Bible Studies

The Profile of a Righteous Man

by Henry Jaegers
12/11/24
For Sale
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Studies in the Book of Romans

By Henry Jaegers

 Chapter 8

 The Profile of a Righteous Man

 Before we proceed on to chapter eight, a review of the three main aspects of the matter of Salvation is necessary. We mentioned that Chapter Five deals with the matter of Justification and chapter six deals with Sanctification. If we are to understand this matter of salvation we must also recognize that both of these are an integral part of "What it means to be a Christian.

  Now as we approach chapter eight, we are introduced to the third factor, which is the matter of glorification.  As we grow in our spiritual life, its end is to produce a life that results in God being glorified. So, we say that chapter eight deals with the subject of Glorification.

  Now this brings us to a sub-title of chapter eight describing What kind of life brings glory to God. It is a "Righteous life. And as we further study chapter eight, we discover what a righteous man is.

  The term, Righteousness does not describe what a man who chooses to live a life after the flesh is capable of producing. Righteousness, first describes who God is. He is perfect righteousness and cannot allow anything less than perfection to enter into His presence. Because of man's inability to measure up, God must provide a way for sinful man to enter into His presence. To do this God has provided a perfect man to become our substitute in order for us to find "Peace with God. So, God has provided one who is perfectly righteous, to meet the perfect requirement of God. It is through the righteousness of his son that we find acceptance with God. It is through our Lord Jesus Christ that true righteousness can be found.

  When we, through repentance and faith turn from our self  righteousness and embrace him as ours, then through the sanctifying work of Christ, we are now counted as righteous by God.

Now as we approach chapter eight, we find out the blessings attached to being a righteous man, and through this righteousness, God is glorified because, now, His righteousness is produced in us.

  The Distinction Between Living in the Flesh and Living in the Spirit. ( Verses 1 through 4)

   There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  In explaining the previous word which refers to walking after the flesh and walking after the Spirit, this verse makes a clear distinction between the Christian and the non-Christian. What does this verse tell us? That those who are "In Christ" have no fear of being condemned by God. In like manner, those who choose to walk after the flesh are "Condemned already, and their choice to walk after the flesh, is evidence of their being separated from God

  Then Paul goes on to explain the difference between the Christian and the non-Christian. Within the life of the Christian, there is a new law that controls him. It is not the broken law that leads to death but an inward working through the power of the Holy Spirit that not only produces the ability to please God, but a delight to do so. This principle is lacking in the man who chooses to live his life to please himself.

  The picture before us is not one of the spiritual Christian and the carnal Christian. The inward life of the Christian chooses to live his life to the glory of God. If the Holy Spirit lives within, the desire for that which hinders righteousness is absent. The person usually referred to as the carnal Christian is one who is deceived about what his relationship with Christ is.

  Consider also what this verse is telling us. "That they that are in the flesh (Or choose to walk after the flesh) have no desire for life in the Spirit. Their whole life is centered around pleasing themselves.  Thus Paul concludes that those who choose to walk after the flesh cannot please God. He makes no excuse for Christians who are Christians in name only.

  Then He explains why those who choose to live outside this principle of Grace are condemned, The law loses its ability to produce righteousness because of the inability of man to produce what it demands.

  Now I would like to give attention to the closing words. " God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

  When it says that Jesus condemned sin in the flesh, it means that he considered it as worthless because it could not satisfy God's requirements, and replaced it with another that could please God. And by so doing, he was able to produce true righteousness that could result in it bringing forth fruit to, the glory of God.

  The Distinction Clarified. (Verses 5 through 10)

   For 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.  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they thatre after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

  Do you ever wonder how many who claim to be Christians, never seem to have any interest in spiritual matters? I met a man who claims to be a true Christian, and can tell you everything about any sports celebrity, but cannot tell you what John 3: 16 means and its relevance to his life. Here is an example of those who mind the things of the flesh. They may be placing their faith in what someone has told them as truth, but they never were concerned enough to see if what they were being told was true. And if you have no resources to guide you into truth, how can you check them out? God has given His word as a guide and the inner workings of the Holy Spirit to give us discernment.

  When I was 12 years old, my pastor told me that I was now a Christian because I completed a confirmation class. I believed that for over ten years and I thought that I was a Christian. Being a Christian is not an intellectual matter. Men mind the things of the flesh because there is nothing spiritual that interests them. It is evident from this, that they associate themselves with those who are counted as "Condemned already."

