로마서 Chapter 8

Translation: ESV

1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Key Message

There is absolutely no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus — this is the core declaration of the gospel.

▸This is one of the greatest declarations in all of Romans.

This is one of the greatest declarations in all of Romans. 'No condemnation (οὐδὲν κατάκριμα)' — this declaration, coming after the desperate conflict of chapter 7, is the heart of the gospel. The condition 'who are in Christ Jesus' is crucial. Union with Christ guarantees liberation from condemnation.

Related Verses

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment,Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
2

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Key Message

In Christ Jesus, the power of the Spirit is stronger than the power of sin and death and sets us free.

▸The reason for verse 1 is given.

3

For 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 condemned sin in the flesh,

Key Message

What the law could not do, God accomplished by sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.

▸God himself acted to do what the law could not.

11

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.

Key Message

The Spirit's indwelling is the guarantee of future resurrection, because the Spirit who raised Jesus dwells in us.

▸The indwelling of the Spirit is the guarantee of future resurrection.

14

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Key Message

Living under the Spirit's guidance is the way of life for those who are God's children.

▸Being led by the Spirit is the mark of being God's children.

15

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'

Key Message

The Spirit does not bring fear but intimacy, enabling us to call God 'Abba, Father.'

▸Two contrasting relationships that the Spirit provides are set in contrast.

16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Key Message

Because the Spirit together with our spirit bears witness that we are God's children, assurance of salvation is grounded in the Spirit's objective testimony.

▸The Spirit together with our spirit bears witness that we are God's children.

17

and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Key Message

God's children inherit an inheritance with Christ, but must also share in his suffering in order to be glorified with him.

▸Being children leads to being heirs.

18

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Key Message

Present suffering is not even worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed, so we can endure suffering with hope.

▸The contrast of verse 17 between suffering and glory is expanded.

26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Key Message

The Spirit intercedes personally for us for the weakness of our prayers, and his groanings approach God on our behalf.

▸The Spirit's intercessory prayer is introduced.

28

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

Key Message

For those who love God and are called according to his purpose, all things in life — even suffering — work together for good.

▸This is one of the core verses of Romans 8.

29

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

Key Message

The goal of God's foreknowledge and predestination is for us to be conformed to the image of Christ — to be transformed to be like Christ.

▸The 'golden chain of salvation' begins.

30

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Key Message

The golden chain of predestination, calling, justification, and glorification is unbreakable, and God's plan of salvation will certainly be completed.

▸The golden chain of salvation is completed.

31

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

Key Message

If the almighty God is on our side, no force can oppose us.

▸The latter part of chapter 8 (vv.

32

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Key Message

God who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us — will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

▸The 'much more' logic appears again.

35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Key Message

None of the extreme hardships — tribulation, persecution, danger — can separate us from the love of Christ.

▸A list of seven extreme hardships is presented, and none of them can separate us from the love of Christ.

37

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

Key Message

Through all suffering we triumph overwhelmingly through God who loves us.

▸'In all these things' — through the extreme hardships of verses 35–36 — 'we are more than conquerors (ὑπερνικῶμεν).

38

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,

Key Message

Death and life, angels and rulers, nothing can separate us from God's love — this is Paul's absolute conviction.

▸Verses 38–39 are the climax of chapter 8 — indeed, of all of Romans.

39

nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Key Message

No creature in the universe can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus — this is the gospel's final declaration.

▸This is the conclusion of chapter 8 — indeed, of all of Romans.