ROMANS Study Guide

4) Keep presenting yourself to the Holy Spirit for righteousness

(Rom.6:16-18)

Note: Let me present a few paragraphs from Brother Watchman Nee who I believes summarizes well this life of dependency on the Holy Spirit to develop in you Christ-Likeness in your thinking and actions.

Watchman Nee

(The Normal Christian Life)

“Living in the Spirit means that I trust the Holy Spirit to do in me what I cannot do in myself. This life is completely different from the life I would naturally live of myself. Each time I am faced with a new demand from the Lord, I look to him to do in me what he requires of me. It is not a case of trying but of trusting; not of struggling but of resting in Him. If I have a hasty temper, impure thoughts, a quick tongue or a critical spirit, I shall not set out with a determined effort to change myself, but instead, reckoning myself dead in Christ to these things. This is what it means to “standstill’ and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you.” (Ex.14:13) Nee, pg.119 “If we live in the Spirit, if we walk by faith in the risen Christ, we can truly ‘stand aside’ while the spirit gains new victories over the flesh Everyday. …The Cross has been given to procure salvation for us; the Spirit has been given to produce salvation in us.” Nee, pg.121

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us. Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. Rom 8:20 For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope Rom 8:21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rom 8:22 And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Rom 8:23 And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, awaiting adoption, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope for it? Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that which we do not see, then we wait for it with patience.

Creation is suffering too (vs.18-22)

5. The Fall of man brought two forms of suffering - the suffering of mankind

and the suffering of creation.