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Amen this evening we will be in Romans chapter number eight we're gonna continue with our series that we typically would do on a Thursday night but due to the guest preachers that are coming on Thursday we're just gonna go ahead and keep doing it on Sunday nights now this Thursday we will continue with Romans chapter 9 and then we'll just keep with the regular schedule but tonight we are in Romans chapter number 8 now Romans chapter 8 can be broken up into really four parts you have verses 1 through 16 that deals with the flesh and the spirit now obviously in Romans chapter 6 in Romans chapter 7 we saw that on a constant basis this subject of the flesh versus the spirit and you said why would God spend so much time explaining and teaching this matter of the flesh versus the spirit well because we have to live in this flesh okay and many Christians often don't live at what we would call a victorious Christian life simply for the fact that they're not walking in the spirit they're constantly giving in to the lust of the flesh and they're being defeated on a day-to-day basis right so the Bible teaches us here how we can overcome that we see in verses 1 through 16 the flesh versus the spirit 17 through 25 deals with really the redemption of our body okay and this is a key doctrine in the Bible this matter of redeeming the body you see a lot of Christians get confused on this and a lot of false doctrine is sprung up because of this matter right here they say well once you get saved you should always desire to do right and always desire to read the Bible and always desire to pray and to not be involved in sin but no these things are done in the body and the Bible says that we're waiting to wit the redemption of our body you see our spirit is already saved when we trust Christ as our Savior but our body is not saved verses 26 through 30 deals with the intercession of the spirit and the predestination of the believer now predestination is in the Bible but it's not defined as the Calvinists define it okay we're going to talk a little bit about that this evening verses 31 through 39 the end of the chapter it gives the assurance of God's love now let's start in verse number one the Bible says here there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walked not after the flesh but after the Spirit now this is important okay because often we can use this verse almost like a salvation verse right and obviously the Bible says that he that hearth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into what condemnation in other words those who trust Christ they will never see hell ever again they will never suffer the vengeance of God's wrath in a place called hell and praise God for that but that's not what this is actually talking about because if you read it says there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus look what it says who walked not after the flesh but after the Spirit you see Christians can still fall into condemnation but it's not the condemnation of hell it's the consequences and the repercussions of your actions that you suffer here on this earth you say well you know once we get saved everything roses and daisies and nothing bad ever happens no sometimes it even gets worse no thank God that we have heaven thank God we have everlasting life we have the forgiveness of sins but guess what now we have a Heavenly Father and our Heavenly Father will chastise us and will correct us we'll do whatever it takes to get help us get back on track and we will suffer the consequences of our actions in our bodies we can suffer the condemnation here on this earth we'll never suffer for it in hell but yes we will suffer for it here and I think anybody in this room can testify and say yeah I've suffered condemnation before in my life because I disobeyed God in his word I lived in sin or I did this I was in the flesh I was not in the spirit because of it I suffered condemnation it happens now why is it that we can suffer condemnation well the Bible says be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap we should never think as Christians that just because I'm a Christian I can sin nothing can happen no God forbid the Bible says okay what shall we say that should we continue in sin that that grace may abound God forbids it why because there's consequences attached to those actions and God is not deceived whatever we sow in our flesh we will of the flesh reap corruption the Bible says for he that soweth to his flesh shall the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting verse number two in Romans chapter 8 it says here 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 and us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit so what is it telling us here now that we're saved if you trusted Christ as your Savior and you're saved the Bible says now we can fulfill the law we have the but how do you do it by walking in the Spirit because you can't fulfill the law in your flesh and we'll look in just a little bit the carnal mind the Bible says is an intimacy with God and it's not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be the Bible says so it's only when you're walking in the Spirit you're reading the Bible you're praying you're doing those things which are pleasing unto the Lord then you can fulfill the law of God that's why you run into these guys who believe in the sins perfection doctrine that as soon as you get saved you know you're not going to desire to do any wrong you'll desire to do right all your life that's false and look they may think they're fulfilling the law of God but they're not because they don't even have the Spirit of God living within them okay why they're in the flesh okay they're completely in the flesh they're still dead in their trespasses and sin because they're still trusting in themselves but us we who are the sons of God we who have believed on Christ the Bible says we can now fulfill that law okay verse number five says 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 so here we see a very important aspect of this thing of the flesh versus the spirit why is that because the Bible talks about the carnal mind okay and Christians often can become guilty of having a carnal mind now carnal simply means what fleshly think of the Spanish word carne how many know carne asada of course you know even people who don't speak Spanish know what carne asada means okay it's meat so carne simply simply means or carnal sorry I was gonna say carnal but that's like you know me you know carnal simple means fleshly okay when you're fleshly the Bible says you can have a fleshly mind well when you have a fleshly mind that means you're not minded the things of the spirit now go with me if you went to James chapter number one brother Philip can you turn on the brother Perry can you turn on the AC back there it's getting a little warm in here for to be currently mine is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace so here it's teaching us that there is a carnal mind and there is a spiritual mind well what happens when we have a carnal mind it says right there that it's death you know when you live in the flesh and your mind is fleshly you think of only the flesh and you fulfill the lusts of the flesh guess what you're gonna experience you're gonna experience death okay if you're only thinking about fornication adultery lust guess what you will suffer the repercussions of those actions and by the way you think of those things you're gonna flesh those things out eventually no I just like to entertain those thoughts and just escape reality no eventually for as a man thinketh in his heart so is he and when you think those things that will eventually flesh itself out and guess what you'll experience death okay you say well how what do you mean we're experienced death well you know when you come in fornication you commit adultery guess what there's diseases involved in that okay such as AIDS such as HIV there's other diseases chlamydia