LESSON 9   
   *August 21 - 27   
   Freedom in Christ   
      
   SABBATH AFTERNOON   
      
   Read for This Week's Study:   
      
      
   Romans  8:1-17.   
      
   Memory Text:   
      
      
   "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who   
   walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans  8:1).   
    Romans 8 is Paul's answer to Romans  7. In Romans  7 Paul speaks of   
   frustration, failure, and condemnation; in Romans  8, the condemnation is   
   gone, replaced with freedom and victory through  Jesus Christ.   
      
   Paul was saying in Romans  7 that if you refuse to accept Jesus Christ, the   
   wretched experience of Romans  7 will be yours. You will be slaves to sin,   
   unable to do what you choose  to do. In Romans  8 he says that Christ Jesus   
   offers you deliverance from sin and the  freedom to do the good that you want   
   to do but your flesh won't allow.   
      
   Paul continues, explaining that this freedom was purchased at infinite cost.   
   Christ the Son of God took on humanity, the only way He could relate to  us,   
   could be our perfect example, and could become the substitute who died in  our   
   stead. He came "in the likeness of sinful flesh" (vs.  3). As a result, the   
   righteous requirements of the law can be  fulfilled in us (vs.  4). In other   
   words, Christ made victory over sin, as well as meeting  the positive   
   requirements of the law, possible.   
      
   Due to space limitations, we will cover only the first  17 verses of Romans 8.   
   As time allows, read the rest of the chapter,  which is filled with wonderful   
   assurances of God's love. These verses  powerfully point us to the hope we   
   should have as people who are "more than  conquerors through him that loved   
   us" (vs.  37) and who, out of that love, "spared not his own Son, but    
   delivered him up for us all" (vs.  32).    
   *Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 28.   
      
   SUNDAY   
   August 22   
      
   Freedom From Condemnation   
      
   "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who   
   walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:1). What does "no   
   condemnation" mean? No condemnation from what? And why is this such good news?   
      
      
      
   "In Christ Jesus" is a common phrase in the Pauline writings. For a person to   
   be "in" Christ Jesus means that he or she has accepted Christ as his or her   
   Savior. The person trusts Him implicitly and has decided to make Christ's way   
   of life his or her own way. The result is a close personal union with Christ.   
      
   "In Christ Jesus" is contrasted with "in the flesh." It also is contrasted   
   with the experience detailed in chapter 7, where Paul describes the person   
   under conviction before his or her surrender to Christ as carnal, meaning that   
   he or she is a slave to sin. The person is under condemnation of death (vss.   
   11, 13, 24). He or she serves the "law of sin" (vss. 23, 25). This person is   
   in a terrible state of wretchedness (vs. 24).   
      
   But then the person surrenders to Jesus, an immediate change is wrought in his   
   or her standing with God. Formerly condemned as a lawbreaker, that person now   
   stands perfect in the sight of God, stands as if he or she had never sinned,   
   because the righteousness of Jesus Christ completely covers that person. There   
   is no more condemnation, not because the person is faultless, sinless, or   
   worthy of eternal life (he or she is not!), but because Jesus' perfect life   
   record stands in the person's stead; thus, there is no condemnation.   
      
   But the good news doesn't end there.   
      
   What frees a person from slavery to sin? Rom. 8:2.   
      
      
      
   "The law of the Spirit of life" here means Christ's plan for saving humanity,   
   in contrast with "the law of sin and death," which was described in chapter 7   
   as the law by which sin ruled, the end of which was death. Christ's law   
   instead brings life and freedom.   
      
   "Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of   
   another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the   
   most abject slavery. . . . While he flatters himself that he is following the   
   dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness.   
   Christ came to break the shackles of sin-slavery from the soul."--Ellen G.   
   White, The Desire of Ages, p. 466. Are you a slave, or are you free in Christ?   
   How can you know for sure?   
       
   MONDAY   
   August 23   
      
   What the Law Could Not Do   
      
   However good, the "law" (the ceremonial law, the moral law, or even both)   
   cannot do for us what we need the most, and that is to provide the means of   
   salvation, a means of saving us from the condemnation and death that sin   
   brings. For that, we need Jesus.   
      
   Read Romans 8:3, 4. What did Christ do that the law, by its very nature,   
   cannot do?    
      
      
   God provided a remedy by "sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful   
   flesh," and He "condemned sin in the flesh." The incarnation of Christ was an   
   important step in the plan of salvation. It is proper to exalt the Cross, but   
   in the outworking of the plan of salvation, Christ's life "in the likeness of   
   sinful flesh" was extremely important, too.   
      
   As a result of what God has done in sending Christ, it is now possible for us   
   to meet the righteous requirement of the law; that is, to do the right things   
   that the law requires. "Under the law" (Rom. 6:14), this was impossible; "in   
   Christ" it is now possible.   
      
