Message Title: Accomplishment of Grace
Series: Love That Wins
Core Text: Romans 8:1-4 Date Preached: 4/16/23
Introduction. Through this series we will marinate in this great chapter. In doing so we can see how Paul’s thoughts connect, one feeding the next, building to a joyful expression of wonder in light of God’s love.
Main premise: Jew AND Gentile justified by faith.
Notice phrases that are thematic (law of spirit, law of sin; through one man—Adam/Jesus, ch. 5)
The Goal: Righteousness (v. 4)
Verse 8:4 reminds us that the Law has a requirement (fulfillment): righteousness. Everything the Law describes and prescribes is about righteousness, the perfect reflection of God’s holiness.
Justification is grounded in the concept of being right (or righteous, as a characteristic). If there is a standard, justification means we have met the standard. One who stands before a judge and is declared “not guilty” is one who has been determined to have met the standard of the law.
The Problem: Sin (v. 3)
Verse 8:3 points to the fact that the Law couldn’t address the sin problem. What the Law required, the Law could not accomplish.
Paul has recognized that humans can’t achieve righteousness through the Law. (See Philippians 3:4-6; Romans 7:14-23)
The point is that sin IS a problem, a problem we (i.e. the Law) CANNOT resolve ourselves. And so…
The Solution: Jesus
God did what the Law could not do (v. 3)
God’s part: doing through Jesus what none of us could do ourselves (8:3). This is where we make the distinction between God ignoringour sin and God addressing our sin.
- Sending His own Son… (Incarnation)
- In the likeness of sinful flesh… (Identification)
- As an offering for sin (to uphold God’s justice)
- See Acts 13:38-39 (Paul & Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch)
Therefore, No Condemnation…
God “condemned” (to give judgment against, to judge worthy of punishment) sin so the Law’s requirement is fulfilled.
Verse 8:2 expresses the benefit: freedom from the bondage of the Law’s requirement.
“Who is the one who condemns?” (v. 8:34)
Hebrews 2:14 “Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death…”
Freedom has implications:
- There is a sure hope of eternal life with God
- There is an expectation of living out of our bondage to sin
Bringing it Home. Through the week, I invite you to reflect on these verses. Read them each day. See if you can commit any of them to memory (one verse, then the next).
The Winding Path 