gonorrhea and all these filthy things that come with the filthy acts of this world and guess what they come with repercussions okay you experience death James chapter 1 verse 13 says let no man say when he is tempted I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil neither tempted he any man but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed then when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and when sin when it is finished it bringeth forth pleasure that what says no it bringeth forth death now sin is pleasurable for a season but guess what at the end of that season guess what it brings death always no matter what for the wages of sin is death that's always the end game the end result and let me say this if you're ever tempted to do something you're not supposed to do just think of this you're you'll die you know it keeps a lot of people from fornicating and getting involved in wicked sins the fear of dying okay cuz look God killed fornicators in the Bible thousands of them thousands of them and no one is the exception was like well you know I love the Lord well you know what if you love me keep my commandments the Bible says and one of the commandments is flee fornication you know for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus they should abstain from fornication the Bible says these should know how to possess your vessel and sanctification and honors what the Bible says so these are the commandments of God so if we do those things guess what we're not gonna experience death we'll experience life okay go with me for what the Galatians chapter number 5 so the Bible says in Romans chapter 8 that when you mind the things of the flesh you're gonna experience death you know that's why it's good to fill your mind with good things with godly things that's why it's good to just have the discipline of listening to sermons on a daily basis right reading your Bible on the daily basis praying without ceasing trying to walk in the spirit look that's why we all not to listen to the wrong kind of music well you know I just you know Takashi 6 9 a little pump and you know a little reggaeton here and a little of this here you know that can that can you know I just like the way that no no you're filling your mind with a bunch of junk and eventually it'll cause death in your life okay and look music is powerful okay it has the ability to flesh itself out in your actions okay and it indoctrinates you is what it does you know you wonder why all these people who listen to rap and hip-hop are so violent you know why it's because the music is filled with violence and you wonder why there's so involved with so much uh immorality and there's so many whoremongers within that music it's because that's all they talk about you know you wonder why they're so covetous and so greedy because that's all they talk about the bling bling you know they love talking about the bling bling and the platinum and the diamonds well yeah you listen to that you're gonna cover you're gonna be discontent with the things that you have okay that's why you shouldn't fill your mind with those things but look at Galatians 5 22 says but the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no law and they that our Christ have crucified the flesh but the affections and lust if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit you know the Spirit produces these fruits within us as we walk in them okay as we walk in the Spirit he produces love joy peace and isn't it funny that Jesus Christ said my peace give I unto you not as the world giveth give I unto you see the world is also offering peace but it's a false peace it's a peace that comes through money and through debauchery and through sin and wickedness but what is the end result of those things death okay whereas God offers joy he offers peace and it doesn't have to do with happenings or things or or or you know possessions look a man's life consists of none of the things that he possesses right it consists of just having the right relationship with the Word of God living a life that's holy unto the Lord look we can have a good time without drinking amen we do have a good time without drinking and then I mean you stick around long enough you're gonna have a joyful spirit a merry heart does good like a medicine okay we don't need alcohol we don't need marijuana we don't need drugs we don't need ecstasy to have a good time no we have the joy of the Lord but that comes as you walk in the spirit okay and look if you have a hard time having a good time as a Christian okay that probably means you're you're a car you have a carnal mind okay and you're filling your mind with look if you just sit in there when we're singing the songs you ought to pay attention when we're singing the hymns and look you gotta sing along too you said why is that because the Bible says to speak to yourselves in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing to make a melody in your hearts unto the Lord and guess what that is the end result of being filled with the spirit is that you sing songs but you know why you're not discontent with the songs that we sing it's because you're filling your mind with the wrong kind of songs see what's the opposite of a spiritual song a carnal song you know the beatings like where's the beat I need the beat in this you know can we put a beat to come down fountain they're like you know trying to put a beat to it no why don't you fill your mind with spiritual things and you enjoy the hymns just as they are what the good melody and you enjoy it okay now go to 1st Corinthians chapter number 2 so the Bible tells us in Romans chapter 8 it says for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace man some of the most peaceful people you'll meet are those who are just plain spiritual they just love the Lord they're not perfect okay they love the Word of God they love soul winning they love the things of God and they just have peace they don't need things to have to be happy they have the peace of God the past self understanding as the Bible says 1st Corinthians 2 15 says but he that is spiritual judges all things yet he himself is judged of no man for who hath known the mind of Christ look how these are intertwined one with another for who have known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him but we have the mind of Christ so again what is it to be spiritually minded is to have the mind of Christ and what does that do that it causes us to be spiritual go to Philippians chapter number 2 Philippians chapter number 2 I'm sorry go to Philippians 4 I'm gonna read to you from Philippians 2 verse 5 where the Bible reads let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus so that's it's it's a command but it's based upon our decision that says let it right we don't automatically have the mind of Christ we got to allow the mind of Christ to be in us through the Word of God look at Philippians 4 verse 8 finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue if there be any praise think on these things so the Bible is commanding us that these are the things we ought to think about okay and look we live in a society I can't tell you to throw out your television because I don't even know if anybody has televisions anymore you know everyone you know we have iPads and phones and stuff like that but you know what if you're always on the television you know you're gonna have a short attention span when it comes to the things of God okay could you hear a verse and it's just like you just like start thinking about something else and there's like and now the service is already over like whoa you know you just have this like lapse into fantasy land okay where you're missing out on a lot of biblical truths that you can glean from that can help you with these things but the reason for this because of the television or we like to call it the hella vision okay now look a TV is not necessarily bad it depends on what you watch on television right but most things on television are