help care for and steward God’s renewed creation?
Jesus describes His death as the moment when the world is judged, the ruler of this world is cast out, and “God’s own life is to be poured out afresh through His Spirit”. How does seeing the cross as a victory that clears the way for the Spirit’s empowering presence shape your understanding of Christian mission, holiness, and the kind of life God intends to create in and through His people?
Paul teaches that the “mindset of the flesh” cannot submit to God’s law and therefore moves toward death, while the Spirit enables God’s people not only to fulfill the law’s purpose but even to please God. What helps you shift from striving to “submit” in your own strength toward living in a way that (actually) reflects the Spirit’s life-giving power that is pleasing to God?
What is your response to N.T. Wright’s pointing out the uses of gar and dioti when reading verses 4-7?