Inter-Baptist Churches Fellowship

Youth Camp 2018

April 17-20, 2018

IMC Jalajala Retreat House

Group Devotional Guide, Day 2

prepared by:
Deacon Eduardo Marin, D.Min.

________________________
Name
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Group Devotion Guide, Day 2
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Believer’s struggle & God’s power for our transformation – S__________
Read: Romans 8.1-17

Fulfillment of the Law by the Spirit

Note: While up to this point, the believer’s righteous s__________ is oriented
to the Christ-e__________, Paul here expands on another factor that spells
the difference in the life of the righteous – the S__________
Point: The Pauline doctrine of the Spirit as the initial eschatological
g__________ fits well into his theme eschatological tension
(a) D__________ from the Law’s Condemnation {verses 1-4}
Flow of Thought
now (Gk. nun) signals a new era of salvation history (cf. 3.21),
salvation-historical sense, not l__________
No c__________: no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus
{verse 1a}
Note: condemnation (Gk. katakrima) is earlier used by Paul of the
sinner’s status in Adam (5.16, 18)
Point: In the new age in which the believer is in u__________ with
Christ, this condemned status is altogether removed.
 Katakrima has a primary forensic-legal sense. But if we accept the
longer reading, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
{verse 1b}, it strongly implies the moral consequence.
 Whether we accept the longer reading or not, the exact same
expression is stated in verse 4
Basis for the a__________ {verses 2-4}: For (Gk. gar) = because
 The Law of the Spirit vs. The law of sin and death
Note: It is better to interpret law here consistently – the Law of God,
but in its two-sidedness. . .
o The law can be in the hand of sin and d__________ – resulting in
what already Paul described in 7.8ff
o The same law can be in the hand of the Spirit who gives l_________
Point: The Spirit using the same law, delivers the believer from the
dark side of that law
 What the Law could not do vs. What God did: 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: {verse 3}
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Note: The i__________ of the Law is not for anything faulty in it, but
because of the flesh (Gk. sarx) – man in the old age realms with all
his sinfulness and w__________
Point: the s__________ contrast with the inability of the law in the
realm of old age-flesh, is what God did. . .
o Sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh {verse 3},
likeness (Gk. homoiôma) = state of similarity, or state of
p__________. . .The better sense here is the latter, that the Son
participated in the realm of sinful flesh without saying that He
himself sinned. . .
o for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. . .The phrase is a regular
translation of the sin-offering (Heb. chatta’ah). It is Christ’s
s__________ death in view, therefore the flesh here is that
Christ’s identity with it.
o Walk according to the flesh vs. Walk according to the Spirit: That
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. {verse 4}
Note: Some have understood this in strictly f__________ sense –
fulfilled effect of obedience to the Law
Thoughts on Christian Assurance
o Assurance based on the m__________ of the death of Christ. It
can be possessed now by the believer
o Assurance proved by the evidence of a life of o__________. It
must be tested in any profession of faith
(b) C__________ between the Flesh and the Spirit {verses 5 to 11}
Note: This section does not consist of imperatives, but indicatives –
assertions of facts that d__________ believers
Point: Those in the Spirit (status contra ‘in the flesh’) have the proof of the
Spirit in them enabling obedience: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. {verse 9a}
Those in the Flesh Those in the Spirit
Set their minds on the things of the flesh (Set their minds) on the things of the Spirit
To be carnally minded is death To be Spiritually minded is life and peace
The carnal mind is enmity against God. It The body is dead of sin, but the Spirit is life
does not submit to God’s law, indeed, it is because of righteousness
unable to do so. . .
They do not have the Spirit, therefore not of The Spirit of God dwells in you
Christ
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They cannot please God Give life to mortal bodies through His Spirit
On Spirit-Indwelling: Our e__________ of the indwelling Spirit is as the
Spirit of Christ – the works of the HS in the believer’s life have their
beginning and f__________ in the work of Christ
(c) O__________as the evidence of the Spirit {verses 12 to 17}
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors (to the Spirit), not to the flesh, to
live after the flesh. {verse 12} – one who owes an obligation
Note: C__________ of lifestyle: 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. {verse 13}
Point: Essential to obedience is m__________ of sin. It is a matter of
life and death
Led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. {verse 14}
Note: Contrast of relation/ a__________ to God: the spirit of bondage
again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we
cry, Abba, Father. {verse 15}. Abba is Aramaic title for God which also
means father – in the vocative case (direst address), suggesting
i__________ term
Point: Issues of sin and obedience for the Christian must be primarily
be moved, not by f__________ but sonship to God.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit {verse 16a}. With (Gk.
summartureô) [Louw-Nida] – “to provide confirming evidence by means
of a t__________”
Note: The use of intensive neuter, itself (Gk. auto) points to the
function of the Spirit as being the testimony.
Point: There is an i__________ experience (our spirits) that attests the
Spirit presence revealed in our a__________
Beware: The practice of giving decisional a__________ usurps the
Spirit’s function of inner testimony
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ {verse 17a}. Heirs (Gk.
klêronomos) [Thayer] – “one who receives his alloted p__________ by
right of sonship”
Note: This is the benefit-aspect of adoption to God – a future
e__________ is part of the Christian motive to obey
Point: There is an invitation to be that we suffer with him, that we may
be also glorified together {verse 17b}