not good if not all things on television all right now if you're using your television to watch them preaching that's different obviously if you're using it to watch the day of the dead documentary that's different amen if you're using to watch the vaccine well you can't watch the vaccine yet because I haven't released it amen but demon-possessed that's not bad at all all right but here's the thing when you're filling your mind with the television you know television is one image after another and it's quick so it conditions your mind to expect one image after another you know something always new has to come up right so when you come to church what happens it's just like I'm preaching the Word of God you're hearing the songs and you're just like this is not entertaining me I want to be entertained you know that's what you're thinking why because it's a carnal mind but the spiritual mind always wants to listen to the preaching of God's Word it always wants to glean wisdom what God has to say through his word go back to Romans chapter number eight so there's there's this constant theme within Romans six five and seven and eight that talks about this matter of just being spiritual and being carnal and it's very important really it's it's essential if you're gonna live a successful Christian life you'll experience death or you'll have life you'll have peace verse 7 says because the carnal mind look what it says 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 man that's a scary thought you know if you're in the flesh like oh I got a relationship with God if you're in the flesh you ain't pleasing God well me and him have this thing you have nothing okay it doesn't exist all right and you need to get that out of your mind because it's not in the Bible the Bible teaches us that if you're in the flesh you can't please God point yourself and in fact it goes it even goes as far to say is that you're at enmity with God another word for enmity is what enemy you become an enemy of God well hold on a second I thought that you know now now we have peace with God we're no we're no longer enemies of God we're gonna explain that in just a bit but it's interesting to see that in Romans 7 22 it says for I delight in the law of God after the inward man but I see another law and my members warn against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members a wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the mind I myself serve the law of God but with the flesh the law of sin so Paul is saying in Romans 7 he said look with my mind I serve the law of God but unfortunately because I live in this flesh I serve the law of sin so how does that work with Romans chapter 8 where it says that we can have a carnal mind and be an enmity with God well simply this the Bible talks about renewing the spirit of your mind it's not talking about like our mind has like a spirit okay often when you hear someone say you know how's your spirit today or you know man that guy has a bad spirit basically I'm almost like the personality or the the the perspective of your mind right and here it says in Ephesians 4 23 that we need to renew the spirit of our mind you see the inward though the outward man perish the inward man is renewed day by day well how to renew the inward man through the Word of God you have to constantly read the Bible to renew your mind to do that which is pleasing in the eyes of God now go to Colossians chapter 1 Colossians chapter 1 Romans 8 is a scripture that people can use to say oh you see you guys say you guys hate the enemies of God you know but you yourself can be an enemy of God I mean the Bible says it right there huh you know it says the carnal man is an enmity with God but you guys say that you guys hate the enemies of God how do you reconcile that well I mentioned this already prior in prior chapters in Romans but here's the big difference between those who are enemies of God and us who could become enemies or were enemies before salvation okay because the Bible does say that before we got saved we were enemies of God as well but what is the difference there well the difference is this in Romans chapter 1 the reprobates are enemies because their mind is reprobate the Bible says right they were given over to a reprobate mind now what does reprobate mean it means it's rejected okay that means God has rejected that person based upon their rejection of God okay now I for instance today this this afternoon when we went soloing I went to a 12 year old boy and he overcame and when I mean overcame I mean he overcame pretty much nothing because he didn't have no five false ideologies you know he even said this when I gave him the gospel I was explaining the eternal security to him he said I told you know after I explained I give him the illustrations you know can you lose your salvation what if you killed yourself can you lose it and he said no and I said why he said because any kind of he goes well I did nothing to gain it so I guess I can't do anything to lose it my partner started like laughing I'm like wow that's I've never had like 12 year old boys say that you know let alone any adult but his friend I started witnessing to him he was a little younger and honestly he's just as sincere as the day is long but he didn't get saved because he just couldn't understand and I ran explain to him you just go I don't understand I said okay and I would try to bring the cookie down to the bottom shelf and try to explain it a little more and I said you do you understand he would go I don't understand explain to him again and he third time as sincere as the day is long just said I don't understand at that point I realized okay maybe he's a little too young he's not rejecting Christ he just can't understand right we would say he hasn't reached the age of accountability where he knows and we're stuck on the first point of being a sinner okay but that is a huge difference from someone who literally rejects Christ and hates God he said oh what do you mean they hate God because the Bible says they do not want to retain God in their knowledge rarely will you meet a sinner who just says I don't want to retain God in my knowledge they'll just say no no thank you or you know I don't it kind of goes over their head so this is a special category of people who literally don't want to retain God in their knowledge and the Bible says in Romans chapter 1 that they're literally haters of God you know someone who like I don't have time I got to go that's not a hater of God he just has better things to do in his mind right he just has to go do his groceries shopping or whatever it may be but he's in hey God this is actually talking about people who hate God now look at Colossians chapter 1 verse 21 it says in you obviously who's he talking was talking to Christians there were some time alienated in enemies in your what mine by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight so according to the Bible we were enemies of God in our minds by wicked works right and according to the Bible in Hebrews chapter 6 the Bible says that we have to repent of our dead works and the faith toward God okay so those who were unsaved before who were enemies of God not reprobates what were they they were trusting in their works right they're the ones who are doing their many wonderful works I went to a lady yesterday and she specifically said you're right I am trusting in myself to get to heaven you know and thankfully she got saved she understood that and she turned to Christ but here's the thing is the enemies before salvation are enemies in their mind by wicked works the enemies who are the reprobates are those who have a reprobate mind they're the ones who have rejected Christ does that make sense okay now go to Hebrews chapter number 11 Hebrews chapter number 11 now here's the thing though is that we can still become enemies of God not a reprobate but we could become enemies because we have a carnal mind okay we don't subject ourselves until the law of God all right Hebrews 11 