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“The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES

DAY 1: Walking In God’s Blessings: No Condemnation Romans 8:1-17: The Holy Spirit and Holy Living

Do you remember when we began Romans, I told you to put on your walking shoes? I told you we were on a journey down the Roman’s Road and that God had something special and intimate just for you, but this journey may be long and difficult at times. Our journey through the first seven chapters of Romans has been in some ways, an upward climb. Maybe you struggled through some of these chapters and the blatant truths of your sinful nature and inability to meet God’s righteous requirements on your own. Maybe you identified with Paul’s sin struggle as he so desperately desired to please God but saw that he continually fell short. You are at a turning point. Keep on with the journey! You are reaching the summit and God’s glorious blessings await you. His greatest desire is that you would receive Him by faith and then yield to Him in all areas of your life so that your life would be pleasing to Him. In this He is glorified.

Romans 8 is written for the believer. It is perhaps one of the best known and most loved chapters in all of the Bible. It begins with ‘no condemnation.’ It ends with ‘no separation.’ In the middle, you’ll see there is ‘no defeat.’ Those in Christ are filled with His power to be overcomers in all areas of life. This is all possible through the blessed gift of the Holy Spirit and the finished work of Jesus on the cross at Calvary. When you were justified you were pronounced innocent of sin. Paul will tell you that because of this justification, there cannot be punishment for the guiltless. Instead of punishment, God has given those washed in the blood of Jesus His abundant blessings. God has kept the law for you, and you get to enjoy the benefits.

Let’s open this most glorious chapter together. Stand on the mountain top rejoicing in the abundant and victorious life God has for you!

You only have four days of study this week.

R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Romans 8: 1-17 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 8:1-4

E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. Circle the word, “NO” in verse 1 in your Bible. What blessed promise is the believer given in this verse?

2. What does it mean for a person to be condemned? Why is the unbeliever condemned? Read John 3:16-21 and write what you learn about God’s great love and condemnation.

3. The word “therefore” in verse 1 of Romans 8 tells you that a summation is being expressed. From all that you have learned in chapters 1-7, why is there no condemnation for the believer?

I want you to stop and really let this sink in. The moment you gave your life to Christ and God declared you “justified,” He also took away all condemnation past, present and future. Dave Guzik says it this way, “Since the Father does not condemn Jesus, neither can he condemn those who are in Him. They are not condemned, they will not be condemned, and they cannot be condemned.” God didn’t say, ‘less condemnation.’ He said ‘no condemnation.’ And you didn’t do anything to receive this verdict upon your life other than believe. It is all a working of grace and God’s great gifts to those who believe. Praise be to God! That is cause for rejoicing!

4. In verse 2 you see the second blessing for the believer in Jesus Christ. What is that blessing? From what have you been set free?

5. Explain “the law of the Spirit of life.”

a. What does the Holy Spirit do regarding your sanctification? Read the following verses and answer the question.

Titus 3:5

John 3:5-8

b. Explain the “law of sin and death.” Look back at Romans 7:23-25 if you need help.

6. Look at Romans 8:3. Could the law do anything about our sin? Explain.

7. In Romans 8:3, list all that God did for our sin and to fulfill the law.

8. Romans 8:4 speaks of your holiness and a life reflecting Christ. Look at Galatians 5:16-18. How are the righteous requirements of the law fulfilled in the Spirit filled believer?

a. Read Romans 13:8-10. How does this verse describe the law being fulfilled in the believer?

9. In Romans 8:4 how is the believer told to walk? How are they told not to walk?

a. Explain what is meant by flesh and Spirit from all that you’ve learned this far. If you need help, go to Galatians 5:16-26.

“The law can do many things. It can guide us, teach us, and tell us about God’s character. But the law cannot give energy to our flesh; it can give us the standard, but it cannot give us the power to live pleasing to God” (Dave Guzik Romans commentary.) Only the Holy Spirit can give you the power needed to live a life pleasing to God.