  Then compare the man who has experienced a touch from God. There is within him a sincere desire to know more about God. Although it may be small at first, as he continues to grow and feast on God's word, his desire becomes more intense as he hungers more for this righteousness that God has planted in his heart. Consider further:

  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

  This is a statement that requires closer examination. the natural man does not have the capacity or interest in pleasing god. They have no concept of what true righteousness is. Their closest understanding that they have is to be busy and do the best that they can. Although they may think that they are doing the right thing, God says differently. The verse affirms that those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

 When men operate outside of the realm of the Holy Spirit, true righteousness is impossible for it all boils down to the fact that pleasing themselves is more important. They are trapped in this mode of thinking.

  And there is another matter of concern that involves those who presuppose that they are Christians based on some intellectual decision they have made. They are allowed to be busy in the church, and may even become leaders. But their activity is based on trying to please others or to prove something that is not true. Those superficial activities may result in hearing those terrifying words, "I never knew you. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity.

  Self-deception is a dreadful matter, and it cannot please God.

  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

  So, the next question we must address is, How may I know that I have the Holy Spirit? What evidence is there to help me to know if my relationship with God is genuine or superficial? I want to know.

  First, consider the time when you were confronted over your need for salvation. Was it made under pressure based on the consequences of not receiving Christ? Or do you recall a time when the Holy Spirit convinced you over how God viewed your sin? Was there a deep sorrow over sin with the inward desire to be free from it?

 Then consider the place that God's word had in your salvation experience. Did you receive a greater desire to know God more deeply? And what about the desire to be in fellowship with those of like mind to yourself?

  And finally, has your desire to be more like Christ, continued to grow? If these things are present then you know that you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you. The final evidence is that you are Christ in the manifestation of the fruit of the spirit. The love of God flows in you and through you.

  Then consider these closing words:

  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

  What does it mean, that the body is dead because of sin? The distinction once again is between the body which is flesh. The flesh cannot produce righteousness. It can only produce death. Its end is death whether you speak of the physical body or the works of the flesh produced by selfish desires and motives. Death is all that can come forth. Then it says that the spirit is life and that the Spirit-driven and directed life results in true righteousness to the Glory of God.

  The Potential for Spiritual Victory (Verses  11 through 14)

   But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

  The difference between the man who is controlled by the desires of the flesh and He who is "In Christ" is that the man who is in Christ, has within him the potential and power to resist the pressures of temptation successfully. The man who is "In Christ" is indwelt by the same power that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. The man entrapped by the flesh does not have the inward reserve to resist temptation.

  Then we are told, that because the Spirit of God indwells us, we are no longer debtors to live after the flesh. That means that we have the power within to help us resist temptation. Before, we were slaves, in bondage to our bodies, but our new relationship to Christ means that we no longer have to dwell in that neighborhood. We have moved away and now we are God's free man.

  As we reflect upon the fact of our new relationship, when the "Old Man", comes knocking at the door, we do not need to open it. We are dead to Him. He no longer owns us. This reflects more clearly upon what we studied in Romans chapter six. The fact stated is that we have a choice to open the door or to keep it closed. We cannot help it when the "Old man comes knocking. By moving out of the neighborhood (So to speak) we are lessening the amount of time when he will call.

  What I am saying in this description is, that as we grow in our periods of victory, we become stronger to resist and more discerning over the fact of when we are most vulnerable to these visits.

  Continuing our thought, living after the flesh is a sign that we need to do more to obtain victory. We are reminded that living after the flesh can only bring death, both to the body and to the soul.

  Now consider the words, But if you, through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. What are these verses telling us? Do you remember in Chapter Six when we mentioned"Reckoning ourselves crucified? Mortifying the deeds to the body means applying the cross to the "Old Man." By reckoning ourselves dead to these promptings, that is what it means.  It means to "Count them as dead. We count ourselves dead to them because of our being "In Christ." It is different from them being dead to us. Those temptations from Satan are very much alive toward us, but we do not have to give in to them. That is the potential that is ours.

  Then the verse closes appropriately by telling us because we are led by the Spirit of God, that is evident that we are the sons of God. Those who are not the Sons of God have no history of victory because they lack the inward desire to glorify God.

  Our New Relationship Described (Verses 15 through 18)

   For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

  First, what does it mean and why is it necessary?

  In these verses, we are beginning to understand the meaning of righteousness and the blessings associated with our "Being in Christ.

