McNeil, William: Studies In Romans 19 ~ Romans 8;12-27

And now, as we continue with our studies in Paul's epistle to the Romans, we are again in chapter eight. This is our second lesson from chapter eight. In a previous study, we looked at the first eleven verses of the chapter. Now, today we'll take quite a lengthy portion from verse twelve through to verse twenty seven. But this is such a delightful portion with some weighted truths. Let us read the section first. Romans chapter eight verse twelve: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of sonship, whereby we cry, Abba Father. The Spirit himself 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. 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 waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, 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, 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. For we are saved by hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And I'm sure God will bless to each of us the reading of the Holy Scriptures. Shall we bow for a moment of prayer? Heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, again we bow our hearts before thee in prayer with thanksgivings. For every blessing received, we give thee thanks. And now we do pray that as we look again into thy word, that by thy Holy Spirit they shall cause each listener to understand today the lesson that is conveyed to their hearts. Grant that each one may be strengthened, and if those who know not the Savior are listening to this message, grant, O God, by thy Holy Spirit that they shall be brought to the point of conviction, and may the eyes of their understanding be enlightened, that they also will close in with the offer of salvation. We ask it, giving thanks in the Savior's name. Amen. Now then, we studied in our last lesson the opening eleven verses of this wonderful chapter, the eighth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans. Now, verses one through eleven then, have spoken of the indwelling Spirit of God. This is an important fact in these verses, and I drew attention to this in our last study, because it distinctly says, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. That's quoted from verse nine of chapter eight. Now then, if that is so, every believer, every professing Christian listening to me now should be absolutely sure of this, that they know that they are indwelt by the Spirit of Christ. But then, since that is spoken of in these opening verses, and we see that by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are delivered from the condemnation of the flesh, delivered from the power of the flesh, delivered from the power of death. Now, there follows an unfolding of the Spirit within us. Firstly, as to his leading and the effects of our response thereto. Then the witness of the Holy Spirit with our spirit and the effects of this. So that in our lesson today, verses twelve through twenty seven, these two main thrusts will be made. First of all, the leading of the Holy Spirit, and then the witness of the Spirit. Now, when you look at these verses, it distinctly says this: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Now, that's verse twelve. Now, in this verse, then, we are learning something about our indebtedness. As we have derived no advantage from the flesh, we are under no obligation to it and are not to live according to its dictates. Now, you know what it means when you're put under obligation to someone, when someone does something for you and you feel obligated to do something or to serve them. Now, let me ask every listener today, look back on your life. Think of the years when you were under the dominion of sin. These years when you lived in sin's domain, and you didn't have the power to live the life that you wanted to live. You felt yourself as if you were in captivity, and the tyrant was thrashing you and gripping you and holding you like a slave. You were serving sin. I ask you, did sin ever do you any good? Where is the man or the woman today who feels that they are obligated to have sin? You're not indebted to sin. When sin was your master, he was a tyrant, and you were held there against your will. But now, since we have not derived any advantage from the flesh, since we have not derived any advantage from living in sin, then remember then we are under no obligation to the flesh. Therefore, brethren, if we are debtors, we're not debtors to the flesh, to live after the flesh. Now that's placed there in a negative form, but it's placed there negatively in order to bring out the positive side. Over against the negative statement of verse twelve, you have the positive statement of verse thirteen. For if we live after the flesh, we shall die, but, and here is the hinge that turns the whole truth, but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. In verse thirteen then, we have life that is lived in the spirit. How can a believer live victoriously if the flesh is still in him? That's a problem, isn't it? Now, the secret of the triumph is the presence of the Holy Spirit and his counteracting power. As we said in a previous lesson, God has given us the new power to overcome the old power. And so therefore, the contrast in the word live at the end of the verse indicates that the death here is not merely that of the body, but it carries on a fuller meaning. But if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. The contrasting parallel to verse twelve would have been, we are debtors to live after the Spirit. The conclusion is, however, put in a very striking way and with a change from we to ye. But now, if in verses twelve and thirteen we learn our indebtedness, and especially in verse thirteen we learn something concerning life that is lived in the spirit. Now, in verse fourteen, see what comes out of that. Led by the spirit. This is a very important verse. For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Now, sometimes this expression, led of the Spirit, is used in a very strange way by some Christians, perhaps because they have never taken time to study it or to understand what is meant. To be led by the Spirit ought to be the normal Christian life. Some folk think that this is only an experience that is to those who have gone out into missionary work, or those who are reckoned to be in so-called full-time work for God. My friend, no. Being led by the Spirit should be the normal thing for every Christian in life. Whether your work is in the home, or in an office, or in a factory, or wherever it may be, the daily experience of a Christian should be to be led by the Spirit. Now, to be led by the Spirit is a proof of divine sonship. It indicates the personal relationship between the Spirit and the believer, and this kind of leading suggests there is cooperation. Now, if you were to go back into the Gospels, you would discover a very, very strange thing there with regards to being led of the Spirit. Many of you will remember reading concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, that when he went down to the River Jordan, he was baptized by John. And then, after he was baptized by John, a strange thing happened. When you come to chapter four of Matthew's gospel, after the baptizing has taken place, the first thing we read then, then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Now does, does that seem strange to you? You always thought that being led of the Spirit meant some great experience. It meant that you were carried up into a kind of third heaven, where you were jumping with joy, where you were shouting out your hallelujahs. That meant being led of the Spirit. Look, my friend, in the Bible it says concerning the Lord Jesus Christ that he was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. This was an experience he had to pass through, but thank God he came through it in triumph. Now, when we come to Romans chapter eight, we're reading here not concerning the Lord, but concerning those who have exercised faith in him, and it says, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Again, you find this expression is used when Paul is writing to the Galatians, and there again he speaks of those who are led of the Spirit. He says, but if ye be led of the Spirit, you're not under the law. Now, people