A ACTING on God’s Word 1. Paul uses the word “walk” when describing our relationship with Jesus Christ. Walking in the Spirit suggests that there is a course, a direction and forward moving progress. When we allow the flesh to rule over the Spirit, we become bound and stagnant and sometimes backslidden.

Are you walking in the flesh or the Spirit? How would you describe your walk with God?

Would you say you are moving forward in your relationship with Jesus or are there areas where you are standing still? Explain.

What areas do you struggle with most? Where do you allow the flesh to rule over the Spirit?

2. You learned today that there is no condemnation for the believer and you are no longer bound by sin. That means you are free from sin’s power and the guilt of sin. Does your life reflect self-inflicted condemnation? What have you learned today that you need to embrace in order to walk in no condemnation?

DELIGHTING in God’s Word D Praise God that “you are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Praise God for your deliver- ance from sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25). Praise God that through Jesus you can walk each day free from condemnation.

Close in Prayer

© Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 172 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES

Day 2: Battlefield of the Mind Romans 8:1-17: The Holy Spirit and Holy Living

The mind is a powerful place, and Paul will be quick to point this out in the verses you will be studying today. It is the place where ideas are formed, understanding is gained and decisions are made. But it can also be a place where truth becomes twisted and reality becomes fantasy. Truth can become clouded as emotion enters into the realm of the mind and begins to dictate your thoughts and decisions.

The mind is an even more powerful place when you consider your walk with Jesus and ultimately, your Christlikeness. Romans 8 is all about your sanctification and empowering of the Holy Spirit to have victory in all areas of life, including your thought life. It could be said that sin originates in the heart and mind. From the inception of a thought, a choice has to be made regarding that thought. The choice you make regarding that thought will either be Spirit lead or flesh lead depending on where you “set your mind.”

I know this battle well. I’m sure you do too. As a parent, I am now watching the battle play out in my 6 year old daughter just as it did in me when I was 6. I am watching as her faith is tested when she allows her fear become larger than God. It often plays out like this. She hears that someone has an illness. She begins to think about the illness. She begins to fear the illness will happen to her. She is in bondage to the fear and comes to me with tears and anxiety in her eyes. She can’t easily fall asleep for the fear keeps her in a prison of unreality. It is painful to watch and breaks my heart. But I thank God that I can walk beside her, at this tender age and give her truth from God’s Word to be an overcomer. No one helped me when I was 6 and I grew into an adult who let my fleshly mind win over and over again. I lived with fear for many, many years. I want a different path for my daughter. I want a different path for you. God has the answers.

Let’s open these verses together and let the truth of God’s Word set us free that our lives would be a testimony to the Holy Spirit at work in our minds and hearts.

R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Romans 8:1-17 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 8:5-8

E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. In Romans 8:5-6, what is the means for determining if you are walking in the flesh or the Spirit?

2. Read Ephesians 6:12. Describe the spiritual warfare that we are all involved in. Is the warfare physical or mental? Who is involved in this warfare?

3. In Romans 8:6 what does the carnal mind produce? What does the spiritual mind produce?

a. What does Isaiah 26:3-4 say regarding our minds and peace?

B. What does Philippians 3:17-19 say regarding our minds and destruction?

“Peace is the resolution of the intense warfare described in Romans 7, as well as the inward harmony and tranquility that results from yielding to God.” (Nelson’s NKJV study Bible pg. 1892)

4. In Romans 8:7 what relationship does the carnal mind have with God and why?

Enmity is the quality of being an enemy; the opposite of friendship; ill will; hatred; unfriendly dispositions; the state of opposition. (Noah Webster 1828)

5. Read James 4:1-4. What is most important to the carnally minded person and how do these verses support what Paul said in Romans 8:7?

6. Read 1 Corinthians 2:16. What does the believer have according to this verse? How is this possible, and how should this be empowering for the believer in their thought life?

