Course 6: Romans; Part II

Our sin nature and the law don’t mix. God’s law was and is good, good for revealing sin. Before coming to faith in Christ, we were bound to the law and subject to the consequences of our sin. God’s law did nothing to empower us to live a life that pleased God. Now, just as we died to sin, we died to the law in Christ. Our lives are now bound to Jesus Christ. New life in Him includes the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Through surrendering to the Spirit we can have victory over sin and a close relationship with God. What was impossible with rules is now possible with relationship.

In the struggle with our sin nature, we will face times when we wonder “Does it end?!” But victory over sin is possible. God has given us everything we need. As we grow, we learn more and more to depend on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reminds us of what Christ accomplished. Through Him, the penalty has been paid, the sin’s power over us is broken, and the presence of sin will one day be removed. We must pray in difficult moments that the Spirit would help us stand firm in our faith. Eventually, God will bring us to a place where we surrender to whatever He has for us. With our identities rooted in Christ and the hope we have in Him, we can face anything.

Jesus Christ is the solid rock on which we stand. We have life in Him. In Romans 8, we get a glimpse of the benefits of living in Christ available to us through the Holy Spirit. We can live free from condemnation, fear, and despair. When we feel like sin is crushing us, we can trust that victory will be ours. When we experience hardships for no apparent reason, we can believe God will use them for His redemptive purposes. When it seems we are alone in the struggle, we can be assured that the Lord is fighting for us. While we may suffer, we can endure knowing we will share in God’s glory. We will never be separated from God because we are heirs with Christ.

What is the measure of God’s love for His children in Christ? Could we ever hope to get a sense of its scope and depth? If we can know the magnitude of His love at all, we might begin by looking in Romans chapter 8. Romans 8:31-39 gives us a glimpse of how great His love for us truly is. This passage shows the strength of His promise to save us no matter what.

God is faithful. His great faithfulness is described throughout Romans 9-11. Summed up in Romans 11:32 it says, “For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” He made a way for all, both Jews and Gentiles, to find salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The Faithful God pursues us in order to make us a people of faith through Christ.

The Good News is intended to transform a person’s life. At this pivotal point in Romans, we are called to surrender and be transformed. God’s goodness and faithfulness has been on display for the first eleven chapters. Now we turn to explore the impact on our lives. In light of all God has done for us, we are encouraged to give Christ Lordship over our whole lives. We fail time and again when we try to be self-sufficient. When we surrender, this step of faith activates God’s power. The Holy Spirit transforms us from the inside out. As we faithfully surrender to Him on a daily basis, we will begin discover His will for our lives which is good pleasing and perfect.

What does everyday life look like for a person who has surrendered to God? Romans 12:3-21 describes a life yielded to the Holy Spirit, a life marked by humility, love, and peace. When we give Christ Lordship, we begin to truly see ourselves and others accurately. We are motivated by God’s love to serve and build up the body of Christ with our gifts. Learning to hate what is evil and cling to what is good, we begin to love those without faith as God does. This inspires us to share the Good News that they too can have peace with God and everlasting life. Jesus modeled a life of surrender that led Him to give up His life for all. Now in view of this great act of love, we are called to reflect Christ to the world with our whole lives.

The final chapters of Romans are filled with practical encouragements to live for God and His glory. We are called to find meaning and purpose in loving and serving others. While we may be tempted to judge and criticize, Paul urges believers to bear with one another patiently and build each other up in the faith. Our complete harmony is part of our testimony to the world. It speaks volumes about the truth of the Good News.