   Yet, we must remember that doing what the law requires doesn't mean keeping   
   the law well enough to earn salvation. That's not an option--never was. It   
   means simply living the life that God enables us to live; it means a life of   
   obedience, one in which we have "crucified the flesh with its passions and   
   desires" (Gal. 5:24, NKJV), a life in which we reflect the character of Christ.   
      
   "Walk" in verse 4 is an idiomatic expression signifying "to conduct oneself."   
   The word flesh here denotes the unregenerate person, whether before or after   
   conviction. To walk after the flesh is to be controlled by selfish desires.   
      
   In contrast, to walk after the Spirit is to fulfill the righteous requirement   
   of the law. Only through the help of the Holy Spirit can we meet this   
   requirement. Only in Christ Jesus is there freedom to do what the law   
   requires. Apart from Christ, there is no such freedom. The one who is enslaved   
   to sin finds it impossible to do the good he or she chooses to do (see Rom.   
   7:15, 18).   
   How well are you keeping the law? Putting aside  any notions of earning   
   salvation by the law, is your life one in which the  "righteousness of the   
   law" is fulfilled? If not, why not? What kind of lame  excuses are you using   
   to rationalize your behavior?    
   TUESDAY   
   August 24   
      
   Flesh Versus Spirit   
      
   They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that   
   are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is   
   death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom. 8:5, 6). Dwell on   
   these texts. What basic message comes through from them? What do they say to   
   you about how you are living your life?   
      
      
      
   "After," here, is used in the sense of "according to" (Greek kata). "Mind"   
   here means to set the mind on. One group of people sets its mind on fulfilling   
   natural desires; the other sets its mind on the things of the Spirit, to   
   follow His dictates. Because the mind determines actions, the two groups live   
   and act differently.   
      
   What is the carnal mind unable to do? Rom. 8:7, 8.   
      
      
      
   To have one's mind set on fulfilling the desires of the flesh is, in reality,   
   to be in a state of enmity against God. One whose mind is thus set is   
   unconcerned about doing the will of God. He or she even may be in rebellion   
   against Him, openly flouting His law.   
      
   Paul wishes especially to emphasize that, apart from Christ, it is impossible   
   to keep the law of God. Again and again Paul returns to this theme: no matter   
   how hard one tries, apart from Christ one cannot obey the law.   
      
   Paul's special purpose was to persuade the Jews that they needed more than   
   their "Torah" (law). By their conduct they had shown that, in spite of having   
   the divine revelation, they were guilty of the same sins of which the Gentiles   
   were guilty (Romans 2). The lesson of all this was that they needed the   
   Messiah. Without Him they would be slaves of sin, unable to escape its   
   dominion.   
      
   This was Paul's answer to those Jews who couldn't understand why what God had   
   given them in the Old Testament was no longer enough for salvation. Paul   
   admitted that what they had been doing was all good, but they also needed to   
   accept the Messiah who had now come.   
   Look at your past 24 hours. Were your deeds of the  Spirit or of the flesh?   
   What does your answer tell you about yourself? If of  the flesh, what changes   
   must you make, and how can you make them?    
   WEDNESDAY   
   August 25   
      
   The Spirit in Us   
      
   Paul continues his theme, contrasting the two possibilities that people face   
   in how they live: either according to the Spirit; that is, the Holy Spirit of   
   God, which is promised to us, or according to their sinful and carnal nature.   
   One leads to eternal life, the other to eternal death. There is no middle   
   ground. Or, as Jesus Himself said: "He who is not with Me is against Me, and   
   he who does not gather with Me scatters" (Matt. 12:30, NKJV). It's hard to get   
   plainer, or more black and white, than that.   
      
   "Read Romans 8:9-14. What is promised to those who surrender themselves fully   
   to Christ?   
      
      
      
   The life "in the flesh" is contrasted with life "in the Spirit." The life "in   
   the Spirit" is controlled by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. He is in this   
   chapter called the Spirit of Christ, perhaps in the sense that He is a   
   representative of Christ, and through Him Christ dwells in the believer (vss.   
   9, 10).   
      
   In these verses, Paul returns to a figure he used in Romans 6:1-11.   
   Figuratively, in baptism "the body of sin"; that is, the body that served sin,   
   is destroyed. The "old man is crucified with him" (vs. 6). But, as in baptism,   
   there is not only a burial but also a resurrection, so the person baptized   
   rises to walk in the newness of life. This means to put to death the old self,   
   a choice that we have to, of ourselves, make day by day, moment by moment. God   
   does not destroy human freedom. Even after the old man of sin is destroyed, it   
   still is possible to sin. To the Colossians Paul wrote, "Mortify [put to   
   death] therefore your members which are upon the earth" (Col. 3:5).   
      