7. If you look closely in verse 7 you will see the word “subject.” Circle that word in your Bible. What is the root issue for the carnally minded person regarding God? How is this a stum- bling block to their faith and holiness?

8. Romans 8:8 speaks a plain truth. What is that truth?

9. Look up the following verses regarding the mind and note what you learn.

Jeremiah 17:10

Matthew 22:37

1 Peter 1:13

10. I want to end this day with some very practical ways you can bring your thought life under God’s authority and control. The Bible gives us everything needed for life and victorious, Godly living. Look up the following verses and fill in the blanks regarding the steps you can take when the mind begins to dictate your actions and thoughts in an ungodly way.

Philippians 4:6 - What is the first step in guarding our hearts and minds through Jesus? Go to God in ______.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 - What do you actively need to do with your thoughts? Take every thought ______and make it ______to Christ.

Philippians 4:8-9 - What does this verse tell you to do with our thoughts? Redirect your thoughts to things that are of ______.

What will result according to Philippians 4:9? Write the word on the lines below. _ _ _ _ _

A ACTING on God’s Word 1. Paul uses the term “set their minds” in Romans 8:5. It speaks to a deliberate and purposeful act. Used in the present tense, phronousin, means to ‘keep on being mindful of or aspiring for.” Make a list of carnal minded aspirations and spiritual minded aspirations.

a. Now look at the flesh aspirations and the Spirit aspirations you wrote down. How would you characterize:

Your aspirations? The aspirations you have for your marriage? The aspirations you have for your children?

2. Why is the mind such a powerful place regarding our relationship with Jesus Christ and ultimately our holiness?

3. What do you struggle with most regarding your thought life?

4. Is peace lacking in your life in any area? What have you learned today about your choices and the direct relationship they have with God’s peace in your life?

D DELIGHTING IN God’s Word “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:26-27

Close in Prayer

© Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 176 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES

Day 3: Honoring God With Your Body Romans 8:1-17: The Holy Spirit and Holy Living

In these next few verses, Paul is going to touch on the mortality of our bodies in both the spiritual and physical sense. He is going to tell you that if Christ lives in you, you have much to look forward to both in this life and the life to come. If you are in Christ, you aren’t in the flesh anymore, you should be walking each day in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives and should reign within you. Because of this, all that you do with your body should glorify the one living inside of you. Your body should be a reflection of Jesus. When we study Romans 12, Paul will hit this idea home a little harder. Today, we are going to just touch on it and begin laying the foundation.

During the late 1800’s a convention began in Keswick, England bringing people together for prayer and teaching. Over 400 people would gather during the summer months on the lawn of St. John’s Vicarage and listen as God’s Word was taught. The conventions went on for years. Missionaries Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael were among those who attended these summer conferences.

In one of the meetings, a minister teaching on Romans 8 said, “I have prayed that I would step on your toes this morning. I want to touch the places in your life that you are holding onto that grieve God’s heart, and I want to offend you if I have to...to break your heart, to get rid of these things that grieve God.” Those are hard words to receive. I don’t want to offend you today, but I want you to allow God to expose any sin that is grieving His heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to work in you to accomplish His purposes and bring Him glory. Through the power of the Holy Spirit you will be able to let go of the sin that grieves God’s heart. Your body will become holy and pleasing to Him. You are, dear sister, “alive in Christ” and “dead to sin.” Does your body and the choices you make with your eyes, your ears, your mouth, and your hands reflect Him?

R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Romans 8:1-17 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 8:9-11

E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. Remember Paul is speaking to the believer in Jesus Christ. In Romans 8:9, what has God given to all believers?

a. By whom are you adopted according to 8:9?

b. Therefore, what nature should be controlling you and dictating your actions and thoughts? Circle one.