  Before we were Christians we were under the wrath of God, and our life was characterized by fear. Rightfully so, because we were the enemies of God. But as we are now in Christ, we are no longer enemies, and we are now counted as His children and He is counted as Our Father. It is a relationship compared to that of a father and a son.  That presumes that we had fathers who treated us kindly, otherwise, that understanding and illustration would break down.. that means in our new relationship we have Access to our heavenly father because of our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that this new access to God is possible. This has some relationship to this matter of praying to which we will give more attention.

 Then the verse tells us that the Spirit itself bears witness with our Spirit, giving us the assurance that our relationship is real. Now two questions come to mind that we must consider.  First, what does it mean that the spirit itself bears witness and why is that important? Then we must consider, how does this happen?

  God in His Mercy knows that being assured of our relationship is important. So when we receive Christ, certain things most assuredly must take place. First, before we can receive salvation, we must first realize that we need salvation. How does that happen? First, it usually begins as the word of God is applied to our hearts, and when that happens, God begins to speak. As God speaks, we become aware of His presence, and our sins that never bothered us before become real. It is the Spirit of God that brings this conviction to our hearts and helps us to see our needs. After conversion, the Holy Spirit begins to produce certain desires for God in our hearts. Also, the Sense of inner peace is another evidence of the spirit's witness.

  Second, we answer the question, How does this happen?

   Sometimes there is outward evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence like answers to prayer and the ability to say no to temptation. Sometimes God speaks through dreams or performs miracles. This evidence may be more apparent while we are still young in our faith.  Later these signs of the Spirit's presence may come through reading and finding new truths through reading God's word. But we should never rely on how we feel. Our feelings change in various circumstances, so feelings are not reliable objects on which to place our faith. These various workings both within and without give evidence that we are "Sons of God.

  Finally, let us give further attention to the meaning of these closing words in our verse.

   And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

  Being related to Christ allows us to enjoy such Eternal benefits. We become joint heirs with Christ. It simply means that what is true of him, we are able to share. We probably will have to wait for the time of our future rewards to fully understand all of this. Being related to Christ, often means sharing in His sufferings as well as his blessings. But the words that catch my attention the most, are these: " For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Along with these words, I recall something else Paul said to the Corinthian Christians, " Eye hath not seen neither ears heard neither has entered into the heart of man, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. Need we add to these marvelous words the blessings that await the righteous? And we are just getting started in this chapter.

 Martyn Lloyd Jones, in his exposition on the book of Romans, has given 57 messages on Romans eight. But I will not attempt to do that.

  The Hope of Redemption (Verses 19 through 23)

  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 The verse before us is one that would be easy to bypass, since understanding what it is saying requires some careful thought, so. I would like to parse the verses in order to clarify the meaning.

  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

  The first question that arises is, who is the creature and what is he waiting for? The clearest answer that makes sense is that when the fall happened, all of creation was affected by that fall. For instance, the ground would now produce briars and thorns, and the ground would require hard work on the part of man to produce a crop.  The verse is telling us that the creature(That part of creation affected by the fall.) The creature waits in expectation for its redemption. In other words, the creation needs redemption because it has been corrupted by the fall as well. When the redemption of man takes place, so will the redemption of the corrupted creation. So our verse is telling us that the fallen creation waits expectantly for its healing. The next thing to consider is:

   For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.

 It was no fault of creation itself that caused the corruption to take place. It was a natural outcome of the fall. But the verse is telling us that the creation anticipates a future deliverance. This helps us to understand what was previously been said. Next, consider:

  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

 This further confirms that the creation awaits the time for the man's redemption in order for it to take place. The fulfillment of this expectation will take place when the New Heaven will replace the old, as mentioned more clearly in Revelation chapter 21. Next, consider:

  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

  So as the creation awaits its deliverance, so does the Christian. We await with anticipation the deliverance of the body from its present pain and anguish.

  And we might wonder why this portion is given at this point. Because it helps us to understand the glory mentioned in our previous verse. In short, it is part of the unspeakable things that await the glory promised to the Christian. Perhaps it makes sense if we view these verses somewhat as a parenthesis between verses 18 and 24.

  The Value of Hope (Verses 24 and 25.)

  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it?

  This is an interesting cluster of verses that explains the value of hope. What we are waiting for at the present, is invisible. But because God promised it to us, we can depend on its arrival. Therefore because it is unseen for a while, the assurance of its arrival keeps us faithful until what we hope for arrives. Many times we do not see its fulfillment while we are still around, but its fulfillment is in the hands of God.  The value of hope is dependent upon the faithfulness of God, not upon our great faith. Faith causes us to persevere while God is preparing for its arrival. The verse explains, that if we receive the promise, then we do not need to hope or persevere. But it is kept from us to keep us hoping and pressing forward regardless of whether we see its fulfillment or not.