verse 5 says by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God why but without faith it is impossible to please him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him so according to the Bible the way we please God is by exercising our faith okay and but look if you have a carnal mind you're not exercising faith you're just not you know you're not living by faith we walk by faith and not by sight but you're not living by faith if you have a carnal mind you're trusting in yourself trusting in your works you're trusting in whatever it is to get through the day okay look some people look it's good to have character and it's good to be disciplined and it's good to have your ducks in order but guess what depend on God first you know it's often we think well you know why should I pray for my paycheck and why should I pray for food you know I already know the paycheck's coming in we know God could take your legs tomorrow then what you know it's better to just ask God for rain in the latter rain you know ask God for his provisions when you already have them exercise your faith today why because that pleases the Lord okay go back to Romans chapter number eight now in Romans chapter 8 in verse number 9 it starts getting into this matter of it almost it almost said like people can use people have used this to say see you got to be in the spirit in order to be saved brother you know if you're not in the spirit you know if you don't desire you're not you're not safe well we're gonna explain it verse 9 says but you're not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his why is that well according to the Bible when you get saved when you trust Christ as your Savior the Bible says that the Holy Spirit of God comes to live within you okay and the Bible says that he is sealed there unto the day of redemption redemption means the day that you die and you go to heaven right or when Christ comes back and raptures you that's the day of redemption right but it says there the Bible teaches us in Ephesians chapter 1 verses 13 and 14 that he seals us with the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of redemption that he's the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchase possession that's what the Bible says so the Bible says here that we're in the spirit if so that the Spirit of God dwells in us verse 10 and if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness but 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 a spirit that dwelleth in you so basically he's given the assurance of the believers look you're gonna have to war against the flesh all your life but rest assured one day God will quicken your mortal bodies you see we got to think of this thing that we're not always gonna be battling the flesh it's hard for us to think alike to think like that you know it's it's it's almost like trying to explain how to live on land to a fish right I don't know how to do that I was trying to explain to a human being how fish lives in the water it just doesn't it doesn't make sense the best way that they could for us it's like the fish it's in the fishbowl looking through the glass and two humans that are walking around and say one day I'm gonna be like them right it's just hard to explain it to them but for us that's exactly how we see it we see through a glass dark we don't know exactly what's gonna be but one day our bodies will be redeemed and the reason the Bible says that the by our bodies will be redeemed is because our spirit is already redeemed our flesh is not so don't get judgmental when people that you know are sinning and they're doing wrong and whatever it may be and you say man I don't know if that person say no it just means they're carnal now let me say this the Bible obviously teaches that there's certain sins that you can't be in the church if you're committing those sins right and that's clear as day that's not us being a respecter of people that's simply what the Bible teaches us but we're talking about in generalities outside of the church whether you know a Christian whatever it may be and you say man they're involved in drunkenness they're involved in adultery they're involved in all these wicked things and they say they're saved well you know what they probably are saved because Christians commit a lot of bad stuff too I mean let's think of David who committed adultery and he even you know put a hit out on someone mafia style okay that's bad but yet he was a man after God's own heart and when he got right with God he said restoring to me the joy of thy salvation he said restoring to me salvation he just said give me back my joy okay so it goes to show that people can be fleshly but we ought to remember man there's gonna be one day when we're not gonna have to fight against the sins of my body it's hard for us to fathom that but that will take place one day you think of the sin that you struggle with the most okay whatever may be whether it's drunkenness or lust or or covetousness greed well there will be one day if you're saved there will be one day where you will no longer struggle with that ever again and thank God for that because it is a day-to-day battle with the flesh now look what the Bible says verse 12 it says therefore brethren we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if you live after the flesh you shall die but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body and you shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God now this is what the Calvinist will use see brother if you're not being led to the Spirit you know the Son of God he went out from us because he was not of us for if he had been with us you know he would no doubt continued with us or whatever they say you know it'll say hey if you're not being led to the Spirit brother Alex you know you're not a son of God I mean it says it right there in Romans there well here's the thing when you're born again your spirit is born again and the part of you that's a son of God is not this flesh that's just how it works what's the Son of God the Spirit that lives within you okay because that's the part that was quickened quickened means brought to life okay we were dead in our trespasses and sin but God has quickened us together with Christ by grace are you saved the Bible says okay now go to go to let's see here go to 1st John chapter 3 1st John chapter 3 now look obviously our spirit is saved our flesh is not but that's not to just say okay I guess I was just sin so you know cuz my flesh is not the Son of God so I you know and it's just like well yeah it's not me it's sin that dwells in me you know to me I just I just can't stop doing this cuz my flesh is not redeemed and I just yeah the Bible says it you know no that's not the way it works because the Bible says there to mortify the deeds of the body okay so if you struggle with fornication by the way what does mortify mean means just kill it kill that thing you know I remember years ago my father-in-law preached this message I'm mortifying the deeds of the body he brought out a knife he's like what am I supposed to do and he was just like wow he's just like started slashing that thing he's like kill that thing kill fornication kill and he started calling out all these sins Jesus just kill it and it's just like but that's really spiritual what we have to do mortify the deeds of the body okay starve it whatever it is that you're struggling with starve it kill it and look you don't overcome it by giving into it once a month or once a week that's not how it works you kill it by just killing it and not allowing it to live starve it out yeah but no one's perfect we're not saying anybody's perfect but guess what God commands us to mortify the deeds of the body look we're not all perfect but we're not all fornicators we're not all perfect but I'm not a pothead you know we're not all perfect but we don't have to be drunkards you know we don't have to give in to these desires of the flesh obviously we're sinners and the Bible says that our flesh sins but