March 19, 2023


CW - A  - Epistle Lesson  - Lent 4   Kieth Bernard Kuschel 


Romans 8:1-10

(Rom 8:1)  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, {4} in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. {5} Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. {6} The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. {9} You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. {10} But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.


What is inside of you?

What does it do?

Why is it in there?

What is inside of you? Jesus.

Why is He in there?

What does He do?

Today with Paul’s help we want to ask three questions?

IF CHRIST IS IN YOU

I. Are You Condemned?

II. Are You Hostile?

III. Who is in Control?


IA1     A former state probation officer accused of demanding sexual favors from young men under his supervision pleaded no contest to 31 counts.  His plea came as jury selection was to begin..  Prosecutors had filed more than 220 criminal counts against him.  The 31 counts include charges of second degree sexual assault, hindering prosecution, tampering and unlawful restraint and are applied to all 15 victims in the complaint.  Several youths had told police that he threatened to return them to prison if they refused his sexual advances.  The alleged assaults took place in his office and at his former home, according to court documents.  

    2 Did you read that article?  How did you respond? Condemnation!!  What an outrage!  It is bad enough that people do that kind of thing in our society.  But when someone who is supposed to be a representative of what is the right does it, it seems worse.  When someone who is supposed to be helping people to get back on their feet do such a thing, it is awful.  Throw the book at him.  Throw away the key. 

   3 Why did you respond that way?  Because this man had violated what you considered to be a standard.  The law says you don’t do such things.  The conscience says you don’t do such things.  Our society which has abandoned many of the tenets of what is right and wrong at least still says you don’t do such things. 

 B1 A person who at one time in his life formally and publicly stated that he was a believer in Jesus Christ, stated that he would remain faithful to Jesus Christ, stated that he would use the Bible and participate in the Lord’s Supper regularly, and stated that he would live a godly life, doesn’t seem to be any different from anybody else in his neighborhood, never opens his Bible at home at all, and  opens his mouth about Jesus Christ so infrequently that hardly anybody knows he is a Christian.     

   2 How should God respond?  Condemnation.  Anger.  It is bad enough that the general populace is like that.  But when someone who is supposed to be connected with Jesus Christ acts that way, it seems worse.  When someone who is supposed to be leading others to Jesus acts like that, it is awful.  Throw the book at him.  Throw away the key.

   3 Why could/would/should God respond that way?  Because we have failed to do what God says we ought to be doing.   The Law of God says we are to keep Jesus first in our lives, we are to use the Word regularly, and we are to act in accordance with the standard God has set up.

  C1 Is that how God responds?  Listen to Paul:   “ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, {2} because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, {4} in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”  Our sinful nature made it impossible for us to be right with God on the basis of trying to keep the Law.  I was controlled by sin and headed for eternal death.  God condemned me and my sin, but allowed the punishment to fall on Jesus.  In addition He puts the holiness of Jesus on me so that the requirements of the law are met in me.  So there is no condemnation waiting for me. 

  1. There is also no condemnation now.  My sins have been removed.  I have been punished already when Jesus was punished.  The accident I just had which broke my leg is not a punishment from God.  Looks that way.  Feels that way.  Smells that way.  But God says it’s not.  The loss of my job is not a punishment from God.  Looks that way.  Smells that way.  Feels that way.  But God says it’s not.  No condemnation.   

  2. Thank you Lord for giving me life.  I don’t mean physical life.  I mean real life.  An existence that isn’t threatened with condemnation.  Life that resulted when the Holy Spirit brought me to faith in Jesus.  Life that resulted when the Christ took up residence in me. If Christ is in you, are you condemned?  No way.  


IIA1 You are standing in the check out line at the grocery store and you decide to make conversation.  So, you say, “What do you think about God?” “Excuse me!!!”   Since you took the plunge and approached the subject, you don’t let it go.  “What do you think about God?”  What is the answer, if the person is willing to talk?  “I don’t think about him.  Doesn’t cross my mind during the course of the day.” Is that a hostile response? It is not an overtly angry response.  But it is a response that is hostile to the whole idea of God.  Paul tells us that is to be expected: {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”   

   2 Got another possible answer?  “I think you should mind your own business.  I wasn’t bothering you.  What’s your problem?  Just let me alone.  The same thing goes for god.  He should just go ahead and do his god thing whatever that is.  I will do my thing.  I really don’t like intrusions into my life.  I know you are going to tell me god wants a relationship with me and I ought to be living connected with him.  I don’t care.  I want to live my life my way.”  Another hostile response to the whole concept of God. Paul tells us that is to be expected: {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”   

   3 Got a third possible answer?  “I’ll tell you what I think about God.  I think He is a vindictive, unloving, sadistic so and so.  Look what he has allowed to happen in my life over the past few years.  If he were loving and caring, such things shouldn’t happen to anybody.  That’s what I think about God.  You can take your whole idea of God and stick it in your ear.”  That is a hostile response.  Paul tells us that is to be expected: {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”    