   The Holy Spirit, Teaching us to Pray (Verses 26 through 28)

  Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

  Over the past few years, I have found these verses extremely helpful when it comes to understanding what prayer is. So I would like to venture apart from the text and share with you what I think that these verses are saying.

  First, I would like to share with you a definition of prayer that I received from G. Campbell Morgan. He defines prayer as "A wishing forward. That is a good definition and it is in harmony with the words of our text that speak of "Groanings that cannot be uttered. That means that praying is a matter of the heart, not always spoken in words. Very often we find ourselves in a place of desperation where we need divine help. And there is an inward groaning that occurs that cannot be expressed by words.

  Now, as we examine the text, we find that it is the Holy Spirit who is there to help us in our desperate situations. It is at this time that we need to pray, but as our verse says, "We do not know how to pray as we ought. But the Holy Spirit does. And as we bring our inward groanings to God, The Holy Spirit translates those groanings into a filtering system that makes our prayers acceptable. That filtering system is the Lord Jesus Christ as He intercedes for us before the throne of God. When God receives those messages from Jesus, they are always given according to His perfect will. And when God answers, they are always answered perfectly.. God always answers those prayers that are asked according to His will. Sometimes, they are  answered in a way that we expect. Other times they are answered in a different way for a different time.

  And as we progress in time, we look back to discover that God answered our prayer. And we give thanks to God when we discover that His way, His timing, and His ways are always perfect.

  Now, I know that this seems like a far-off way to interpret these verses, but if you consider them carefully, you might find this explanation to be helpful.

  Finally, Notice the closing verse. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Now this is a very popular verse quoted often by many, but have you ever heard it used in reference to our praying? Reading passages outside of their context does not always give you the message God intends for us to have. In this context regarding prayer, it serves as an encouragement to us.  May we find it so.

  Predestined For Glory (Verses29 and 30)

   For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 Before us is a short section of only two verses, but the subject has been one of great confusion if one tries to fit it into some pre-conceived doctrinal theory that need not be complicated. It centers on the word"Predestined."  That leads to the conclusion by some, that god has planned for some things to happen and only a certain select group will benefit by this act of God. With these theories, they always seek to put God into some kind of box where they can control Him.  But God is greater than that and these theories are wrong. But consider another way to understand these words.

  First, the word "predestined  can also mean, "Pre-determined." Before God began His creation, He already had in mind what He intended to do.  First He intended to create man after His own will." He also planted within man a free will and this was important. But having free will presupposes that He might exercise it in a way contrary to God's plan. God, pre-determined all of this before man was ever created. Likewise, a Plan for man's redemption was also in place. All predetermined by God before it ever took place.  When we substitute predestination in place of predetermined, then we construct a God according to our imagination.

  Another verse in the first Epistle of Peter says that we are "Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God, through sanctification of the spirit.  (First Peter 1: 2) It is through the inworking of the Holy Spirit that we become "God's elect. Now, Those who are predestined in Romans are those who are elected in First Peter.

  Now consider our verse in relationship to this. "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  Notice the steps. First He called. That involves an action of the will.  Then those that He called, He also Justified. Then next, those He justified, those he also glorified.. Notice the progression .)   And now we see what we originally mentioned as the three stages that lead to the Glory of God, and what it means to be a Christian.

   The Response of Triumph (Verses 31 through 39)

   What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am 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 Christ Jesus our Lord.

  The Doctrinal portion of Romans has completed at the close of chapter eight. It is a note of triumph and victory. It is also a proper summary of what has been said throughout this chapter. As we consider the sub-title of what it means to be a Christian, these closing words cause us to wonder why anyone would want to be anything else.

  Chapter eight serves as a profile of what it means to be a righteous person. It describes our privilege of being"In Christ. We are more than conquerors. What does that mean? What higher position is that which is higher than a conquerer? Perhaps it means that we no longer need to fear the problem of guilt over defeat. Then again maybe It is a reminder that the battle is not ours to fight.  but the fact that this is our position, it should utter forth the sound of triumph that these verses so confidently expressed. May these messages of triumph serve as a reminder to us of what it truly means to be a Christian. And may it motivate us to be bold in confidence as we seek to declare this message to others.