there's specific sins that we don't have to give in to we can mortify the deeds of the body we have to kill it okay what would I have you turn first John chapter 3 verse 6 so this is what this explains what Romans 8 is talking about here in verse 6 says whosoever abideth in him sinneth not whosoever sinneth hath not seen him neither known him little children let no man deceive you he that doeth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous he that committed sin is of the devil for the devil's sin is from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed very key there remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God in this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God neither he that loveth not his brother so here it's telling us that if you sin or excuse me here's telling us that whosoever is born of God does not commit sin referring to the Spirit because when the Spirit now that the Spirit is born again it doesn't commit sin you said what's the sin that what then what are you doing when you come in fornication or drunkenness or all these things that's the flesh okay now it does say there in verse number six whosoever abideth in him sin is not so how do we keep from fornicating or drunkenness or pot smoking or or doing any type of sin and wickedness well the way we do is by abiding in the Lord John chapter 15 abiding in his word okay because the word works as a cleanser this is not personal willpower that will get you out of sin you know I think I can I think I can I think I can I can I can get rid of the power of positive thinking no you need a power of negative thinking and say I hate sin because the Bible says you that love the Lord hate evil right and you need to get this negative thought that say you know what I should hate sin because God hates sin I should hate this specific sin because God hates that sin and and get into the Word of God so it can cleanse you of those thoughts okay cleanse you of those actions of those deeds why whosoever abideth in him sin is not the Bible says okay now go back to Romans chapter number eight so it's very clear that when you're saved your spirit is born again okay and and you know and thank God for that because you know there are things that do change when you get saved what is it now you could understand the Bible you know I remember I tried to read the Bible before I was saved and you know I would start in Genesis because I used to like reading and I would read in Genesis and it was a King James Bible and I'm like I'm gonna read through this whole entire book all 66 books I didn't even get past like Leviticus I when I got to Leviticus is like let's I'm gonna go read Moby Dick instead or something you know it's like I can't I don't understand this this is not making sense to me because I'm not saying I wasn't saved I am saved now sorry I wasn't saved just like I can't understand it but you know now that we are saved we can understand the Word of God the Holy Spirit can teach us it resonates with us okay verse 15 says for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but you have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father now hold your place here and go to Galatians chapter number three Galatians chapter number three now this is a great verse verse 15 in Romans 8 because the Bible says that we receive the spirit of adoption why is that because Jesus Christ is the Son of God but the Bible says that you know but as many as received him to them give you power to become the sons of God even unto them that believe on his name so Jesus Christ is Son of God but he's begun of God he's got him he's got himself right but we were adopted into the family by the we were begun through the gospel so therefore we are adopted into the family all right and look what Galatians chapter 3 verse 26 says it almost basically says almost the same terminology as is for year all the children of God by what faith in Christ Jesus for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for year all one in Christ Jesus and if you be Christ and a ye Abraham seed and heirs according to the promise go to Galatians 4 in verse number 4 verse number 4 says but when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons and because your sons God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father I mean that's a great promise right there the spirit dwells within us and it cries Abba father God treats us as if we're his actual sons amen and the Bible even says in 1st John chapter 3 behold what manner of love that we should be called the sons of God I mean that's a great love okay go back to Romans chapter number 8 so the Bible is teaching us there that we're adopted all right and we'll get into this in just a little bit but it says that we're heirs with Christ what are we heirs of the kingdom of God but then it talks about that we can be joint heirs okay we'll get into that just a little bit verse 16 says the spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God you know one thing that's a for sure is that when you get saved you know the spirit does bear witness that we're the children of God I mean have you ever met a backslidden Christian someone who's just like been away for a long time and and you talk to them and and you kind of witness them to make sure that they were maybe they weren't even saved in the first place you want to see if they're safe and they're like no I'm saved I trust that in Christ I know I'm saved have you ever met someone to say they're like they've been away for like 20 years or something and maybe they went to some liberal church or whatever but they had the right kind of gospel and they got saved years afterwards they won't question their salvation they won't doubt it they're like no I know I'm safe you know why cuz the spirit bears witness okay now hold your place there go to John chapter 15 because this is this is a great way to test if you're saved okay so how do I know if I'm saying what does it mean that the spirit bears witness is it is it like echoing in your body like you're saved Bruce you're saved you know it's like I'm it's bearing witness right now you know like I can hear it no John 15 26 look what it says he bears witness to the Word of God but when the comforters come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the Spirit of truth which proceeded from the Father he shall testify of me and he also shall bear witness because he have been with me from the beginning so what is the spear but how does the spear bear witness to the Bible when you understand what the Word of God is saying that's why no Christian can ever come up with some damnable heresy why because they have the Spirit of God living within them okay and even if they get in get off track into some false doctrine eventually they'll get back on track why because the Spirit of God dwells in them okay that's why people who say oh I'm saved but they're reading like an NIV or an ESV or some other version of the Bible and they're reading it day in and day out I'm not saying that they carry and they said this is their Bible I'm talking about they read a day in and day out and they understand it that by that person is not saved like oh I don't think it's right for you to question someone's salvation just because they don't they believe that the the NIV is the Bible well here's the thing the Bible literally teaches this Jesus said my sheep hear my voice and a stranger will they not follow okay I'm not talking again I'm not talking about the people who just tote an NIV or an ESV and they say that's their Bible but they never read it okay because let's be honest most people in these churches and these types of churches that use different versions of the Bible they don't read the Bible or their NIV you know they don't read it they'll bring it to with them in church they'll read the verse that the pastor is talking about that's about it and sometimes they don't even have to do that it's on the screen or something right that's all I have to do I'm talking about people