Andrew Fountain - Learning to live free from condemnation

Matthew 28:19–20

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
    baptizing them in the name of the
    Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
    teaching them to observe
    all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Ephesians 1:17–19, 3:17–19

[I pray...] “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you

• the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him…
• and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe…
• that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend… the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,

that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Summary

• Growing as a Christian is aligning with
  the way of thinking of life in the Spirit,
  and not condemnation.

Romans Outline

• chapter 1–5 Salvation
• chapter 6–7 The Law can’t help us
• chapter 8 The Spirit can bring us to maturity
  • “No Condemnation”

Paraphrase of Rom 8:1–4

1

There is therefore now no debt for those who are now in Greenwood.

2

For the rules of Greenwood

have set you free

from the rules of Rana.

3

For Mr Greenwood has done what Rana’s company’s requirements, could not do.

By sending his own Son into Rana,

he met all the company’s requirements in Rana,

4

in order that we might now become good company employees,

Romans 8:1–4

1

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2

For the law of the Spirit of life

has set you free in Christ Jesus

from the law of sin and death.

3

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do.

By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,

he condemned sin in the flesh,

4

in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us,

Paraphrase of Rom 8:5–7

those who work

not according to Rana

but according to Greenwood.

5

For those who live according to Rana

have the way of thinking of Rana,

but those who live according to Greenwood

have the way of thinking of Greenwood.

6

For the way of thinking of Rana is death,

but the way of thinking of Greenwood is life and peace.

7

Because the way of thinking of Rana is hostile to the company,

For it does not submit to the company’s requirements; indeed, it cannot.

Romans 8:5–7

those who walk

not according to the flesh

but according to the Spirit.

5

For those who live according to the flesh

have the way of thinking of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit

have the way of thinking of the Spirit.

6

For the way of thinking of the flesh is death,

but the way of thinking of the Spirit is life and peace.

7

Because the way of thinking of the flesh is hostile to God,

For it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.

Paraphrase of Rom 8:8–9

8

Those who are in Rana cannot please the company.

9

You, however, are not in Rana but in Greenwood,

if in fact you are living in Greenwood

Romans 8:8–9

8

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,

if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.

Paraphrase of Rom 8:12–13

12

So then, brothers, we have an obligation,

not to Rana, to live following the way of thinking of Rana.

13

For if

you live

following the way of thinking of Rana

you are certain to die,

But if in Greenwood

you put to death

the practices of Rana,

you will live.

Romans 8:12–13

12

So then, brothers, we have an obligation,

not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13

For if

you live

according to the flesh

you are certain to die,

But if by the Spirit

you put to death

the practices of the body,

you will live.

Romans 8:31–39

31. What then shall we say to these things?
    If God is for us, who can be against us?
32. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,
    how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
33. Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?
    It is God who justifies.
34. Who is to condemn?
    Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God,
    who indeed is interceding for us.

Romans 8:31–39 cont’d

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
    Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…
37. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39. nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:11

11

But if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,

he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead

will also give life to your mortal bodies

through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Conclusion

• Growing as a Christian is aligning with
  the way of thinking of life in the Spirit,
  and not condemnation.