who put themselves under the law, obviously, are not led by the Spirit. That's exactly what is said as he writes his epistle to the Galatians. And so the great question arises, what is meant by being led of the Spirit? It simply means this. If the Spirit is indwelling me, then I've got to be subject to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It's not simply the Spirit walking before me and me following after. It seems to be that I walk with the Spirit and let the Spirit guide the way. Plain words, use an Old Testament illustration. When the children of Israel came out of Egypt, they didn't know which way to go, but God gave them the cloudy pillar by day and the pillar of fire by night. And when the pillar moved, they moved, and when the pillar of cloud rested, they rested. They were under the guidance of that Holy Spirit. But there were certain principles that came into effect there. When they sinned, then the pillar did not move, but they were held up for a given time. You and I have got to cooperate, as it were, with the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit. And when our life is in accordance with the dictates of the Spirit, he can lead us on, and we simply follow with him. Therefore, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Here is a relationship into which we are brought. Now, from there on, while he has been speaking to us regarding the leading of the Spirit, now he's going to deal with the witness of the Spirit. Now, I wonder, my friend, have you given any consideration at all to what is meant by the witness of the Spirit? Now, having introduced the thought of sonship in verse fourteen, he says, for we have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but the s- but you have received the spirit of sonship, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Let me again draw on a biblical illustration that may make this very clear. If we have the spirit of sonship, think for a moment of that young man who went away from home. We call him the prodigal. Now, when he was down in the far country, you'll remember he was away from his father. He was living in sin. He was in bondage. He didn't have the power to lift himself up, till one day conviction came to his soul, and he thought of his father's home. He said, I will arise and go to my father. Now, when he came back, came back in all his rags and tatters and his filth. But do you remember what he said? He said, Father, I have sinned. I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight. That was as far as he got. Oh, he had made up his little speech. He was going to say, make me as one of thy hired servants. But the father wasn't going to make him a servant. He was his son. He says, put the best robe on him, put a ring on his finger, put shoes on his feet. He was the spirit of sonship. He was taken into the father's table. He enjoyed the fellowship of his father's home. He enjoyed the provision of the father's table, and he enjoyed his father's company. Why, of course, he was a son. He wasn't going into the relationship of a servant to look upon his father as a master. Of course not. He was a son, and his father displayed this to all the people who would be in the house. This my son was dead but is alive again. He was lost and is found. Don't you see we have the spirit of sonship? The cry of the one who has the spirit is this, Abba Father. The conduct as the result of the indwelling spirit is seen in verse sixteen: The spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. When the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, it's not only that kind of inward intuition that some people talk about. No, no, my friend. When the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit, there's a perfect agreement there. Our spirit comes into agreement with the dictates of the Holy Spirit and produces in us the fruit of the spirit. And there is the witness. Not only does the wi- the word of God come into effect here, and the Spirit of God uses the word of God to give us the assurance of our relationship. But the Spirit of God also bears witness with our spirit and develops in us the truths that are taught us by the Spirit from the Word of God. And then in verse seventeen, there is the contemplation of the possession as joint heirs. 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. Don't you see, my friend, that if we are brought into this relationship in the family of God, it's a spiritual relationship. The Holy Spirit indwelling us, the Holy Spirit leading us, the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit, and we're brought in as members in the royal family of heaven, joint heirs with Christ, and we're looking forward with glad anticipation to the day when we shall be in the Father's house and enjoy the things that are laid up in store for us as joint heirs with Christ. But if we have the spirit of sonship, we also have the spirit of anticipation. He said in verse nineteen, for the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. Do you realize, my friend, that we're looking forward to a day when the Lord Jesus Christ, who was rejected in this world, shall come again? He shall be manifested in all his wonderful power. There will be a day when even this old world with all its creatures shall realize the power of the blessed Christ that the world rejected. We're waiting with this earnest expectation, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope. See, creation is groaning in pain, awaiting the coming redemption. Christians are groaning as they await their final redemption. For verse twenty two says, 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 first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to wit, the redemption of the body. When Christ died on the cross, it was there he obtained our redemption. We learned that from chapter three, you will remember, and when we were studying that particular chapter, we learned this great truth, being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. But then, if he obtained redemption for us by paying redemption's price at Calvary, and we can enjoy that redemption now, but remember this, there will come the day when we shall see our final redemption, when it will be the redemption of the body. And that is what is set before us here, looking forward to that final thing. But we have the help of the Spirit. Without the help of the Spirit, our patience would fail. We would give in to despair, but He is the comforter who abides with us and supports us in all our troubles. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we wouldn't even know what to pray for. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, our yearnings are guided aright and presented in the presence of God by the Holy Spirit in an acceptable manner. Now, it may be that some Christians are listening to me now, and sometimes you have had this experience in life. You wanted to pray, you hardly knew what to pray for, and even if you had the idea in your mind, you didn't know how to put it in words to present to God. But he says, likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities. The Spirit helps your weaknesses, and even if we don't know what we should pray for as we ought, it's the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. That's not the groanings that you hear with some people. Oh no, it's not the groanings of pain, but here is a person who wants to pray. They have a special thing on their mind that they want to present to God, but they hardly know how to put it into words, and so they get into the presence of God and they wait, and they allow the indwelling Spirit to lead them and guide them, and patiently they wait. Then they're able to express in their way, perhaps feebly, the thing that is on their heart, and the Spirit is able to take that and present it in the presence of the Father. He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. The Christian cannot afford even to try to live apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. So in these verses that's before us today, chapter eight of Romans, verses twelve through twenty seven, we have the leading of the Spirit in the life of the believer, and we have the witness of the Spirit in the life of the believer.