who say that they actually read the word they read the NIV they're reading the ESV day in and day out and they're just like they're just eating it up you know I remember I read a book years ago and it was by some liberal guy and it was about devotional time I don't remember what the guy's name was right now but he was talking about how he read the NIV day in and day out he just loved the he loved NIV that was his Bible he got so much out of it it would just bother me like how can you get anything out of there because it's not the Word of God look any Bible that omits verses out of the Bible you know there's a there is a huge condemnation to someone who does that and you say getting something it's not true okay and according to this verse in John chapter 15 the Spirit bears witness what through the Word of God okay and then here's the thing it doesn't mean that when you get saved you're just gonna understand every single doctrine that you hear from the King James Bible we're not saying that at all what we're saying is this you will understand something you will understand it and when you read it like oh man that makes a lot of sense you know I get that now okay now go back to let's see here go back to Romans chapter 8 now here's the the interesting part of this chapter here and look we're gonna talk about a lot of different things in this chapter because it's covering a lot okay and we're not gonna do like a two verse today and a two verse next week and spend like four years going through Romans chapter 8 all right we're just gonna go ahead and just take it up we're gonna deal with it today all right if you don't know what I'm talking about ask the old IFBers in our church they'll tell you verse 17 says 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 now hold your place or go to Matthew 25 Matthew 25 so the Bible says here that if we are children then we are heirs of God what does that mean we've received the inheritance which is the kingdom of God and anybody who believes on Christ guess what they're saved they're going to heaven and they get to they they get everlasting life look at Matthew 25 34 says 31 excuse me when the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with them then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand but the goats on the left then shall the king say unto them on his right hand come he blessed of my father inherit the kingdom of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world and that's what's gonna happen we're gonna inherit the kingdom of God one day because we're saved right now go to Hebrews chapter number 11 because in Romans 8 it says there will be heirs but then it says this and joint heirs well what is a joint heir what does that mean what does it mean to be joint we think what's that together right that means you inherit something that Christ's Christ inherits as well okay does that make sense joint heir but it gives a condition to that it says if you suffer you see the condition to inherit the kingdom of God is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ but to be a joint heir with Christ okay you have to suffer for Christ now look at Hebrews 11 32 says Hebrews 11 chapter 11 is what we would refer to as the faith chapter okay a lot of people stepped out in faith the latter end of the chapter refers to the people of whom the world was not worthy look at verse 32 says and what shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah of David also and Samuel and of the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness obtained promises stopped the mouths of lions quench the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword that of weakness were made strong waxed by a valiant in fight turned to flight the armies of the aliens and that's not talking about you UFOs and ET okay verse 35 women received their dead raised to life again and others look what it says we're tortured not accepting deliverance let that ring in your heads for a little bit not accepting deliverance that they might attain obtain a what a better resurrection what does that mean the joint heirs they're like no don't deliver me I'll suffer for Christ's sake because I'm gonna obtain a better resurrection because I don't just want to obtain the kingdom of God I want to be a joint heir with Christ why because whoever suffers for his namesake will rule and reign with Christ you see in the millennial reign there's gonna be a lot of people I mean there's billions and scores of Christians will be there save people but not everyone will reign not everyone will get a reward you know thank thank God for those who even they just get to be there it's better than hell amen better than the fire and the torment and and no resting day or night the blackness of darkness forever the weeping and wailing a gnashing of teeth hey I'll take that any day right other aside from from from hell no but here's the thing there's gonna be people in the kingdom in the millennial reign there are joint heirs of Christ they get to reign with Christ kings and priests reigning you know be thou over ten cities but you know what it comes with the price with some suffering this this is this is reserved for people who work for God and are willing to suffer for his namesake you know often we think like I was telling my wife even before this is you know some people our family sometimes look at us and they're like you guys are crazy you know and my family don't they're sincere but they'll often tell me like it's my mom often tell me this because she's heard my preaching my mom speaks Spanish she speaks a little bit English but she often tell me she goes Bruce I'm so happy for the church and you're in the church and all these things she goes but you just you should lay lay off the homos a little bit you know you know maybe you shouldn't preach against them so hard because what if something happens and I tell her I'm like mom if something happens the more the better okay because that infirmity it just is is very dim in comparison to the glory that we'll receive okay now look is it pleasurable to suffer for Christ's sake course not but you know it's worth it to be a joint heir and you know what there's a lot of Christians on YouTube okay who think they're gonna be joint heirs because they think they're partaking in the sufferings along with the churches that are established because they're watching it on YouTube yeah I'm with them little comment there and someone cusses them out like yeah I'm getting persecuted for Christ's sake no you're not you don't even you don't even put your profile picture in there cuz you're afraid that someone might know who you are okay you're not doing anything for God that's not you you're not suffering for Christ's sake because you got rebuked on Facebook or Instagram or YouTube okay that's you're standing on the sidelines okay you're the kid who throws the rocks like you know from from on the top of the building here and then you like hide or something no you know what we need we need Christians who are willing to step up and be on the front lines and suffer for his sake and look cheer on those who are on the front lines but you know what we need more people on the front lines people who are willing to bear the reproach and be a part of the war be a part of the battle and look it doesn't happen you just being one foot in and one foot out gotta be all in be disciplined in your Christian life be in church read your Bible pray win souls to Christ and repeat rinse was it wash rinse and repeat do it over and over and over you said what about the suffering I mean do I bring that on myself no yay all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution you live the right type of life the persecution will come okay and look sometimes it doesn't just come from the world it comes from other Christians it comes from other Christians you know but hey we get points for those two amen but here's the thing what is it for it's for a better resurrection look we've already here inherited the kingdom of God