   Thus, after conversion there still will be a struggle against sin. The   
   difference is that the person whom the Spirit indwells now has divine power   
   for victory. Furthermore, because the person has been so miraculously freed   
   from the slave master of sin, he or she is obligated never to serve sin again.   
   Dwell on this idea that the Spirit of God, who raised  Jesus from death, is   
   the same one dwelling in us, if we allow Him to. Think  about the power that   
   is there for us! What keeps us from availing ourselves  of it as we should?    
   THURSDAY   
   August 26   
      
   Adoption Versus Bondage   
      
   How does Paul describe the new relationship in Christ? Rom. 8:15. What hope is   
   found in this promise for us? How do we make it real in our lives?    
      
      
   The new relationship is described as freedom from fear. A slave is in bondage.   
   He lives in a state of constant fear of his master. He stands to gain nothing   
   from his long years of service.   
      
   Not so with the one who accepts Jesus Christ. First, he or she renders   
   voluntary service. Second, he or she serves without fear, for "perfect love   
   casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18). Third, adopted as a son, he or she becomes   
   heir to an inheritance of infinite worth.   
      
   "The spirit of bondage is engendered by seeking to live in accordance with   
   legal religion, through striving to fulfill the claims of the law in our own   
   strength. There is hope for us only as we come under the Abrahamic covenant,   
   which is the covenant of grace by faith in Christ Jesus."--Ellen G. White   
   Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1077.   
      
   What gives us the assurance that God has indeed accepted us as children? Rom.   
   8:16.    
      
      
   The inward witness of the Spirit confirms our acceptance. While it is not safe   
   to go by feeling merely, those who to the best of their understanding have   
   followed the light of the Word will hear an inward authenticating voice   
   assuring them that they have been accepted as children of God.   
      
   Indeed, Romans 8:17 tells us that we are heirs; that is, we are part of the   
   family of God and, as heirs, as children, we receive a wonderful inheritance   
   from our Father. We don't earn it; it is given to us by virtue of our new   
   status in God, a status granted to us through His grace, which has been made   
   available to us because of the death of Jesus in our behalf.   
   How close are you to the Lord? Do you really know Him,  or just about Him?   
   What changes must you make in your life in order to have a  closer walk with   
   your Creator and Redeemer? What holds you back, and  why?    
   FRIDAY   
   August 27   
      
   Further Study:    
      
   Ellen G. White, "Later English Reformers," pp.  253-256, in The Great   
   Controversy; "The Baptism," p. 113;  "At Capernaum," pp.  253-256; "'Let Not   
   Your Heart Be Troubled,'" pp. 671,  672, in The Desire of Ages; "Like Unto   
   Leaven," pp.  95-98, in Christ's Object Lessons; "Letters to Physicians," pp.   
   126-129, in Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8.   
      
   "The plan of salvation does not offer believers a life free from suffering    
   and trial this side of the kingdom. On the contrary, it calls upon them to    
   follow Christ in the same path of self-denial and reproach. . . . It is   
   through  such trial and persecution   
      
   that the character of Christ is reproduced and revealed in His people. . ..  .   
   By sharing in the sufferings of Christ we are educated and disciplined and    
   made ready to share in the glories of the hereafter."--The SDA Bible   
   Commentary,  vol. 6, pp. 568, 569.   
      
   "The chain that has been let down from the throne of God is long enough to    
   reach to the lowest depths. Christ is able to lift the most sinful out of the    
   pit of degradation, and to place them where they will be acknowledged as   
   children  of God, heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance."--Ellen G.   
   White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 229.   
      
   "One honored of all heaven came to this world to stand in human nature at  the   
   head of humanity, testifying to the fallen angels and to the inhabitants  of   
   the unfallen worlds that through the divine help which has been provided,    
   everyone may walk in the path of obedience to God's commands. . . .   
      
   "Our ransom has been paid by our Savior. No one need be enslaved by Satan.   
   Christ stands before us as our all-powerful helper."--Ellen G. White, Selected   
   Messages, book 1, p. 309.    
   Discussion Questions:   
      
     Read again  the quotes from Ellen G. White in Friday's study. What hope can   
   we take from  them for ourselves? More important, how can we make these   
   promises of victory  real in our own lives? Why, with so much offered us in   
   Christ, do we keep on  falling far short of what we really could be?    
     What  are practical, daily ways you can have your mind "set . . . on the   
   things of  the Spirit" (Rom.  8:5, RSV). What does that mean? What does the   
   Spirit desire? What do  you watch, read, or think about that makes this   
   difficult to achieve in your  life?    
     Dwell  more on this idea that we are either on one side or the other in the   
   great  controversy, with no middle ground. What are the implications of that   
   stark  cold fact? How should the realization of this important truth impact   
   how we  live and the choices we make, even in the "small" things?    
      
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