Faith in Romans - Chapter 8, Part 2: The Believer’s “Abba Father,” Present Suffering & Glory to Follow:

Our last study covered Romans 8:1 - 111 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.

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.

, recapping the good news that there is no judgement against believers in Christ Jesus who formerly were sinners condemned to death. Today, we continue with Romans 8:1212 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

that begins with the word “therefore,” which means “accordingly, consequently, those things being so,” introducing the statement “…. we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh,” Romans 8:12. Thus, since believers are no longer under condemnation, they no longer owe or have an obligation to live after the lusts of the sinful flesh in which they were born. But the next verse reads “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” Romans 8:1313 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

. Unfortunately, some take this out of context, misconstruing it to teach that believers have to work to maintain their relationship with God, that is, if they backslide into sin, they could lose their salvation. We will see that this cannot be. Believers are members of the Body of Christ having been baptized therein by the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:12 - 1312 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

; and being in Christ they are new creations, old things having passed away, all things having become new, 2 Corinthians 5:1717 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

; they are crucified with Christ, but they live because Christ lives in them by the faith of the Son of God Who gave Himself for them, Galatians 2:2020 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

. And nothing can separate believers from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 8:31 - 39.

Yes, believers do sin even though Christ Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, Romans 8:33 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:

, because they continue to live in the flesh they inherited from Adam, Romans 5:1212 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

. This results in warfare between their sinful flesh and “the law of Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” that freed them from the law of sin and death, Romans 7:15 - 2215 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

; Romans 8:22 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

. Because of this, believers are to: reckon themselves dead unto sin but alive unto God through the Lord Jesus Christ; not let sin reign in their bodies by obeying the lusts thereof; not yield their bodies as members of unrighteousness but yield themselves as alive unto God with their bodies as instruments of righteousness unto God, because sin does not have dominion over them because they are not under the law but under Grace, Romans 6:11 - 1411 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

. These passages make it clear that Romans 8:13 simply means that unbelievers live after the flesh and die while believers put to death the deeds of the flesh through the Spirit and live. The next 4 verses further explain the believer’s experience:

• “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:1414 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

. The true believer is a son of God, and thus are led by the Spirit of God.

• “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,” Romans 8:1515 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.

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.

. Believers are adopted as full sons of God as emphasized by the term “Abba, Father” which is found 3 times in the New Testament (NT). Jesus Christ Himself uttered “Abba, Father” when He prayed in Gethsemane while facing His coming agony and death: “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Mark 14:3636 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

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The other time this word is used is in Galatians 4:66 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

- 76 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

; “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

The Greek-English Lexicon indicates that at the time Jesus walked this earth, “Abba” was the pronunciation of the Hebrew word for “Father.” So it is that Jesus Christ referred to God as “Father, Father,” and from Romans 8:15 & Galatians 4:6 believers today, being in Christ, have the same personal and intimate relationship with Almighty God as Jesus Christ. Believers have received the Spirit of adoption so are able to call God “Father, Father.”

• “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.” Romans 8:16 - 1716 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

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.

. Believers are “heirs” (one who receives his allotted possession by right of sonship) of God and “joint heirs” with Christ (joint participants with Christ in the inheritance as sons of God). This is an amazing fact to grasp!

But, what about the last phrase of Romans 8:1717 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.

, “if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together?” How do, or how can believers suffer with Christ? He was beaten, scourged and hung on a cross. Many Monks and Priests of old whipped themselves, traveled long distances or repeatedly climbed stairs on their hands and knees until bloodied, wore rough garments that scratched their bodies, ate meagerly, slept on hard surfaces, etc., by which they sought to suffer for God. Even today we read of men whipping themselves, carrying crosses, etc., ostensibly to “suffer with Christ.” However, all such efforts have been and are in vain. To understand how we suffer with Christ, we must first ask why Christ suffered? The answer is simple, He suffered for the sin that Satan introduced into the world via Adam, which has polluted not only mankind, but the universe. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” 1 Peter 3:1818 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

. Because God is Righteousness, it was necessary for Jesus Christ to suffer in order to defeat Satan, as Christ disclosed: “Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” John 12:3131 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

. Right after the Lord Jesus Christ saved Saul of Tarsus who later became the Apostle Paul, He told Ananias to tell Saul: “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.” Acts 9:1616 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

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Paul set the standard in the suffering befalling all believers who have followed; from some being burned alive at the stake to comparatively minor suffering by others. Contrary to the “name it and claim it” message preached by many today that if believers live right they will prosper, suffering is the lot of all true believers: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” Philippians 1:2929 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

. Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica: “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:” 2 Thessalonians 1:4 - 54 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

. And to Timothy: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:1212 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

. Believers today can expect suffering because of sin and that Satan is still the Prince and Power of the air, but we rest in the assurance that: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:1313 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

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As stated in the following verses, the entire creation suffers from the result of Satan and sin but look forward to the glory to come: “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,” Romans 8:1818 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.

. “For the earnest expectation of the creature (should be “creation”) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God,” Romans 8:1919 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

. (The next verse is a parenthesis, except for the last two words): “For the creature (should be “creation”) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same,” Romans 8:2020 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

a; the last two words “in hope,” Romans 8:20b, should read “waiteth I say, because the creature (creation) itself also shall be delivered (“set free,” the same Greek word as in Romans 8:2) from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” Romans 8:2121 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

. “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now,” Romans 8:2222 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

. “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.” Romans 8:2323 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.

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