and thank God for that but let's be some joint heirs I want to rule and reign with Christ I want to be the mayor of El Monte one day or of Los Angeles you know in the millennial reign you know I want to I don't want to own an alley in the millennial rain or be put to sweep you know the corner of El Monte of Tyler and Elliot I would suck okay no I want to be a joint heir I want to be able to to to to get the most I can out of this life okay but how is that by a better resurrection verse 36 is and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings yay moreover a bonds and imprisonment they were stoned they were sauna sunder we're tempted we're slain with the sword they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins being destitute afflicted tormented verse 38 of whom the world was not worthy Wow they wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth and these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promise God having provided some better things for us that they without us should not be made perfect you know they understood there's something better okay than this just this life and look this ought to be a wake-up call this sermon ought to be a wake-up call to you get in the fight get in the battle and look if you're in our church get in the fight get in the battle start coming out soul winning with us be a part of what's going on he said why is that this this is a spiritual battle that's taking place for the souls of men and in the future obviously go to go to Daniel chapter 12 obviously in the future persecutions are gonna come in different forms right but we got to keep in mind that we that was suffering for Christ's sake guess what we're gonna be joint heirs and we'll have a better resurrection look what Daniel 12 verse 2 says great verse here in verse number 2 says and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever man you said what's that soul any man when you turn people to righteousness God says I'm gonna make you shine you know you know the problem is Christians today they want to shine and be famous today they want to be a star today no God says I'll make you shine for all of eternity if you turn many to righteousness okay first Corinthians 15 says there are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of terrestrial is another there is one glory of the Sun in another glory of the moon another glory of the stars for one star deferred from another star in glory so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption is raised in incorruption you go outside well not in LA but you know if you go to like the mountains or something tonight if you look at the stars you see like one and it's probably not even a star okay it's some artificial star that the government made or something you know to make us feel like we have stars or something but you go to the you go to the mountains big rare mountains you see clusters of stars everywhere and one thing you'll notice is some shine brighter than others and God is saying that's how the resurrection is gonna be there gonna be some Christians they're just gonna shine brighter than others and there's some that aren't even gonna shine at all because they never did anything for God they never want any souls to Christ they never suffered any persecution no I want to make sure that I do as best as I can in this lifetime so we can have a better resurrection and then I can shine you know for the Lord so I can have a better resurrection go to Rome back to Romans 8 we got a we got to move through some of this quickly we're almost out of time Romans 8 verse 18 says for I reckon and this goes along with what we just talked about and this is the reason why he's saying this is 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 Wow he says look the sufferings that you're going through that's it's it's it's not even worthy to be compared you can't compare your sufferings to the glory that will be revealed in you okay now why does it say in you for the earnest expectation of the creature waited for the manifestation of the sons of God now we'll skip down verse number 20 we'll keep reading 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 had the first fruits of the Spirit even we ourselves groan within ourselves waiting for the adoption to it the redemption of our body 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 we do then do we with patience wait for it now the Bible says that the creation groaneth it's not talking about are the creatures grow it's not talking about like the animals okay because the Bible says preach the gospel to every what creature creatures sorry God refers to us as creatures all right but the reason he refers to us as creatures because we are his creation creature creation okay but it says that we groan why is that because we're in this flesh there's sicknesses involved okay there's sufferings in this flesh and look the older you get you can testify yeah there's some sufferings that come as you get older right the body doesn't work as well as it used to well the but that's what it's talking about says the creation groans okay we groan for that for that glorified body that will receive one day and no your glorified body is not like some huge guy with a six-pack and you know somebody was like yeah I'm gonna be like this cut muscular glorified body no it just means sinless okay it'll be without sin now why does it say that we're saved by hope because the Bible says that faith is the substance the evidence that substance of things hope for the evidence of things not seen okay so hope is just another word for faith all right now let's see here I'm gonna read go to first Corinthians chapter 15 I'm gonna read to you from Hebrews 6 verse 18 the Bible says that by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie we might have a strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast and which enters into that within the veil so often the world uses the word hope right like man I hope this happens I hope my team wins or whatever so that's almost like a hope that you're not sure if it's gonna happen or not you're just you're waiting an expectation that hopefully it will but that's not the kind of hope that the Bible actually refers to the hope is it's gonna happen and it's based upon the immutability of God that he cannot lie the hope that is set before us is what the Bible calls it first Corinthians 15 52 says in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality so when this corruptible shall put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written death is swallowed up in victory now the Bible clearly tells us that our bodies will be glorified it'll be changed but that's not to say you just let it go to mush and you just sin all you want because eventually you're gonna get a glorified body no the Bible says we ought to press towards the mark right we're not supposed to be perfect but we're supposed to be pressing towards the mark so in order for us to live a life that's pleasing unto the Lord here we have to mortify the deeds of the body and one day the Bible says that death will be swallowed up in victory okay I'm gonna skip a couple verses here go back to Romans 8 I only got a few minutes verse 26 to 28 is is very good because you know in church we often talk a lot about doctrine we talk a lot about the practicality of the Christian living we also got to talk about this matter of just going through a hard time you know cuz you're gonna go through a hard time and look what the Bible says in verse 26 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 searched at the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercessions 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 so it says here that the Spirit that dwells in us the Holy Spirit and makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered what does that mean so basically have you ever had so much pain maybe it was emotional pain that it moved you to go pray but you didn't even know what to pray for I mean even when you open your