Life in the Spirit – a Sermon

Romans 8:1-17 [See here for the Bible Study Notes on this passage]

Where do we start with Romans 8?  It’s a sumptuous banquet – but which of its dishes do we sample?  It’s a glorious symphony – but which of its themes do we to attune our ears to?  It’s a lofty mountain range – but which of its peaks do we try to scale?

As always, it’s good to get our bearings from the context.  Chapter 5 – in Christ, we have victory over sin and death.  But that’s not quite the end of the story.  In case you hadn’t noticed, we still sin, and we still die.

By the time we reach chapter 8, Paul is still dealing with that problem.  Sin and death have been decisively dealt with in the cross-work of Jesus Christ.  God will one day make all things new and bring us into the fullness of his glorious inheritance in the saints.  Although we do not yet see the renewal of all things, we do experience here and now the power and privileges of the age to come.

Quotes on Assurance

Assurance is glory in the bud, it is the suburbs of paradise. (Thomas Brooks)

Assurance is, as it were, the cream of faith. (William Gurnall)

Sin can never quite bereave a saint of his jewel, his grace; but it may steal away the key of the cabinet, his assurance. (William Jenkin)

A letter may be written, when it is not sealed; so grace may be written in the heart, and the Spirit may not set the seal of assurance to it. (Thomas Watson)