Sinful, flesh nature marked by rebellion against God

Spirit of God marked by submission and desire to please God

2. Read Isaiah 43:18-21. What instructions and promises are given in these verses regarding your new life in Christ? For whom were you formed?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. What do these verses tell you regarding your physical body and spirit?

4. In Romans 8:10, what is dead and why?

a. Who is alive in you and why?

5. In Romans 8:11, what did God do for Jesus? What will the Spirit do for you?

6. In Romans 8:9-11, Paul speaks about the life and death of your physical body, and also the new life you live today through the Spirit. Let’s look at 2 Corinthians 4:14-5:9 for a deeper understanding. Answer the following questions from 2 Corinthians.

a. What will God do with your physical body? (v.14)

b. What is happening to your physical body each day? (v.16)

c. What is happening to you because of the Holy Spirit? (v. 16)

d. What is the purpose of some of the difficulties in your physical life? (v.17)

e. Where should your daily focus be? (v.18)

f. What is meant by “earthly house and tent” and what do we have from God? (5:1)

g. What should be our longing if we are filled with the Spirit? (v.2-4)

h. What has been given to you as your guarantee of eternal life? (v.5)

i. How should you be walking each day because of your Spirit-filled life and the hope you have of eternity? (v.7-9)

A ACTING on God’s Word 1. Listed below are some ways that we can dishonor God with our physical bodies. Mark all that apply to you.

__Sex outside of marriage __homosexuality __lack of self-control __Drunkenness __immodesty __Cursing/language __Watching, listening or reading Media that promotes sin __Addictions __unhealthy relationship with food __laziness __Anger __ Outbursts of anger __ Unforgiveness __ Gossip __Other:______

Lift these areas before the Lord in prayer and ask Him to give you His power to be victorious in these areas. Repent of the areas that are dishonoring to God. Ask Him to help you put up safeguards and have accountability in these areas. Thank Him for the Holy Spirit and the life of Christ in you which enables you to say no to sinful choices that dishonor God. Journal a prayer to the Lord.

2. List all the ways that you should honor God with your body.

D DELIGHTING in God’s Word “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said; ‘out of his mouth will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;” John 7:37b-39a

Close in Prayer

© Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 179 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES

DAY 4: Adopted Romans 8:1-17: The Holy Spirit and Holy Living

In these next verses, Paul is going to lay down another life changing truth. The moment you received Jesus Christ, you were adopted into the family of God. God is your father and you are His daughter. He calls you beloved, blessed and precious. This is a family you want to be in. In God’s family many blessings await you, the greatest of all being eternal life and the gift of a helper, the Holy Spirit.

As Paul speaks about adoption it would have hit close to the hearts of the Romans. F.F. Bruce said in his commentary, “The letter of Paul to the Romans,” that we must interpret the implications of our adoption in terms not of our contemporary culture but of the Greco-Roman culture of Paul’s day. He writes, “The term ‘adoption’ may have a somewhat artificial sound in our ears; but in the Roman world of the first century A.D. an adopted son was a son deliberately chosen by his adoptive father to perpetuate his name and inherit his estate; he was not inferior in status to a son born in the ordinary course of nature, and might well enjoy the father’s affection more fully and reproduce the father’s character more worthily.”

Oh girls, can we grasp this? The Spirit is alive inside of you if you are a believer, but you must submit to His control and allow your life to be guided and empowered by Him. You are a child of God and should be enjoying His full affection. Furthermore, you should shine Christ that all may see into whose family you are born!

R RECEIVING God’s Word Open in Prayer Read Romans 8:1-17 Today’s Scripture Focus: Romans 8:12-17

E EXPERIENCING God’s Word 1. Romans 8:12 says you are a debtor. Being a debtor implies you have an obligation. Who are you a debtor to and what is your obligation or responsibility?

2. If the Spirit is inside of you, what action will result according to Romans 8:13?

3. In Romans 8:14 what is the title given to those who have received Jesus and the Holy Spirit? According to this verse what is the evidence of this adoption?

