Words of Christ | Bible Study, Testimonies & Christian Teaching

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 8 Home Romans 9 → Romans Chapter 8 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together Romans 8 answers the cry of 7:24 without mixing the planes. First: no condemnation. Then: the mortal body will be made alive. The case is closed. The flesh still waits. No condemnation · J+S 1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. That is the verdict. J . 2–4 The law of the Spirit of life set free from the law of sin and death. God condemned sin in the flesh of his Son. The verdict fell on sin, not on the one who is in Christ. Walking according to the Spirit is the fruit. J+S . 10–11 The body is dead because of sin; the spirit is life because of righteousness. Then: the one who raised Jesus will also give life...

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 7 Home Romans 8 → Romans Chapter 7 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together The chapter opens with a marriage in the code. It closes with a body of death. If you read it as one thing, the cry of v. 24 seems to cancel v. 4. It does not. They are two planes. Released from the law · J+S 1–3 The law rules a man as long as he lives. The married woman is bound; if the husband dies, she is released. That is marriage statute. J . 4–6 You died to the law through the body of Christ, to belong to another: the one raised from the dead. The old bond is broken by death. The aim is fruit and service in newness of spirit, not oldness of letter. Legal death to the first husband; real fruit to the second. J+S . The law and sin ·...

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 6 Home Romans 7 → Romans Chapter 6 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together Here many read “dead to sin” as if the body had already changed species. Paul does not say that. He says we were united to Christ’s death, and then: reckon yourselves . Baptized into his death · J+S 1–2 Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? May it never be. We who died to sin — how shall we still live in it? That is a change of dominion, not a license. J . 3–5 The water of baptism does not cease to be water. The rite does not transform the element. It unites the baptized to the death of Christ. Buried with him; the aim is to walk in newness of life. The sign is covenantal. Newness of life already asks for a real walk. J+S . 6–...

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 5 Home Romans 6 → Romans Chapter 5 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together Romans 5 opens in court and ends with two heads. Peace is the fruit of a verdict. The death that passes to all is the fruit of the same kind of bond: one man’s act binds the many. Peace with God · J 1–2 Justified by faith, we have peace with God. Access into grace. We stand. That is position, not yet a new body. J . 5 The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Spirit given to us. Here the inward reality appears. It does not erase the verdict of vv. 1–2. It seals it from inside. That is why this verse touches J+S . 6–11 Christ died for the ungodly. Already justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath. We were enemi...

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 4 Home Romans 5 → Romans Chapter 4 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together This is the chapter of counting . λογίζομαι runs through the text: credited, counted, not counted. Abraham does not become another substance. God puts faith on the account as righteousness. Abraham justified · J 1–8 “It was counted to him for righteousness.” To the one who works, wages are counted as debt. To the one who believes, faith is counted as righteousness. David: blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not count sin. Forgiveness, covering, non-imputation. An open book. J . Before circumcision · J 9–12 How was it counted? In uncircumcision. Circumcision came later, as a sign and seal of a righteousness already credited. The ...

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 3 Home Romans 4 → Romans Chapter 3 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together Romans 3 closes the indictment and opens the verdict in the believer’s favor. Almost the whole chapter is J . Flesh is not improved here. The mouth is shut. Then God justifies. The Jew’s advantage · J 1–8 Advantage, oracles, the faithfulness of God, judgment, condemnation. Paul defends God’s court, not an inner reform. J . All under sin · J 9–20 Jews and Greeks charged: all under sin. Every mouth is stopped. The whole world is under the judgment of God. By works of the law no flesh will be justified before him. “Before him” is courtroom speech. J . The righteousness of God through faith · J 21–26 But now the righteousness of God is...

Text size: A- Reset A+ ← Back to Romans 2 Home Romans 3 → Romans Chapter 2 Juridical and substantial Reading key · not a replacement chapter Legend J — juridical transformation: changes standing before God S — substantial transformation: changes the person, the life, or the body J+S — both together This room is about how Paul counts . In Romans 2 the flesh does not change. What changes is the name God puts on the flesh. The one who judges · J 1–11 Judgment, condemnation, wrath, rendering to each according to deeds. All of it is court. The one who judges another condemns himself. There is no partiality with God. This is J . Hearers and doers · J 12–16 Without law or in the law, the end is the same: they will be judged. Hearers are not just before God; doers will be justified. “Justified” here is still a verdict. J . The Jew and the law · J 17–24 The name, the law, the boast in God do not cover the one who breaks the law. Havin...