mouth it's like tears just came out of your eyes you're in so much pain and you don't even know what to ask for okay it's just like I'm going through a hard time and I don't even know what to say I'm just going through a hard time you know what God says the Spirit that dwells in you he makes those intercessions for you with groanings which cannot be uttered and he doesn't say well Lord you know just give him the million dollars or you know he's Lord just help him to be rich so he can be happy all his life or no the Bible says that he prays according to the will of God so what he does is he sees your heart the your grieve that your burden that of your contrite spirit as the Bible says and what does he do he seeks what the Bible says and and asks God for those petitions according to God's will he will never ask for anything you know help him win the lottery you know he'll be happy if you just help him to win the lottery you know no that's not gonna happen that's contrary to God's will help him to be rich not gonna happen because God doesn't want any Christian to be rich okay because rich near riches riches of this world it just makes you evil okay we'll get into that right now but what I'm saying is this is that the spirit what it does is he makes intercessions okay and he basically prays for you he asks God for the things that you need according to God's will now here's a great promise 828 very famous verse and we know that all things work together for good to them and that's it right no but you know a lot of people like to stop right there you know they're living in sin and they're doing bad stuff and what happens all things work together for good brother no it says to them to love God and not every Christian loves God not every Christian loves God because the because love is not just like an emotional I just love God you know I just love him you know he's just doesn't work that way the Bible says that if you love me keep my commandments see God bases love based upon your obedience to his word you want to show God do you love him keep his word then you'll be like that person loves me right there because he's keeping my commandments in fact John 15 21 says he that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father and I will love him and will manifest myself to him let me say well you know maybe they don't love God does that mean they're not safe no it doesn't say it just means they don't love God you know those who love the world the Bible says the love of the Father is not in them they don't have a love of the Father if they love the world right verse 29 says for whom he did for no he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son that he might be the firstborn among many brother now this verse is often used by who Calvinists right we believe in predestination and the the historical eschatological theologians of of times past have we can see the writing shut up predestination let me just go ahead and define what predestination means right here predestined to be what conform to the image of a son because Calvinists believe that people are predestined to go to hell or to go to heaven so let's say this this is how they think God is you're going to hell you go to heaven you're going to hell you're definitely going to hell you're going to heaven heaven hell hell hell heaven heaven heaven hell I mean you think I'm joking but that's exactly what they believe okay and they think that they're predestined from time that they're born and they're they can't even believe on Christ and they'll point to this verse to say see predestinations in the Bible no it's just predestined to be conformed to the image of his son well you said well isn't that part of salvation after salvation now you can be conformed to the image of his son and by the way we're all people who are saved are all predestined to be conformed to the image of his son so we all have that destination of being conformed to his image okay now look what the Bible goes on to say verse 30 moreover whom he did predestinate then he also called and whom he called them he also justified in whom he justified them he also glorified another scripture that uses that word predestination is in Ephesians 1 verse 11 you don't have to turn that I'll read it for you it says in whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ so those who trust in Christ get what gets what they're predestined to do to obtain the inheritance okay that's the way it works verse 31 what shall we then say to these things of God before 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 now that's not a verse for you to claim and say see I can have all things Ferrari the Bentleys the bling bling of this world all things no in context is talking about the resurrection you know the the joint being a joint heir who is he that condemneth is it it is Christ that died excuse me I'm sorry I skip verse number 33 who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect it is God that justified 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 intercessions 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 counted as sheep for the slaughter nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 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 so why does Paul finish the chapter talking about that because he's talking about the redemption of our bodies he's talking about the sufferings of Christ or excuse me the sufferings that we will that we will experience in this world so he's trying to tell us look all and look you look at the list it's a lot of suffering sword peril nakedness hunger all these things are sufferings persecution sufferings and he just said this just remember when you're going through those things you will never be separated from the love of God and that is a key point for Christians to always remember because the hardest time to remember that God loves you is when you're going through a hard time because then you wonder man does God really like look I'm going to such a tough time right now so-and-so died in my family I'm going through the sickness or whatever it may be and you begin to question you begin a doubt which is very normal but when that happens go to Romans 8 and remember these things shall not separate us in the love of God God still loves you okay and his love is not demonstrated by the afflictions he allows you to go through his love was demonstrated when he allowed Christ to die for you on the cross that's the greatest form of his love that he could express toward us right and if he was willing to do that how much more is he willing to give us if we just go through the suffering he shall give us all things right the cities and they'll be able to reign and ruling reign with Christ and we need to keep those things in mind so what does this chapter have to do with it really is helping us to have an eternal perspective so many times Christians are very temporal minded they're thinking about what's what are we gonna eat for dinner what are we having for lunch now why don't you start thinking about what am I gonna have in heaven okay and then you'll base your decisions and your perspective on suffering off of that thought right there all right let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer father we thank you so much for your word thank you for Romans 8 so much truth and doctrine packed into that chapter and I pray that you'd help us Lord to remember these things when we go through sufferings and Lord it's promised we are gonna suffer for your sake I pray that you'd help us to do so and and may we trust in you and keep your commandments and do all that we can to to live a life that's pleasing to you when we're a base and when we abound when we when we have abundance or when we're suffering need and I just pray that you'd help us to be those kind of Christians that we would walk in the spirit that we may not fulfill the lust of the flesh that we look forward to the redemption of our bodies one day so we can rule and reign with you in Jesus name we pray Amen