4. Romans 8:15 speaks of Satan’s tactics and control. According to this verse, what are two of Satan’s tactics?

5. Explain how fleshly living and sin keeps you in bondage.

6. I once heard it said that fear is really the sin of unbelief. Would you agree or disagree? Interestingly, Paul equated fear with bondage. How does fear keep someone in bondage?

a. Why should a believer not have to walk in fear?

7. Look up the following verses on fear and note what you learn.

2 Timothy 1:7

1 John 4:18

Isaiah 43:1,5

8. Romans 8:15 says you have been adopted into God’s family. The Aramaic word “Abba” means “Daddy, Father, Papa.” It is a term of endearment. Jesus used this very term when speaking to God in the Garden of Gethsemane just hours before His arrest, betrayal and ultimately His death. Go to Mark 14:35-36. What do you observe about Jesus’ interac- tion with His Abba Father?

a. How is this an example for you to follow in your relationship with God, your Abba Father?

9. Romans 8:16-17 lists evidences of our daughtership and adoption into God’s family. List all the proof that you are God’s child and the blessings you receive because of your adoption.

Evidences:

Blessings:

A ACTING on God’s Word 1. God’s Word tells us that the evidence of conversion, or being born again, is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. It should be known that you are in the family of God. The process of sanctification is life long, but just like our walk with Jesus, our sanctification should be forward moving. Your life should be a testimony of change in attitude, choices, and behaviors. If you received Jesus by faith, you have His Spirit alive in you. Below are some questions you can ask yourself regarding a Spirit-filled and Spirit-sealed life.

-Has the Spirit lead you to Jesus so that you gave Jesus your life by faith? Write the day of your salvation.

-Do you have the desire to honor Jesus and live a life pleasing to Him? Tell of your desire.

-Are you sensitive to the Holy Spirit and do you listen for His voice? What is the most recent thing the Holy Spirit has prompted you to do? Did you obey His leading?

D DELIGHTING in God’s Word “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3

Close in Prayer

© Calvary Chapel Chester Springs Romans • 182 “The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his temple.” Psalm 27:4 DELIGHTING in the LORD BIBLE STUDY SERIES

Delighting In God’s Design: The Wood Frog

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Romans 8:10-11 (NIV) But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”

The Wood Frog is a brown, palm-sized frog with dark patches over its eyes and two big ridges that run down its back. They live in forested areas in northern parts of the U.S, and through- out Canada and Alaska. In many ways, the Wood Frog resembles its amphibious relatives expect for one major distinction. When God designed and created the Wood Frog, He created them with built in protection during the cold winter months. When the tempera- tures fall below freezing, the frog enters a type of hibernation so that it will not die. It will stop breathing, its heart will stop beating and ice crystals may even form within its body. For this reason they have been called “the frozen frog.” But the special kind of “antifreeze” found in them, keeps their fluids from freezing completely inside their cells and killing them. The wood frog is so well designed by God that it is the only frog found north of the Arctic Circle.

This week in Romans 8, we learned that although our body is dead because of sin, our spirit is live in Christ. Just as God keeps the little “frozen frog” safe through what appears to be death in the winter, come spring He brings them back to life again. God will do the same for us. One day our bodies will perish but God promises the believer that although your body will die, your spirit will not. Jesus is your body’s “antifreeze”, if you will. His Spirit is living within you and your faith in Him will preserve your spirit when your body passes away.

Ephesians 4:30 says “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” One of the attributes of God is that He preserves our life. Once His Holy Spirit indwells you, you are sealed until the day you reach eternity.

Have you entrusted God with your eternity? Do you believe that He will bring you back to life, just as He did Jesus, when your mortal body is done here on this earth? If you have not, may today be the day that you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He took your sins upon His shoulders so that your spirit may never die but be alive with Him forever.

Psalm 119:156 (NIV) “Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws.”