Romans Chapter 8

Romans Chapter 8

Therefore people who walk with old JC won’t be condemned, they don’t walk after the mortal flesh, but instead after the Spirit. The law of the JC’s special spirit made Paul free from the nasty law of sin and death. (How? How? How? How does JC’s death do anything for anyone?) Moses’ law couldn’t save humanity because it was weak and merely flesh so God sent his own precious boy down in the imitation of sinful flesh and for sin condemned all sin in the flesh (oh, that’s just as crystal clear as all of Paul’s previous utterings. This guy and John would be in mental institutions in today’s work, at the very least they’d be put on heavy doses of anti-psychotic drugs… not that I condone the use of such things, but I’m just saying, it’s hard to believe this drivel is what created a faith that has lasted two thousand years. That’s just plain frightening to me).

JC’s special law is fulfilled through all us lovely human types who chose to walk in his spirit. People who are concerned with mortal/worldly things pay attention only to those things, but the folks who care about spiritual things pay attention to spiritual matters (well, that seems like it stands to reason, but why can’t you care about both things. I do.)

Unfortunately those of a carnal bent get death (but that’s really not so bad, if you think about it), but spiritually minded folks get life and peace (bully for them, everyone can get what they want).

The carnal mind is opposed to God, and it is not subject to the law of God, and it can’t be. So, it’s impossible for these carnal folks to please God. (I accept my inability to please a cruel and unjust master, I don’t know how you feel).

But if you’re a bit more spiritually minded, it may just be that the Spirit of God is living right inside you. But if you have some Spirit besides Jesus, then you’re not one of his people. (That really does stand to reason, doesn’t it?)

If JC is in you, then the body is still dead because of that tricky sin business, but the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of God who raised JC from death dwells in you, then he’ll quicken your mortal bodies by that same Spirit. (ooooo!)

Therefore Brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, but to the life after the flesh is gone. For if you live for carnal/mortal purposes, you will die. (We all die Paul, I just want you to be clear, everything on this earth dies, whatever happens after that is arguable, but every single living thing dies.) But if you live spiritually and mortify the deeds of the body, well, you apparently live forever. (Have we heard this enough yet?)

Anyone who is led by the Spirit of God is the son of God (not me, I’m not a boy). It’s all sorts of wonderful because you’re free from bondage and you have, in fact, received the spirit of adoption, so we all cry “Father”! Hurray!

The Spirit bears witness with our own lovely spirits that we are the children of God. Whoopie! And if we’re children, then we’re heirs to God, well, joint heirs with J to the C, so since we suffer with him, we also get glorified with him. Yeay! Glory Glory! Paul reckons that the sufferings of these present times (roughly 30-40 years after JC’s demise) aren’t worth comparing to the wonderful wonder that will be revealed later. It’s an earnest expectation to wait for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Whoa, didn’t he tell us that all the boys are sons of Gods, so they’re already manifest, right? And JC was manifest once? So, what are we waiting for?)

The creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly but by he who subjected vanity in hope (uhhhhhh??? Sure.). The creature itself will also be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together… until now. No just them, but also us (are we not part of the whole of creation) who have the firstfruits of the Spirit (are those better than the later season fruits? Or are they really not ripe yet?), even we internally groan waiting for the adoption and the redemption of our body.

We are saved by hope, but hope that is seen isn’t hope at all because if a man sees then why does he yet hope for it? (Er, just a few thoughts… because it’s still too far away, eg. I see the rain in the distance, but I hope it makes it all the way to my field, because it is not obtainable, eg. I see other people who have cats but I’m allergic so I can’t. I still hope someday that might change…. I’m sure there are many many more and better examples but those sprang to mind).

If we hope for what we don’t see, then we have to patience to wait for it (not me, I usually just stop believing it in and try to find a new solution that gives me a more tangible result).

Likewise, the Spirit also helps with our illness and infirmities. We don’t know what we’re supposed to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us with special groaning that can’t be uttered (yuck, weird). And we know that all things work together for good for anyone who loves God and for those called to him according to his purpose.

He knew and predestined to be changed into the image of his Son so that he could be the firstborn among many brethren. (Special special firstborn children… so very very special). He also predestined a bunch of people to be called and who he did call, and then justified, and those who he justified, he also glorified.

What do we then say to these things? (I say, my God, when does this madness and nonsense end. It’s just babbling jibberish. At least the other gospels had a fun story about a dude who preaches and gets crucified… a classic hero tale, if you will).

If God is for us, who can be against us?

He that didn’t even spare his own precious boy, but instead delivered him up for all of us, how shall anyone not freely with him give us all things? Who will lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? God justifies.

Who is it that condemns? It’s JC who died, rather, that rose, who is at the right hand of his papi and who makes intercessions for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christs? Will it be tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword? (No, for me, it’s the bible).

As it is written, for God we are killed all day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter (wonderful). No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through God and JC who love us.

Paul is persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in JC. (You’re right, I already told you, the bible does any awesome job, all by itself of separating any love I had for the oh-so-famous father/son pair).