    B1 You are standing in the check out line at the grocery store and you decide to make conversation.  So you say, “How are things going?” “They are going.”  Since you took the plunge, you keep swimming.  “Are the people in your neighborhood nice?”  What is the answer if the person is willing to talk?  “I don’t know.  I don’t have much contact with them.  I am pretty busy.  I don’t think about them.  They aren’t part of my life.”  Is that a hostile response? It is not an overtly angry response.  But it is hostile to the whole idea of loving relationships. Paul tells us that is to be expected: {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”   

      2 Got another possible answer?  “I am a pretty private person.  I don’t seek out relationships with others.  So I don’t know if they are nice or not.  I kind of like being alone in our own little world.  It is OK if we don’t get any intrusions into our lives from other people.  Most of the time people have their own opinions which often are in conflict with mine.  I don’t like to have to deal with that.  I just like being by myself.”  Another hostile response to the whole idea of relationships.  Paul tells us that is to be expected: {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”    

    3 Got a third possible answer?  “Things are not going well at all.  My neighbors are rotten.  They go out of their way to make life miserable.  I wish I were living on a desert island.  People are all the same.  They only look out for themselves.  That’s what I think about life right now.  You asked for it.”  That is a hostile response. Paul tells us that is to be expected: {7} the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”   

 

 C1 How would you respond to your own questions?  How about this for an answer?  “I think about God a lot.  I think He is important.  I know He loves me.  I know He cares about me.”  That answer tells me something.  It tells me you are at peace with the concept of God.  Paul says that is to be expected.  “ the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;”   

     2 How about this for an answer?  “Things are going pretty well.  My neighbors are busy.  They have their own lives to live. So do I.   I know they are all sinners as I am.  I try to work at my selfishness.  I try to remember they are just like me.”  That answer tells me something.  It tells me you are at peace with the whole concept of loving relationships with sinful human beings. Paul says that is to be expected.  “ the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;”

    3 Thank you Lord for giving me life.  I don’t mean physical life.  I mean real life.  An existence that isn’t driven by hostility.  Life that resulted when the Holy Spirit brought me to faith in Jesus.  Life that resulted when the Christ took up residence in me.  If Christ is in you, are you hostile?  No way.    


IIIA1 As you were walking around investigating all the parts of the cruise ship, you saw that they had everything you could think of for entertainment.  Even a casino.  You walked through and observed.  There was a nice little old lady sitting on a stool.  She wasn’t smiling.  Her hands were going rhythmically up and down, shoving in coins and pulling the handle.  Her pile of coins depleted.  She immediately got a new supply.  Went back to the same machine and continued.  Who is in control here?  Paul’s answer is: {5} “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires;”         

   2 As you were walking around in the blocks around your hotel in the big city you noticed a man walking slowly, looking at everything.  He picked up whatever he found.  Then you noticed him going through the refuse containers.  When people came by, he would run out to ask them for some money to buy food.  A car drove up quickly.  He ran over & pulled whatever money he had received out of his pocket.  He received a little bag back.  Who is in control here?  Paul’s answer is: {5} Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires.  

    3 As you observe your office mate, you notice he comes in very early, and stays very late.  He seems overly concerned that he might lose his job if he doesn’t put in all this extra time.  He is always talking about getting security.  He never mentions that there is anybody else looking out for him.  Who is in control here?   Paul’s answer is: {5} Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires;   

   B1 As you are walking through the different parts of the facility, you see a little old lady sitting on a stool.  She isn’t smiling.  She is intense.  Her hands go rhythmically up and down.  From the dish of pureed food to the mouth of the man.  You assume it is her husband.  It looks as if she has been doing this for years.  When one bowl is depleted, she gets some more. Looks the same just a different color. She intersperses words about Jesus Christ in with her fast moving hands. Who is in control here?  Paul’s answer is: “but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” {10} But if Christ is in you,  your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

   2 As you are counting the receipts for the fundraiser for the family who lost everything in a fire, you notice a check from a man who picks up cans off the street for the nickel deposit, who drives an old car, who lives in a modest home, and who is considered odd by most except those with whom he worships every Sunday.  The reason his check caught your attention was - you never knew he had that kind of money.  Who is in control here?    Paul’s answer is: “but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” {10} But if Christ is in you,  your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

    3 As you observe your office mate, you notice that he is always busy doing things right after work.  You hear him talk a lot about all the activity that he crams into his weekends.  Most of the things he does seem to have a common denominator.  He is interacting with a lot of people.  He seems intense about rubbing shoulders with a lot of people.  Rumor is that he thinks he might be able to steer them toward Jesus if he has ongoing contact with them.  Who is in control here?    Paul’s answer is: “but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” {10} But if Christ is in you,  your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 

   C1 “ {9} You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.”  God the Holy Spirit brought you to trust that Jesus died to wipe away your sins.  He brought you to trust that Jesus lived perfectly so that He might cover you with His holiness, He brought you to trust that Jesus rose from the dead so that He might give you eternal life.  But God the Holy Spirit also took up residence in your life at that time and is in charge of you.

    2 How does He exercise His position?  He works in you through the Word of the Lord.  He works in you through the Holy Supper.

    3 Thank you Lord for giving me life.  I don’t mean physical life.  I mean real life.  An existence that is controlled by the Holy Spirit.  “If Christ is in you, your spirit is alive.”